French Literature Reviews - 2026
Anne-Élisabeth Crédeville, Shakespeare and Honour
Other Literary Studies
What is honour? For Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk in Richard II: "Mine honour is my life; both grow in one; take honour from me, and my life is done." This view contrasts sharply with that of Falstaff in Henry IV, who answers the question "What is honour? A word. What is in that word? Air." This cross-sectional study of Shakespeare’s work allows us to grasp the profound meaning of a term that even appears in the French press law of July 29, 1881. The book comprises six chapters, three of which are theoretical, exploring honour, ambition (which, to remain honourable, must be kept within certain bounds), and vengeance (the final honour paid to the executed, from which the very idea of justice was born). Each chapter is complemented by practical case studies drawn from Shakespeare’s plays, such as defamation in Much Ado About Nothing, premeditation in Macbeth, and patricide in King Lear.
View the table of contents on the publisher's website…
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This study belongs to the rich tradition of English literary scholarship and Shakespearean criticism, examining how Elizabethan and Jacobean drama engages with foundational ethical and social concepts. By analyzing plays such as Richard II, Henry IV, Macbeth, and King Lear, the author traces the shifting definitions of moral duty and social reputation within early modern culture. The work bridges textual analysis with broader intellectual history, offering fresh perspectives on the tensions between personal integrity, political ambition, and the pursuit of justice in Renaissance drama.
Scholars, students, and readers interested in Renaissance literature, theatre history, and moral philosophy will find this book a valuable resource for understanding the complexities of early modern values. It provides useful methodological tools for analyzing thematic motifs across an entire dramatic corpus, combining rigorous theoretical reflection with concrete textual examples. This volume helps clarify how Shakespearean drama reflects and interrogates the social codes of its time, while continuing to resonate with modern legal and philosophical debates surrounding reputation and identity.