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

Ashley Argyle
Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:51:25 PDT

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.