Originally published in the First Folio of 1623, William Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale” is a play which has been classified by some critics as a comedy and by others as a romance. The confusion arises out of the fact that the first three acts are filled with intense psychological drama while the last two acts provide a comedic and happy ending. At the outset of the play we are introduced to two childhood friends, Leontes, King of Sicilia, and Polixenes, the King of Bohemia, who has travelled...
HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.Considered one of Shakespeare’s most haunting tragic-comedies, The Winter’s Tale is an in-depth analysis of the psychology of family and friendship, jealousy and love, art and nature, all illustrated in rich poetry.Based on Robert Greene’s story Pandosto, the play tells the story of Leontes, king of Sicilia, and his childhood friend, Polixenes, king of Bohemia. In a jealous rage, Leontes mistakenly accuses...
Often regarded as one of the more difficult of Shakespeare's plays to categorize, «Timon of Athens» eclectically contains elements of comedy in its satire as well as components of tragedy in Timon's allegorical downfall and death. The play depicts Timon as an enormously wealthy man who gives away his possessions to a large number of false friends. When he himself is in need, all of them turn their backs on him, and the result is Timon's savage embitterment and raging seclusion....
Widely accepted as Shakespeare's earliest tragedy, «Titus Andronicus» is the bloody story of a Roman general engaged in terrible revenge with the Queen of the Goths, Tamora. The play begins with Titus returning to Rome after ten years of fighting. He brings with him the defeated Tamora, Queen of the Goths, and her sons. Titus sacrifices one of Tamora's sons to avenge the sons he lost in the war, which begins a cycle of revenge in which Tamora and her lover Aaron the Moor plot and...
Widely accepted as Shakespeare’s earliest tragedy, “Titus Andronicus” is the bloody story of a Roman general engaged in terrible revenge with the Queen of the Goths, Tamora. The play begins with Titus returning to Rome after ten years of fighting. He brings with him the defeated Tamora, Queen of the Goths, and her sons. Titus sacrifices one of Tamora’s sons to avenge the sons he lost in the war, which begins a cycle of revenge in which Tamora and her lover, Aaron the Moor, plot and scheme...
