The World Must be Peopled

This performance-oriented study proposes the dramatic subgenre comedies of forgiveness to describe four Shakespeare plays that have traditionally been staged as if they were romantic comedies. 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona', 'Much Ado About Nothing', 'All's Well that Ends Well', and 'Measure for Measure' all feature young heroes who behave badly, apologize weakly, yet quickly earn the complete forgiveness of their societies. This book suggest feminist stagings of the comedies of forgiveness designed to reveal how society deals with masculine fickleness, suspicion, lust, and sexual irresponsibility by channelling male erotic desire towards courtship, marriage, legitimate procreation, and childrearing.