The theme of forgiveness in Shakespeare's last plays

Abstract

This dissertation attempts, to analyse the causes of alienation and the processes of reconciliation in Shakespeare's romances; References. to HENRY Vlll have. also been included wherever I felt. that they we.re appropriate. The theme of the thesis is Forgiveness.. The meaning of the word has been. extended to include, not only the actual forgiveness itself, but. also the preceding estrangements which form the core of the romances. I have devoted Chapter 1 to an extensive discussion of several problems connected with these plays. Seven causes of alienation are dealt with in Chapter 2 while the next chapter discusses; the role of Time and Tempest as forces: of alienation and reconciliation. It was my aim in Chapter 4 to be as comprehensive as possible in analysing the various processes which lead to the final harmony, while in Chapter 5 I have concentrated on the characters who remain unconverted till the end. All quotations from Shakespeare's, works have been taken from THE GLOBE edition, (1884) edited by William George Clark and William Aldis Wright.