Shakespeare was breaking new ground in his final phase of his dramatic career. The plays Cymbelline, The Winter’s Tale, Pericles and The Tempest are quite different from the plays that Shakespeare had attempted earlier. These plays are called Dramatic  Romances. Prof. Dowden feels that Shakespeare attained serenity of mind during this period. He learnt to extend the quality of mercy even to his enemies. So at the end of these plays, there is forgiveness and reconciliation. The proper perspective to view the last plays is to regard them as reconstruction and regeneration of life after the pervasive destruction recorded in the tragedies.