Study Of Shakespeare's Historical Drama

The historical play is the important component of Shakespeare dramas and forms great artistic achievement of Shakespeare with the tragedy, comedy together. Since the birth of Shakespeare's historical play, the comments had arisen. Especially since the 20th century, appearance and application of various new methods made the comment achievement of the historical play rich and colorful. The study of Shakespeare's historical play is relatively weak in China, because it is influenced by Shakespearean criticism of Russia, the remnants of the ultra-left thought and some prejudices that first impressions are strongest. Paying attention to and carrying on the Shakespeare's historical play thoroughly can make us know and appraise Shakespeare's status, function and influence in the literary history of the world generally, objectively and fairly, especially in the period of the prosperity and development of contemporary historical literature of China, this kind of research has a great realistic meaning even more.Shakespeare's historical play had fully expressed writer's progressive conception of history and deep spirit of humanism; it has high value in the spreading of historical knowledge, knowledge of thought and aesthetic of art. Building of personage's image embodies Shakespeare's superb artistic skill even more. Using these methods, such as"the form of relief", the form of continuity, model and character, dynamic antithesis in situation, etc, he has molded a lot of images of kings and empresses who were true in history and the clowns representing common people stratum and then makes accurate objective judging to their status and function in the historical process.The uniqueness of Shakespeare's historical play still behaves in its artistic style. They are great realistic plays, include a lot of comedy factors among them, but they are the historical tragedy to be more in whole style. However, it is not appropriate that the creation of the historical play makes preparation for tragedies later on at this point. The two are different in these aspects, such as creating method, content of thought, the artistic style, etc. They belong to two relatively independent, intact fields.Shakespeare's historical play has far-reaching influence, and offers reference for creation of offspring's historical plays of various countries.