Author Description
This is the complete set of Shakespeare's tragedies taken from the First Folio of 1623. The plays include: Antony and Cleopatra; Coriolanus; The First Part of Henry the Sixth; The First Part of the Contention of the Two Famous Houses of York and Lancaster (2 Henry VI); Hamlet; Henry V; Henry VIII; The History of King Lear: The Quarto Text; Julius Caesar; King Lear: The Folio Text; King Lear: The Quarto Text; Macbeth; The Merchant of Venice; The Merry Wives of Windsor; The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet; The Most Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus; Othello; Romeo and Juliet; Timon of Athens; Titus Andronicus; The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra; The Tragedy of Coriolanus; The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark; The Tragedy of Julius Caesar; The Tragedy of King Lear: The Folio Text; The Tragedy of King Richard the Second; The Tragedy of King Richard the Third; The Tragedy of Macbeth; The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice; and The True Tragedy of Richard Duke of York and the Good King Henry the Sixth (3 Henry VI).
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
This collection presents the definitive tragic works of William Shakespeare, exploring the catastrophic consequences of human ambition, betrayal, and moral decay. The protagonist of each play faces a unique set of internal and external pressures, ranging from political instability to personal vendettas, which inevitably lead to their downfall. These narratives utilize a variety of structures, including blank verse, soliloquies, and complex dialogue, to examine the limits of power and the fragility of the human condition. The world-building is rooted in historical and mythological settings, where logical constraints are dictated by the social hierarchies and fatalistic outcomes inherent in the tragic genre.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- Utilization of iambic pentameter and blank verse to drive narrative momentum
- Inclusion of both Quarto and Folio text variations for comparative study
- Exploration of the 'tragic flaw' or hamartia in central characters
- Integration of supernatural elements and omens to foreshadow doom
- Complex character development through extended soliloquies
- Examination of political corruption and the instability of monarchy
- Use of dramatic irony to heighten tension for the audience
- Focus on themes of revenge, madness, and moral ambiguity
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
Discussion often centers on the editorial choices made in presenting multiple versions of the same play, such as the distinct Quarto and Folio texts of King Lear. Readers frequently highlight the linguistic precision and the enduring relevance of the psychological conflicts depicted in these tragedies. Critics often analyze the balance between the intimate personal struggles of the protagonists and the broader societal collapse that accompanies their failures. The collection is widely regarded as a foundational resource for understanding the evolution of Shakespearean drama and the mechanics of the tragic form.
Page Count:
416
Publication Date:
1994-06-02
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0198182740
ISBN-13:
9780198182740
Poetry
Drama
Dramatic works
Tragedy
Plays
classic
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