Neo-Renaissance Drama in Nineteenth-Century Britain: Notes for a Backdrop to Fernando Pessoa's Duke of Parma.

The article examines the classification of Fernando Pessoa's unfinished play, The Duke of Parma, as a neo-Shakespearean work, highlighting its connections to the broader context of neo-Renaissance and neo-Elizabethan drama in nineteenth-century Britain. It discusses how this dramatic mode, inspired...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Luso-Brazilian Review Vol. 61; no. 2; pp. 13 - 27
Main Author: Saglia, Diego
Format: Article
Published: University of Wisconsin Press 2024
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Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Description
Summary:The article examines the classification of Fernando Pessoa's unfinished play, The Duke of Parma, as a neo-Shakespearean work, highlighting its connections to the broader context of neo-Renaissance and neo-Elizabethan drama in nineteenth-century Britain. It discusses how this dramatic mode, inspired by earlier English theater, sought to address contemporary issues while drawing on the prestige of Elizabethan traditions. The article also notes the significant transformations in Shakespeare's cultural status during the nineteenth century, which influenced playwrights and audiences, leading to a resurgence of interest in early modern drama. Ultimately, it argues that Pessoa's work is part of a century-long phenomenon that reflects ongoing dialogues within British drama and theater, challenging the notion that it is merely an isolated attempt at revival.