Shakespeare's Histories of Forgiveness

William Shakespeare is often concerned with forgiveness in the English history plays that he writes in the 1590s. There are little tragedies and comedies of forgiveness in them, and at least one apotheosis. We see potentials for the new beginnings that forgiveness can offer, as well as recognition of the importance of clemency and pardon in the political theory and practice of the period. And yet the thrust of Shakespeare's histories of forgiveness runs counter to that theory and practice, and implies that new beginnings will be possible only when the people no longer look for for giveness from monarchs.