Shakespeare and the Rose of Love: A Study of the Early Plays in Relation to the Medieval Philosophy of Love

Offering an unusual and exceptionally clear insight into Shakespeare's philosophy and a viewpoint seldom considered, this book argues that his philosophy was consistent, consciously held, and profoundly Christian. Showing that Shakespeare appreciated the danger faced in writing at a time of major religious intolerance, it explains how the playwright used the medieval allegory of love to veil his ideas. Fresh and fascinating, this record also demonstrates that, even in his earliest work, Shakespeare was moving toward the universal ideas of love, forgiveness, and regeneration. Love's Labour Lost, Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Romeo and Juliet are discussed at length.