Shakespeare and the Stars

To celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare''s death, this book offers fresh and exciting insights into the ever-popular works of the world''s greatest playwright. It specifically highlights Shakespeare''s use of the archetypal language of astrological symbolism in both obvious and subtle ways. Such references would have been commonly known in Shakespeare''s time, but their deeper significance is lost to modern-day playgoers and readers. The most unique aspect of this book is the revelation that many of Shakespeare''s plays are entirely keyed to a specific zodiacal sign and its associated (or ruling) planet. Shakespeare''s audience would have immediately grasped their significance in revealing character, foreshadowing the plot and establishing key themes for each play.The first half of the book provides necessary background for understanding the plays by describing the synthesis of both classical and Christian ideas in Shakespeare''s time. The seven planets were considered an int