Shakespeare's last plays

Abstract

In this dissertation I shall focus on Shakespeare's Last Plays or Romances, namely Cymbeline, The Winter's Tale and The Tempest. First I shall give an outline of Shakespeare's life and chronology of works and then move on to speak of playwright's transition from tragedy to romance. After that I shall give a general overview on the Romances including literary influences and also an analysis of the major themes which are common to the three plays, as well as Shakespeare's use of imagery in these plays. Next I shall tackle each of the three plays separately, focusing on the main issues and discussions within each one. The conclusion is presented in the form of a commentary on the various possible reasons for Shakespeare's change in style towards the end of his career and life.