Servile sanctions: a study in plot formation in Shakespeare's The winter's tale, Othello, and Much ado about nothing

Abstract

This thesis proposes to investigate the ways in which William Shakespeare's plays show us an empowerment of what are traditionally considered lower positions: servants and women. In it I examine how servants can direct the action of the plays, motives for their actions and methods used by Shakespeare to effect these, all for the purpose of social criticism.