Neither angel, nor devil: a cultural analysis of the appropriation of Shakespeare's Ophelia in The Family Shakespeare

Abstract

This article retraces the history of the appropriation of Shakespeare’s Ophelia in nineteenth century England, focusing on the Bowdler’s adaptation of the character in The Family Shakespeare, the biggest Shakespearean editorial phenomenon of the century. In an attempt to gauge the politics of adaptation that guided the authors, I shall analyze the textual manipulation that the Bowdlers undertook. Raymond William’s concept of “structure of feeling” will be employed in order to highlight the relevance of such manifestation to the Victorian culture.