Decoding Gratitude in Shakespeare: Unraveling the Speech Act of Thanking in Romeo and Juliet and All’s Well that Ends Well

Abstract

This study undertakes a linguistic exploration of the speech act of thanking in two of Shakespeare's iconic plays, "Romeo and Juliet" and "All’s Well That Ends Well." Employing a pragmatic framework, the research delves into the nuances of gratitude expression, analyzing the contextual variations and rhetorical devices employed by characters. The investigation seeks to unravel the cultural and sociolinguistic dimensions of thanking within the Elizabethan context, shedding light on the intricate web of relationships and societal norms embedded in Shakespearean drama. Through a meticulous examination of linguistic markers and situational contexts, this study contributes to our understanding of gratitude as a dynamic communicative act in the works of Shakespeare.