Perspective

The perspective of the author is that of a critic. The author is fascinated by Shakespeare's plays and certain characters like Falstaff and Hamlet. The author tries to look at Shakespeare from the standpoint of what Shakespeare has contributed to Western civilization over the 400 years since his passing. This involves a considerable amount of historical study of criticism concerning how the view of Shakespeare's work has changed over the years. At the same time, the author sees the universal quality of Shakespeare's plays. For the people of Shakespeare's London, the history plays about the English kings were episodes from history only a few hundred years old or less. Yet, by putting the comic and irreverent character Sir John Falstaff in King Henry IV Part I or II, the author sees how these plays would amuse and provoke people for all time. The author sees how many critics had...