The Near-Scandalous in The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Much Ado About Nothing (Thesis)
Philip Hiotis, Spring 2016
Director: Raphael Falco
Committee Members: Orianne Smith and Kathryn McKinley
This thesis explores the inclusion of near-scandal in Shakespeare’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Much Ado About Nothing. While other early Renaissance comedies never introduce a serious threat to their protagonists, Two Gentlemen and Much Ado both include danger analogous to tragedy. Hiotis explores the uniqueness of near-scandal in the comedy as well as the factors that protect the characters from full-blown scandal.