Dryden's ;All for Love; as an Embodiment of the Critical Concepts of ;Of Dramatic Poesy: An Essay; and in Imitation of ;Anthony and Cleopatra;.
This essay will examine Dryden's "All for Love" (1677) and his "Of Dramatic Poesy: An Essay" (1668). It will be argued that the former play may be seen as the embodiment of Dryden's critical reflections on the issues noted in the above passage. In "All for Love", as will be seen, Dryden attempts to assimilate the legacy of the Elizabethan stage - in this case, Shakespeare's "Anthony and Cleopatra" - into an age dominated by French critical theories. However, as will be seen, Dryden often contradicts his own earlier critical thinking, particularly with respect to the proper language of the theater. This suggests that a true analysis of Dryden's critical thinking must incorporate his dramatic practice into his critical theory. 5 pgs. Bibliography lists 7 sources.
