Pericles (Vol. 51) | Kay Stockholder (essay date 1985)
Kay Stockholder (essay date 1985)
SOURCE: "Sex and Authority in Hamlet, King Lear and Pericles," in Mosaic, Vol. XVIII, No. 3, Summer, 1985, pp. 17-29.
[In the essay below, Stockholder reveals the thematic ties between Pericles, Hamlet, and King Lear, arguing that the plays reflect Shakespeare's views on gender roles, sex, and power,]
The central importance of the family to Shakespeare's plays has been discussed recently by many critics, notably by C. L. Barber who sees religious issues replacing domestic ones as the focus of meaning for Shakespeare's time. He argues that the consequent emotional pressure on the family and particularly on women gave rise to the conflicts that shaped the tragedies. Though his understanding of the problems needing resolution differs from more traditional readings, he agrees with both traditional and with feminist and psychoanalytic critics that the last plays portray resolutions...
[The entire page is 6850 words long]
Navigate
