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The Meaning of Shakespeare
In two magnificent and authoritative volumes, Harold C. Goddard takes readers on a tour through the works of William Shakespeare, celebrating his incomparable plays and unsurpassed literary genius.
306 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 1960
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 21, 2009
This guy is completely out of his mind--and amazing. Hardcore New Criticism stuff, the text itself. Psychoanalysis, free-association, the "rather like a whale" is about Hamlet's unconscious emotional stuff" and "Cordelia is essential not dead, Lear's a miracle play" type stuff. Every essay, whether I agreed or disagreed or fell somewhere in between, allowed me to look at the play in question drastically differently and infinitely deeper.
July 11, 2022
In both volumes of his study of Shakespeare's plays, Goddard usefully calls attention to parallels among characters from the different plays--e.g., Prince Hal could be thought of as a later version of Romeo, and Hamlet as a later version of Prince Hal. In this way, it is possible to trace the development of Shakespeare's expressive powers and psychological insight.
Acquired 1993
"SH"
Montreal, Quebec
Acquired 1993
"SH"
Montreal, Quebec
December 15, 2025
Just like in the first volume, Goddard’s essays here on the late plays of Shakespeare are such a treasure. In particular his esssy on Othello may be my absolute favorite, as well as on Coriolanus.
December 15, 2014
100% bonkers but awesome. Goddard was from a very different age of criticism - one rejecting much of the criticism of the early 20th century, but also coming to terms with a move toward historical study and context rather than the slightly ignorant processes that had come from the Victorian era.
Often, his points are completely absurd, argued on a philosophical level rather than even remotely relating to form or context. And his elitism - particularly when it comes to material he believes to have been written for the so-called "groundlings" - is deeply off-putting. But when he's right, he's right. Paradoxically, for a posthumously published work, I think this second volume is better than the first, perhaps because Goddard's high-art style works better with the more complicated later works, when Shakespeare really was writing with something of a bubble, rather than the earlier works where many of Goddard's beliefs were, if conceptually tight, ill-related to any realities of Shakespeare's era.
An interesting read, but hardly in the Top 100 works on the Bard.
Often, his points are completely absurd, argued on a philosophical level rather than even remotely relating to form or context. And his elitism - particularly when it comes to material he believes to have been written for the so-called "groundlings" - is deeply off-putting. But when he's right, he's right. Paradoxically, for a posthumously published work, I think this second volume is better than the first, perhaps because Goddard's high-art style works better with the more complicated later works, when Shakespeare really was writing with something of a bubble, rather than the earlier works where many of Goddard's beliefs were, if conceptually tight, ill-related to any realities of Shakespeare's era.
An interesting read, but hardly in the Top 100 works on the Bard.
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January 12, 2016Easily the best book on Shakespeare around. Sure, Shakespeare's life is interesting and Bloom's Shakespeare provides good information about deeper meaning in Shakespeare. This book blows them all away.
It doesn't dive into too much history, but gives enough to provide context and insights into the mindset of Elizabethan era people. It gives insights into the meaning of Shakespeare providing a solid foundation for the conclusions that Goddard reaches (such as the whole of Shakespeare's works being one long moral/biographical discussion).
Goddard wrote this book after being a university professor and surviving world war I and II. He provides his own social commentary on the times and the timelessness of Shakespeare's insights into humanity. Even if you don't love Shakespeare, you'll gain a lot by reading this frank, illuminating book.
It doesn't dive into too much history, but gives enough to provide context and insights into the mindset of Elizabethan era people. It gives insights into the meaning of Shakespeare providing a solid foundation for the conclusions that Goddard reaches (such as the whole of Shakespeare's works being one long moral/biographical discussion).
Goddard wrote this book after being a university professor and surviving world war I and II. He provides his own social commentary on the times and the timelessness of Shakespeare's insights into humanity. Even if you don't love Shakespeare, you'll gain a lot by reading this frank, illuminating book.
April 18, 2014
Great resource, looks at the evolution of Shakespeare as a writer by using the characters and works he created.
September 30, 2018
his takes on the later plays are a bkt more variable. he falls into bardolatry sonetimes, especially with his overager application of hamlet as the primary lens to several plays. however, he does offer great insight into most of the plays, and has an overarching theory that unifies the plays, drawing on nietzsche and dostoevsky. overall id put goddard as one of the more engaging critics to thoroughly evaluate shakespeare
September 17, 2013
This isn't the sort of book that I'm going to sit down and read cover to cover. However, it IS a perfect resource for anyone dipping into Shakespeare's plays. Harold Goddard's essays cover a depth and breadth that reflect his many years spent teaching. We're very lucky that these were written before his death. I've seen much praise of these two volumes and it is well deserved.
December 17, 2016
This is Volume 2 of the Harold Goddard discussion on Shakespeare's plays; see Volume 1 for my critique.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews