Introduction
01 The HistoricaI Context of Restoration Comedies and the RakeHero
02 Literature Review
03 Rake—Hero and Sovereignty
04 The Argument and Structure of the Dissertation
Chapter One
The Rake-Hero and Libertinism：
The Political Predicament of Royal Sovereignty
11 Rake-Hero and Patriarchalism：Illegitimacy of Royal Sovereignty
12 Rake-Hero and Fashion：Theatricality of Royal Sovereignty
13 Rake Hero and Misogyny：Ineffectiveness of Royal Sovereignty
Chapter Two
The Generic Tension between the RakeHere and Comedy：
The Legal Embarrassment ofAbsolute Sovereignty
21 Rake—Hero in Generic Disguise：Threat of Absolute Monarchy
22 Rake—Hero Spoiling the Comic：DeinslituliOnaIizing the Institution of PoliticaI Absolutism
23 Rakishness Resulted from Monopoly Generic Discourse：Reprimand of PoliticaI Absolutism
Chapter Three
The Rake-Hero Rearmed：The Endorsement of Contracted Sovereignty
31 Gentry Rival of Rake—Heroes：New Attributes of Governorship
32 Rake—Hero Contracted：Legal Settlement of Sovereignty
33 A New Rake-Hero：Confidence in PoliticaI Reforms
Conclusion
Bibliography