Shakespeare and the Founders of Liberty in America

Shakespeare and the Founders of Liberty in America is a book written by Charles Mills Gayley. The book explores the influence of William Shakespeare's plays on the Founding Fathers of America and their ideas about liberty, democracy, and government. Gayley argues that the Founders were deeply influenced by Shakespeare's works, particularly his plays about kingship, tyranny, and the struggle for freedom. He examines the ways in which the Founders drew on Shakespeare's ideas and language in their own writings and speeches, and how they used his plays to shape their understanding of American democracy.The book is divided into several chapters, each focusing on a different aspect of Shakespeare's influence on the Founders. Gayley begins by discussing the Founders' early encounters with Shakespeare's plays, and how they were drawn to his themes of political freedom and individual liberty. He then examines the ways in which Shakespeare's plays were used in the debates leading up to the American Revolution, and how they were invoked by both sides in the conflict.Gayley also looks at the ways in which Shakespeare's plays were used in the debates over the Constitution, and how they influenced the development of American political thought. He argues that Shakespeare's plays provided a rich vocabulary and set of ideas for the Founders to draw on as they crafted a new system of government.Throughout the book, Gayley provides detailed analyses of specific plays and their influence on the Founders. He also includes extensive quotations from Shakespeare's plays, as well as from the writings and speeches of the Founders themselves.Overall, Shakespeare and the Founders of Liberty in America is a fascinating exploration of the ways in which Shakespeare's works helped to shape American political thought and the development of democracy in the United States. It will be of interest to anyone interested in Shakespeare, American history, or political philosophy.1917. Contents: The Foundations of Liberty in America; Shakespeare and the Liberals of the Virginia Company; The Tempest and an Unpublished Letter from Virginia; The Leader of the Liberal Movement-Sir Edwin Sandys; Richard Hooker and the Principles of American Liberty; Shakespeare�������s Views of the Individual in Relation to the State; Shakespeare and Hooker; The Heritage in Common: England, America, France: and The Meaning for Us Today. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.