Rasa Theory in Shakespearian Tragedies

<p>This book adds a unique eastern perspective to the ever growing corpus of Shakespeare criticism. The ancient Sanskrit theory of <i>Rasa – </i>the aesthete’s emotional response to performing arts<i> – </i>is explicated in detail and applied to Shakespeare’s tragic masterpieces. Bharata who wrote about <i>Rasa</i> in the <i>Natyasastra</i> developed detailed guidelines for the communication of emotion from author to actor and then to the audience culminating in a sublime aesthetic experience. Though chronologically Bharata is as ancient as Aristotle thematically his ideas are as relevant today as Aristotle’s is and often echo those of the Greek master. This cross–cultural study on the communication of emotions in art establishes that emotions are universal and their communication follows similar patterns in all climes. The <i>Rasa</i> theory is today applied to modern media like film and has found a place among audience centric communication theories. This volume extends the East-West dialogue in aesthetic theory by identifying parallels and points of deviation and delights both aesthete and critic alike. </p>