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In this classic work, acclaimed Shakespeare critic C. L. Barber argues that Elizabethan seasonal festivals such as May Day and Twelfth Night are the key to understanding Shakespeare's comedies. Brilliantly interweaving anthropology, social history, and literary criticism, Barber traces the inward journey--psychological, bodily, spiritual--of the comedies: from confusion, raucous laughter, aching desire, and aggression, to harmony. Revealing the interplay between social custom and dramatic form, the book shows how the Elizabethan antithesis between everyday and holiday comes to life in the comedies' combination of seriousness and levity. "I have been led into an exploration of the way the social form of Elizabethan holidays contributed to the dramatic form of festive comedy. To relate this drama to holiday has proved to be the most effective way to describe its character. And this historical interplay between social and artistic form has an interest of its own: we can see here, with more clarity of outline and detail than is usually possible, how art develops underlying configurations in the social life of a culture."--C. L. Barber, in the Introduction This new edition includes a foreword by Stephen Greenblatt, who discusses Barber's influence on later scholars and the recent critical disagreements that Barber has inspired, showing that Shakespeare's Festive Comedy is as vital today as when it was originally published.

English literature --- Drama --- Shakespeare, William --- Literature and society --- English drama (Comedy) --- Manners and customs in literature. --- Festivals in literature. --- Literary form. --- History --- History and criticism. --- Shakespeare, William, --- Comedies. --- England --- Social life and customs --- Sociology of literature --- Literature and society - England - History - 16th century. --- English drama (Comedy) - History and criticism. --- Shakespeare, William, - 1564-1616 - Comedies. --- England - Social life and customs - 16th century. --- Shakespeare, William, - 1564-1616 --- Literary form --- A Midsummer Night's Dream. --- As You Like It. --- Elizabethan England. --- Elizabethan comedy. --- Elizabethan festivals. --- Elizabethan holidays. --- Elizabethan society. --- Forest of Arden. --- Henry IV. --- Lord of Misrule. --- Love's Labour's Lost. --- May Day. --- May Game. --- Nashe. --- Shakespeare. --- The Merchant of Venice. --- Twelfth Night. --- clowning. --- comedies. --- comedy. --- drama. --- fantasy. --- farce. --- festive comedy. --- festive play. --- festive plays. --- festivity. --- folly. --- fools. --- holiday custom. --- holiday. --- imagination. --- inclusiveness. --- liberty. --- misrule. --- pageantry. --- play. --- plays. --- rituals. --- romance. --- saturnalia. --- saturnalian attitude. --- saturnalian impulse. --- seasonal festivals. --- social occasions.

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Literature and society --- English drama (Comedy) --- Literary form --- Manners and customs in literature. --- Festivals in literature. --- History --- History and criticism. --- Shakespeare, William, --- Comedies. --- England --- Social life and customs

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Moeurs et coutumes --- SHAKESPEARE, WILLIAM (1564-1616) --- LITTERATURE ET SOCIETE --- THEATRE (GENRE LITTERAIRE) ANGLAIS --- FESTIVALS DANS LA LITTERATURE --- ANGLETERRE --- GENRES LITTERAIRES --- Dans la littérature --- COMEDIES --- GRANDE-BRETAGNE --- 1500-1600 (MODERNE ET ELISABETHAIN) --- VIE SOCIALE --- 16E SIECLE