Forgiving the gift

"Original readings of Dr. Faustus, The Merchant of Venice, Edward II, King Lear, Titus Andronicus, and The Tempest, in which Sean Lawrence challenges the tendency to reflexively understand gifts as exchanges or negotiations. Lawrence uses the philosophies of Levinas and Derrida to argue that these plays depict a radical generosity that breaks the cycle self-interest"--Provided by publisher.