English Language and Literature Commons^™

Shakespeare And Immigration, Ruben Espinosa, David Ruiter

Ruben Espinosa

The essays in this collection examine the role of, and reaction to, the issue of immigration in Shakespeare’s drama and culture. This volume not only seeks to interrogate how the massive influx of immigrants during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I influenced perceptions of English identity, and gave rise to anxieties about homeland security in early modern England, but they also aim to understand how our current concerns surrounding immigration shape our perception of the role of the alien in Shakespeare’s work and expand the texts in new and relevant directions to a contemporary audience.