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The Signifying Self: Cervantine Drama as Counter-Perspective Aesthetic

Henry, Melanie

Authors

Melanie Henry



Abstract

The Signifying Self: Cervantine Drama as Counter-Perspective Aesthetic offers a comprehensive analysis of all eight of Cervantes's Ocho comedias (published 1615), moving beyond conventional anti-Lope approaches to Cervantine dramatic practise in order to identify what, indeed, his theatre promotes. Considered on its own aesthetic terms, but also taking into account ontological and socio-cultural concerns, this study compels a re-assessment of Cervantes's drama and conflates any monolithic interpretations which do not allow for the textual interplay of contradictory and conflicting discourses which inform it. Cervantes's complex and polyvalent representation of freedom underpins such an approach; a concept which is considered to be a leitmotif of Cervantes's work but which has received scant attention with regards to his theatre. Investigation of this topic reveals not only Cervantes's rejection of established theatrical convention, but his preoccupation with the difficult relationship between the individual and the early modern Spanish world. Cervantes's comedias emerge as a counter-perspective to dominant contemporary Spanish ideologies and more orthodox artistic imaginings. Ultimately, The Signifying Self seeks to recuperate the Ocho comedias as a significant part of the Cervantine, and Golden-Age, canon and will be of interest and benefit to those scholars who work on Cervantes and indeed on early modern Spanish theatre in general.

Citation

Henry, M. (2013). The Signifying Self: Cervantine Drama as Counter-Perspective Aesthetic. Modern Humanities Research Association (MHRA)

Book Type Authored Book
Publication Date 2013-02
Deposit Date Sep 23, 2013
Publisher Modern Humanities Research Association (MHRA)
Series Title MHRA Texts & Dissertations
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1123680
Publisher URL http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt2jc86q


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