The Secret Drama of Shakespeare's Sonnets [Paperback]

Through detailed analysis of Shakespeare's Sonnets and their historical background, Massey refutes the commonly held assumption that they are autobiographical.Gerald Massey sets out to prove that Shakespeares Sonnets are partly personal and partly dramatic, and not autobiographical, in what he termed, in 1888, a permanent reply to Shakespeares misinterpreters. Examining the many different theories surrounding the Sonnets, Massey supports his argument with detailed analysis of extracts from Shakespeares work.Gerald Massey sets out to prove that Shakespeares Sonnets are partly personal and partly dramatic, and not autobiographical, in what he termed, in 1888, a permanent reply to Shakespeares misinterpreters. Examining the many different theories surrounding the Sonnets, Massey supports his argument with detailed analysis of extracts from Shakespeares work.Gerald Massey's work of 1888 presented a strong argument against the many theorists who viewed Shakespeare's Sonnets as autobiographical  'a permanent reply to Shakespeare's misinterpreters'. Beginning by outlining the known background and context of the Sonnets, Massey proceeds to wage what he terms his 'battle against fictions, fallacies, forgeries, and groundless assumptions'. Who were the Sonnets addressed to, if anyone, and what is the significance of the inscription in the edition of 1609? What is the correct arrangement of the Sonnets, and why did Shakespeare himself give personal testimony to their 'purity'? Following detailed descriptions of the many different theories, Massey provides close readings and analysis of the Sonnets themselves to dispute the autobiographical claims, and to demonstrate that the Sonnets are 'partly personal and partly dramatic'.1. Preliminary account of the sonnets; 2. Lues Browniana; 3. Primary facts and fundamental fallacies; 4. Personal sonnets 1-13; 5. Personal sonnets 1426; 6. Personal sonnets 38; 7. Dramatic sonnets 2931; 8. Personal sonnet 32; 9. Dramatic slãp