Introduction
01 The HistoricaI Context of Restoration Comedies and the RakeHero
02 Literature Review
03 Rake—Hero and Sovereignty
04 The Argument and Structure of the Dissertation
Chapter One
The Rake-Hero and Libertinism:
The Political Predicament of Royal Sovereignty
11 Rake-Hero and Patriarchalism:Illegitimacy of Royal Sovereignty
12 Rake-Hero and Fashion:Theatricality of Royal Sovereignty
13 Rake Hero and Misogyny:Ineffectiveness of Royal Sovereignty
Chapter Two
The Generic Tension between the RakeHere and Comedy:
The Legal Embarrassment ofAbsolute Sovereignty
21 Rake—Hero in Generic Disguise:Threat of Absolute Monarchy
22 Rake—Hero Spoiling the Comic:DeinslituliOnaIizing the Institution of PoliticaI Absolutism
23 Rakishness Resulted from Monopoly Generic Discourse:Reprimand of PoliticaI Absolutism
Chapter Three
The Rake-Hero Rearmed:The Endorsement of Contracted Sovereignty
31 Gentry Rival of Rake—Heroes:New Attributes of Governorship
32 Rake—Hero Contracted:Legal Settlement of Sovereignty
33 A New Rake-Hero:Confidence in PoliticaI Reforms
Conclusion
Bibliography