Free Will

More about the book

The study explores the interplay between art and power in Shakespeare's works, examining how the playwright navigated the tensions between political and aesthetic absolutism in early modern England. Richard Wilson highlights Shakespeare's ability to find freedom in failure and power in weakness, portraying a resistance to the emerging institutions of sacred kingship and literary autonomy. Through detailed readings, the book illustrates how Shakespeare transformed command performances into celebrations of art that entertains without asserting dominance or leaving a lasting mark.