Coming of Age in Shakespeare

Download or read book Coming of Age in Shakespeare written by Marjorie Garber and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-04-15 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Marjorie Garber examines the rites of passage and maturation patterns--"coming of age"--in Shakespeare's plays. Citing examples from virtually the entire Shakespeare canon, she pays particular attention to the way his characters grow and change at points of personal crisis. Among the crises Garber discusses are: separation from parent or sibling in preparation for sexual love and the choice of husband or wife; the use of names and nicknames as a sign of individual exploits or status; virginity, sexual initiation and the acceptance of sexual maturity, childbearing and parenthood; and, finally, attitudes toward death and dying.