A Study Of Shakespeare’s Historical Consciousness

Shakespeare’s Richard Ⅲ is one of his most popular history plays in the theater.While compared with the researches on other history plays,Richard Ⅲ is the least studied work.In terms of the researches on Richard Ⅲ,scholars still confine in textual or psychological analysis,but few can jump out of the framework of close reading and combine the text with its contemporary context.Through the combination of the text,the writer,and the social and cultural background of the Elizabeth Age,the author studies Shakespeare’s Richard Ⅲ from the perspective of New Historicism.The thesis aims to analyze Shakespeare’s historical consciousness in Richard Ⅲ by exploring his deconstruction and reconstruction of history.Richard Ⅲ is a blend of fiction and history.Shakespeare combines history with the spirit of the Elizabethan Age,and represents the reality of his time.He tries to express his ideals of patriotism and humanism in the form of dramatized history.Richard Ⅲ is a history play which has an important aesthetic value,and thus it’s a unity of Shakespeare’s thoughts and artistry.The thesis mainly discusses Shakespeare’s deconstruction and reconstruction of history and analyzes his historical consciousness in Richard Ⅲ.Shakespeare deconstructs the official History by offering his version of history and reshapes a totally new Richard Ⅲ.In the play,true historical characters and events interweave with fictional plots,hinting us that history exists in various texts.By deconstructing history,Shakespeare reveals the fictionality of history and the close relationship between historiography and Tudor ideology.Shakespeare also reconstructs the history of RichardⅢ in the Elizabethan Age to express his ideals.By reconstructing history,Shakespeare artistically represents the conflicts of the feudal society,criticizes the usurper king and presents the causal and effect patterns of providence in order to reveal the contemporary issues in Elizabethan society.Based on the studies of Shakespeare’s deconstruction and reconstruction of history,the author manages to analyze Shakespeare’s historical consciousness in Richard Ⅲ.Shakespeare uses historical facts in dramatic form to reflect the patriotic and nationalistic feelings of the period,and stresses the importance of order and degree by the providential version of history.As an idealist,Shakespeare conforms to the historical trend of the Renaissance and believes in humanism.While as a realist,he sees the potential crisis of humanism.At last,Shakespeare chooses moral idealism between the conflict and integration of humanism and Christianity,which is to achieve the ideal of humanism with Christian morality.Based on the above studies,the thesis draws the conclusion that Shakespeare makes use of the ancient history to satirize the reality of his time and expresses his ideals of patriotism and humanism in the form of dramatized history.Shakespeare’s history play Richard Ⅲ is mainly based on the historical materials,but he also recreates the history with his principles.Shakespeare artistically represents the conflicts in the Elizabethan Age and reveals many contemporary social problems.Through the dramatized history,Shakespeare shows his political ideal and loving care for the period.Seeing the limitations of humanism,Shakespeare regards Christianity as an important part of humanism and advocates achieving the ideal of humanism with Christian morality.This English humanism not only pays attention to human potential and creativity,focuses on the nature of human beings and the living conditions of human beings,but also has a close relationship with God.