Macbeth is discussed in relation to Derrida's notion of the metaphysics of presence. Fawkner argues that the quest for metaphysical certitude in Macbeth is related to the hero's transformation from a heroic to a post-heroic status.

The contributors to The Moral of the Story, all preeminent political theorists, are unified by their concern with the instructive power of great literature. This thought-provoking combination of essays explores the polyvalent moral and political impact of classic world literatures on public ethics through the study of some of its major figures-including Shakespeare, Dante, Cervantes, Jane Austen, Henry James, Joseph Conrad, Robert Penn Warren, and Dostoevsky. Positing the uniqueness of literature's ability to promote dialogue on salient moral and intellectual virtues, editor Henry T. Edmonson III has culled together a wide-ranging exploration of such fundamental concerns as the abuse of authority, the nature of good leadership, the significance of 'middle class virtues' and the needs of adolescents. This collection reinvigorates the study of classic literature as an endeavor that is not only personally intellectually satisfying, but also an inimitable and unique way to enrich public discourse.

Were you subdued by Shakespeare? Did To be or not to be make you want to be somewhere else? If so, this book is for you. Irreverent, rude and darkly funny, Fair is Foul exposes the alternative history of Macbeth, as witnessed by the Thane of Rosse, a key insider at the court of the Scottish King and a man who takes no prisoners when it comes to voicing an opinion! Think of the Alan Clark Diaries written by Black Adder! If you love celebrity-watching, politics or fashion you will enjoy this wicked satire. Power, sex and glamour combine to reveal the true story of what really happened on that fair and foul day. If you thought Shakespearean comedy was just a bunch of men in tights, think again

Provides a critical analysis of the evidence for the sociobiologists' theories that the basis of human behavior is biological and genetic

Many influential stances within the social sciences regard nature in one of two ways: either as none of their concern (which is with the social and cultural aspects of human existence), or as wholly a social and cultural fabrication. But there is also another strand of social scientific thinking that seeks to understand the interplay between social and cultural factors on one side and natural factors on the other. These volumes contain the main contributions that have been made within each of these streams of thought. The selections illustrate to the reader the complexity of the various positions within these streams, and the strengths and limitations of each perspective. A new introduction places these articles in their historical and intellectual context and the volumes are completed with an extensive index and chronological table of contents.