Robert Greene was one of the most popular English prose writers of the late 16th century and Shakespeare′s most successful predecessor in blank-verse romantic comedy. He was also one of the first professional writers and among the earliest English autobiographers1. His early prose works show the influence of John Lyly and the Euphuistic style.2
His novella Pandosto. The Triumph of time3 (first extant edition 1588) is a prose pastoral romance based on Greek tradition that provided Shakespeare with the plot of The Winter′s Tale. The running title of the romance, however, is "The History of Dorastus and Fawnia". The happy love story of Dorastus and Fawnia is framed by the tragic story of the jealous Pandosto, king of Bohemia, and his wife Bellaria. Pandosto′s jealousy is based on a misunderstanding and leads to the abandonment of his child Fawnia and to the death of his beloved wife Bellaria. Pandosto′s life is therefore determined by grief, and he cannot even find his daughter. Fawnia, however, is found by a shepherd and is raised by him as if it was his child. As time goes by, the son of Egistus, king of Sicilia, falls in love with the shepherdess Fawnia who turns out to be a lost princess. So this love story ends happily, and as Greene already claims in the title, truth may be concealed yet time brings the truth to light: "Temporis filia veritas" - truth is the daughter of time.4 With this structural arrangement, the second (happy) generation, namely Dorastus and Fawnia, is framed within the story of the first (unhappy) generation.5
With his depiction of two worlds that have fortune as their main agent, Greene proposes a world picture which was opposed to that of the prevailing moral.
[...]
1 Greene′s last work, The repentance of Robert Greene (1592), is totally autobiographical. See Davis, Walter R.: Idea and Act in Elizabethan fiction. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1969, p. 183.
2 See Salzman, Paul: English Prose Fiction 1558 - 1700. A critical history. New York: Oxford University Press, 1985. p. 59.
3 This paper is based on the edition given in Shakespeare, William: The Winter′s Tale. Ed. J. H. P. Pafford. The Arden Shakespeare. Walton-on-Thames: Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd.,[...]
4 See An Anthology of Elizabethan Prose Fiction. Ed. Paul Salzman. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987, p. 399.
5 See Newcomb, Lori Humphrey: " `Social Things`: The production of popular culture in the reception of Robert Greene′s Pandosto." ELH 4/1994, p. 757.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Elizabethan prose fiction and Robert Greene
3 Pandosto – an interpretation
3.1 The title
3.2 The story of Pandosto and Bellaria
3.3 The story of Dorastus and Fawnia
3.4 Greene’s world picture in Pandosto: Time and Fortune
4 Conclusion
Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines Robert Greene’s novella "Pandosto. The Triumph of Time" as a significant work of Elizabethan prose fiction, exploring how it integrates Greek romance motifs with pastoral and didactic elements. The central inquiry focuses on how Greene portrays the interplay between fortune, time, and human agency, and how his narrative structure challenges the prevailing moral and humanist standards of his era.
- The transition and evolution of Elizabethan prose fiction styles.
- The structural framing of the narrative through two distinct generations.
- The tension between human free will and the governing forces of fortune and time.
- Greene’s deliberate engagement with the popular literary marketplace and his stylistic choices.
- The subversion of traditional humanist moral "prodigal son" narratives.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 The story of Pandosto and Bellaria
Helgerson has pointed out that many Elizabethan stories begin “[...] with a scene of moral admonition.” He states that there were two poles of Elizabethan fiction, the didactic and the romantic. We will later see that Greene intertwines those two concepts. Greene begins his romance Pandosto with the warning that no passion is worse than jealousy, since it can neither “[...] be cured with wholesome counsel [...]”, nor does it fade away in the course of time. Therefore, the jealous person is “[...] the breeder of his misery.” Greene ends this passage about jealousy with the statement that his story proves his thesis, because Pandosto, whose jealousy is groundless, causes the death of his wife Bellaria and so is responsible for “his own endless sorrow and misery.”
Pandosto, king of Bohemia, and his wife Bellaria, are characterized as a couple that is “[...] linked together in perfect love [...].” Pandosto is described as a just king who is loved by his subjects and feared by his enemies for his success in wars. Bellaria is a perfect wife; she is beautiful, well-educated and virtuous. The royal couples’ happiness is yet increased by the birth of their first-born child Garinter. Their happiness does not last for long, though. Fortune’s dark side ‘enters’ the Bohemian kingdom: “Fortune envious of such happy success, willing to shew some sign of her inconstancy, turned her wheel, and darkened their bright sun of prosperity with the misty clouds of mishap and misery.” Egistus, king of Sicilia, who had been brought up with Pandosto, comes to Bohemia to visit his friend. Bellaria and Egistus are soon well inclined towards one another in mutual friendship, as Bellaria wants to show her husband that she treats the guests of the Bohemian court with courtesy. Meanwhile, Pandosto begins to mistrust both his friend and his wife, and as his suspicions about a possible deception and adultery increase, “[...] Pandosto’s mind was so far charged with jealousy, that he [did] no longer doubted, but was assured [...]”
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of Robert Greene's literary significance and the historical context of his work, specifically highlighting "Pandosto" as a source for Shakespeare’s "The Winter’s Tale".
2 Elizabethan prose fiction and Robert Greene: Discusses the broader social and literary shifts in the Elizabethan era and introduces Greene’s versatile writing style and his evolution through different literary phases.
3 Pandosto – an interpretation: Offers a deep analysis of the narrative, covering the moral implications of the title, the tragic first generation, the pastoral love story of the second generation, and the thematic power of fortune and time.
4 Conclusion: Summarizes how Greene’s world picture challenges traditional morality and emphasizes his success as a professional writer catering to the popular Elizabethan literary market.
Keywords
Robert Greene, Pandosto, Elizabethan prose, pastoral romance, fortune, time, jealousy, literary history, William Shakespeare, The Winter’s Tale, humanism, moral admonition, narrative structure, social status, popular fiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper primarily examines Robert Greene’s "Pandosto. The Triumph of Time", analyzing how it blends Greek romance motifs, pastoral themes, and didactic narrative structures to reflect the period's cultural environment.
What are the primary themes explored in the work?
Key themes include the dominance of fortune over human agency, the nature of jealousy, the contrast between nature and nurture, and the subversion of traditional humanist moral tales.
What is the main objective of the author regarding "Pandosto"?
The main objective is to demonstrate that Greene’s work presents a world governed by accident and time, which stands in opposition to the humanist belief in rational order and human control over destiny.
Which scientific or analytical method is applied?
The analysis employs literary criticism, utilizing theoretical frameworks such as those provided by Salzman and Helgerson to interpret the text’s narrative modes, "fabula" and "sujet," and its socio-historical context.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
It covers the significance of the title, the tragic dynamics of the first generation (Pandosto and Bellaria), the love story of the second generation (Dorastus and Fawnia), and the thematic role of time and fortune.
Which keywords define the scope of the study?
Relevant keywords include Elizabethan prose, Pandosto, Robert Greene, Greek romance, fortune, time, jealousy, and literary popularity.
How does Greene’s "prodigal son" narrative differ from traditional versions?
Greene deviates from the traditional parable by removing the requirement for repentance; because the son’s "rebellion" is vindicated by his beloved being a princess, the son does not repent as the standard moral framework would dictate.
What significance is attributed to the "Appolonian oracle" in the story?
The oracle serves as an external, divine authority that reveals the truth, highlighting the author’s view that the human intellect is often insufficient to penetrate the veils cast by fortune and passion.
- Quote paper
- Daniela Esser (Author), 2001, Robert Greene's Pandosto. The Triumph of Time., Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/6570
