The Literary Voice: Shakespeare's Diplomacy

Timothy Hampton, "The Literary Voice: Shakespeare's Diplomacy", dans Border Crossings  vol. 1, issue 2, mars 2015

Extrait de l'article

One of William Shakespeare’s greatest history plays, Henry V, ends with a diplomatic reconciliation.  As peace negotiation goes on off stage, we see the English King Henry woo his future wife, the French princess Catherine.   Each character tries, unsuccessfully, for the most part, to speak the language of the other.  By unwinding the double process of negotiation/seduction through a series of linguistic confusions, Shakespeare reminds us that negotiation necessarily takes place in a space “between” defined and fixed languages.  The best political reconciliations are shaped by personal charm, by play, and and by affective connections between the actors.  Against our own background of public “spin” and media-driven violations of diplomatic protocol Shakespeare reminds us that negotiation and seduction may be two sides of the same coin. 

Présentation de la revue (Border Crossings)