Shakespeare's 'Whores'

Abstract

Shakespeare's 'Whores' examines female sexuality in Shakespeare's works in the context of the word 'whore,' historically (and still currently) employed as a weapon against women striving for self-actualization in any realm - political, social, or personal. Erotic expression for Shakespeare's women finds varying obstacles determined by the genre, or 'poetics', of the work, which influences its 'politics', but his poetic references to goddesses illuminate archetypal paths that his female characters may pursue. Each use of the word 'whore' in Shakespeare's canon is studied, as are female characters who toil in the sex trade, with but with focus especially on the positive personal and social effects of female sexuality, as represented in several major female characters, from the goddess Venus, to the queen Cleopatra, to the cross-dressing Rosalind, and many others. Drawing on scholarship from various disciplines, this book demonstrates Shakespeare's relevance to contemporary socio-political issues and points toward new directions for feminism.