Which of the following statements best summarizes the main idea behind Anthony DiMatteo's essay, "Shakespeare and the Public Discourse of Sovereignty: 'Reason of State' in 'Hamlet'" ?
Correct answer: C. Hamlet is a tragedy that focuses on the Elizabethan era's loss of faith in humanity's ability to govern itself without violence.
- A. Hamlet is a tragedy focusing on the plight of the early-modern self.
- B. Hamlet is a tragedy that reflects Shakespeare's own political circumstances.
- C. Hamlet is a tragedy that focuses on the Elizabethan era's loss of faith in humanity's ability to govern itself without violence.
- D. Hamlet is a tragedy that reflects upon enlightened and progressive political systems that developed during Shakespeare's time.
Explanation
DiMatteo reads Hamlet through early modern debates about sovereignty and reason of state, showing anxiety about political authority and the use of violence in governance. This makes option c more precise than the broader claims about Shakespeare's personal circumstances or the self.
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