Shakespeare and Public Execution: No. 26 (Studies in Renaissance Literature) - Tapa dura

"It may be a stretch to say that Londoners of Shakespeare's time were as familiar with the protocols of a public execution as today's citizens are of a soccer match, but not much. In this study, Charles Mitchell argues that this familiarity provided significant common ground for Shakespeare and his audiences, common ground upon which Shakespeare could construct plots and define characters....Mitchell herein offers a telling examination of how the playwright drew upon the 'streettheatre' aspects of London's public executions to communicate with his audiences and influence their responses." - James Symons, Professor of Theatre, University of Colorado, Boulder"

This study demonstrates how Shakespeare utilized a strategy of manipulating the language and conventions of public execution, specifically in The Comedy of Errors, Titus Andronicus, Richard III, Measure for Measure, and The Tempest. It uses audience-reception theory and new historicism, as well as non-dramatic texts (popular literature and ballads) to demonstrate the knowledge and experiences of execution that the audiences of Shakespeare's time took with them to the theatre. With illustrations.