The Ordeals of Interpretation

Authors

Maria Sequeira Mendes
University of Lisbon
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9989-6449
Keywords: Interpretation, Hamlet, Macbeth, ordeal, polygraph, torture

Synopsis

Ordeals of Interpretation analyzes medieval ordeals, the reading of data in the polygraph and some methods of torture, while reading texts like Hamlet and Macbeth. This book describes the ambition for a touchstone that demonstrates the veracity, or authenticity, of certain entities. Note that touchstone - basanos  - was a term used to denominate the stone with which the quality of gold was tested in commercial contexts, but which also designated the idea of testing, torture and torturing. For the interpreters mentioned in this book, the touchstone, which can be an object, a person or a test, would have the ability to help us distinguish friends from enemies, to identify the quality of some verses and to illuminate the truth. It is argued, however, that the ability to make precise judgements derives from a technical understanding of interpretation led by skilful individuals, noting that the ability to discover "the truth" depends on each examiner's skill, intuition, ability to learn a specific method or technique, to detect errors and ask questions (important qualities in the activity of a literary critic).

Author Biography

Maria Sequeira Mendes, University of Lisbon

Maria Sequeira Mendes is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Letters, University of Lisbon. She studied at the Catholic University of Lisbon (L, 2000) and at the University of Lisbon (M, 2005; D, 2012). Between 2005 and 2017 she taught at the Escola Superior de Teatro e Cinema, of the Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa. She is a researcher at the Catholic University (CECC), collaborates with the Global Shakespeare project (MIT, Massachussets Institute of Technology) and co-edits the website Jogos Florais. She was Beaufort Visiting Scholar at St John's College, Cambridge University (2016). She is co-author of O Desensino da Arte (in press), has published articles in Law and Literature and Law and Humanities. She is currently writing a third book on flattery and Shakespeare.

The Ordeals of Interpretation
Published
June 2, 2020

Details about the available publication format: PDF

PDF
ISBN-13 (15)
978-989-26-1958-3
doi
10.14195/978-989-26-1958-3

Details about the available publication format: Amazon

Amazon
Physical Dimensions