Shakespeare’S Moral Compass

Overturns orthodox thinking about morality in Shakespeare’s plays by updating our understanding of the human mind

This ground-breaking study fearlessly combines latest research in evolutionary psychology, historical scholarship and philosophy to answer a question that has eluded critics for centuries: what is Shakespeare’s moral vision? At a political and cultural moment in which many of us are taking stock and looking for meaning, and in which moral outrage and polarisation seem endemic, this book radically reimagines how we might approach great works of literature to find some answers.

Key Features

Provocatively outlines how we might read literature for ethical content Brings latest research on morality from evolutionary psychology and sociology to bear on the study of Shakespeare’s plays Comprehensive coverage of moral philosophy in Shakespeare’s time and place, including the impact of the Renaissance, the Reformation and the rise of capitalism Plots ‘Shakespeare’s moral compass’ on six foundations (Authority, Loyalty, Fairness, Sanctity, Care, Liberty) with a chapter on each