A Study Of Shakespeare's View On Friendship

The Two Gentlemen of Verona is claimed to be the first play of Shakespeare(ca.1589—1593).It is a story about the conflicts between two gentlemen and two ladies.After betrayal and cheating by various characters,the play comes to a happy ending.Although the idea of friendship has been a constant topic in Shakespeare studies,the significance of Two Gentlemen of Verona tends to be downplayed for its imperfectness.This thesis explores how Shakespeare values friendship and to explain some of the plots by locating the idea of friendship in the play into the Renaissance historical context.It is divided into three main parts: First,it tracks the classical origin of the play which focuses on the two characteristics of friendship: similarity and virtue;Second,it discusses friendship in the Renaissance time and compares Sir Thomas Elyot's Governour with this play.They share some similarities,but they have different endings;Third,it analyzes the inconformity of classical friendship and the Renaissance Friendship in this play.The thesis argues that on one hand,the behaviors of the two gentlemen follow the rules of classical friendship and the Renaissance friendship,on the other hand,these behaviors rebel against some of the rules.The contradictions of the two gentlemen not only increases the tension of the plot,but also reflects Shakespeare's views on friendship.The recall of classic friendship may bring a new way of understanding human relationships.