This thesis examines representations of “strangeness” in The Tempest and their historical roots in medieval travel writing and early colonial exploration. By analyzing how Shakespeare constructs fear and fascination toward unfamiliar places and peoples, the research argues that strangeness is not inherent, but psychologically and culturally produced.

This research examines dismemberment in early modern drama to explore how cultural systems shape human responses to violence. By analysing plays such as Titus Andronicus, the project argues that fear and disgust are historically conditioned rather than purely instinctive, revealing how societies teach audiences to interpret violent imagery across different historical periods

This research examines the cultural history of swooning, showing how it shifted from a masculine trait in medieval romance to a feminised one in early modern theatre. Analysing English plays, it reveals evolving anxieties about emotional expression and gender, offering insights into how social norms continue to shape perceptions of vulnerability today.