Buddhist's Shakespeare, A
affirming self-deconstructions
James Howe
273 pages | ~8 hrs
Buddhist's Shakespeare, A
affirming self-deconstructions
By James Howe
James Howe presents a groundbreaking exploration that bridges Eastern wisdom and Western literary tradition through an innovative Buddhist reading of Shakespeare's dramatic works. Drawing from nine Shakespearean texts alongside centuries of Western visual art, this scholarly yet accessible work reveals how Buddhist perspectives can illuminate hidden dimensions within familiar masterpieces.
At the heart of Howe's analysis lies the Buddhist concept of shunyata, or the fullness of emptiness, which he connects to contemporary philosophical thought, particularly Jacques Derrida's notion of "differance." This connection opens new pathways for understanding how meaning emerges through absence rather than presence, offering readers a fresh lens through which to view both literature and life itself.
The author challenges prevailing academic theories about power, society, and consciousness by proposing a non-oppositional stance that transcends traditional conflicts between social classes and competing interests. Rather than viewing literature as trapped within societal power structures, Howe demonstrates how Shakespeare's self-deconstructive plays naturally reveal affirmative possibilities that point toward liberation from ideological constraints.
Central to this Buddhist approach is the recognition that reality lacks the solidity we typically assume it possesses. This insight suggests we might engage with life as we would a game, played with complete seriousness yet without attachment to outcomes or the need to impose external meaning.
For readers seeking to integrate spiritual wisdom with intellectual inquiry, this work offers a unique synthesis that honors both contemplative insight and rigorous scholarship.
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Religion
- ✓ Explore Religion in literature
- ✓ Explore Deconstruction
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects
- ✓ Explore Self in literature
- ✓ Understand Buddhist philosophy and practice
- ✓ Explore Religion and drama
- ✓ Understand spiritual ethics
Topics
Details
- Published
- 1994
- Publisher
- Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, Associated University Presses
- ISBN-10
- 0838635229
- Pages
- 273
- Language
- EN
