III. THE PERIOD OF GREAT TRAGEDIES Julius Cæsar. A picture of the national upheaval connected with the death of Cæsar. Its central figure is the noble but misguided patriot Brutus. Hamlet. One of the most thoughtful and poetical of dramas, centering around the story of a son called to avenge a murdered father. Othello. The tragedy of a noble but passionate man who becomes the dupe of a villain, and through mistaken jealousy murders his innocent bride. King Lear. The tragedy of ingratitude. King Lear gives all his lands to his two eldest daughters, but their cruelty leads to his death and that of his one faithful child Cordelia. Macbeth. A terrible picture of the retribution which follows ambition and murder. Macbeth assassinates his predecessor to become king, but is overthrown and dies miserably in the hour of defeat. Antony and Cleopatra. The tragedy of a great soldier who sacrifices an empire for love of a fascinating but wicked woman. Timon of Athens. The tragedy of a noble Athenian who ruins himself by unwise generosity. Coriolanus. The tragedy of a noble Roman whose brave but unreasonably haughty spirit makes him the enemy and desolator of his country. IV. ROMANTIC TALES OF SHAKESPEARE'S LATER YEARS Pericles. The adventures of a family who are long separated and finally united. Cymbeline. A Winter's Tale. Two stories of mistaken jealousy, with frequent threats of disaster but with a happy ending. Cymbeline is a story of ancient Britain; the scene of the Winter's Tale is laid in Sicily and Bohemia. The Tempest. The story of an exiled duke on an enchanted island. Here he brings his enemies within his power and is restored to his dukedom. King Henry VIII. A series of picturesque events in the life of King Henry and Cardinal Wolsey. Shakespeare's non-dramatic works include: Venus and Adonis (1593). The Rape of Lucrece (1594). The Passionate Pilgrim (1599). A collection of short poems, containing a few by Shakespeare. : SIWARD, earl of Northumberland, general of the English forces. Young SIWARD, his son. SEYTON, an officer attending on Macbeth. Boy, son to Macduff. An English Doctor. A Scotch Doctor. A Sergeant. A Porter. An Old Man. Lady MACBETH. Lady MACDUFF. Gentlewoman attending on Lady Macbeth. HECATE. Three Witches. Apparitions. Lords, Gentlemen, Officers, Soldiers, Murderers, Attendants, and Messengers. SCENE: Scotland; England |