Green Shakespeare: From Ecopolitics to Ecocriticism

Ecocriticism, a theoretical movement examining cultural constructions of Nature in their social and political contexts, is making an increasingly important contribution to our understanding of Shakespeares plays. Gabriel Egans Green Shakespeare presents:

• an overview of the concept of ecocriticism
• detailed ecocritical readings of Henry V, Macbeth, As You Like It, Antony & Cleopatra, King Lear, Coriolanus, Pericles, Cymbeline, The Winters Tale and The Tempest
• analysis of themes such as nature and human society; food and biological nature; the supernatural and the weather
• a bold argument for a contemporary EcoShakespeare, taking into account the environmental and political implications of globalization and intellectual property laws.

Crossing the boundaries of literary and cultural studies to draw in politics, philosophy and ecology, this volume not only introduces one of the most lively areas of contemporary Shakespeare studies, but also puts forward a convincing case for Shakespeares continuing relevance to contemporary theory.