A SHORT SURVEY OF ENGLISH CRITICISM ON THE ROLE OF RELIGION AND CLERGY IN SHAKESPEARE’S HISTORY PLAYS

Tatjana A. Dumitrašković

doi:10.7251/NSK2318035D

Authors

Tatjana A. Dumitrašković Faculty of Education, Bijeljina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7251/NSK2318035D

Keywords:

Shakespeare, critical thought, religion, politics

Abstract

This paper presents a short survey of English criticism dealing with the role of religion in Shakespeare’s history plays. Religion in these plays is of a great importance from the aspect of politics. It is in this context that Shakespeare presents and criticises it. However, English and Serbian literary criticism do not deal with this aspect of Shakespeare’s critical attitude towards society. Even when the critics deal with the role of religion in his plays, they usually discuss Shakespeare’s religious belief, trying to classify him as a member of Protestant or Catholic church. The role of religion in the service of politics in Shakespeare’s history plays is completely neglected by such critics.

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