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The Oxford School Shakespeare has become the preferred introduction to the literary legacy of the greatest playwright in the English language. This exclusive collection of the Bard's best works has been designed specifically for readers new to Shakespeare's rich literary legacy. Each play is presented complete and unabridged, in large print. Every book is well illustrated, and starts with a commentary and character summary. Scene synopses and character summaries clarify confusing plots, while incisive essays explore the historical context and Shakespeare's sources. Each book ends with a complete list of Shakespeare's plays and a brief chronology of the Bard's life. The detailed explanatory notes are written clearly and positioned right next to the text--no more squinting at microscopic footnotes or flipping pages back and forth in search of endnotes!The new edition of the series features new covers and new illustrations, including both new drawings and photos from recent productions of Shakespeare's plays around the globe. In addition, the notes and the introductory material have been completely revised in line with new research and in order to make them clearer and more accessible. Finally, the entire text has been redesigned and reset to enhance readability. The new edition achieves the feat of unprecedented clarity of presentation without any cuts to the original text or the detailed explanations.
Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, orchestrates a tempest to shipwreck his usurping brother and the King of Naples upon his enchanted island. Stranded and separated, the survivors navigate a landscape governed by Prospero’s magical command over the spirit Ariel and the monstrous Caliban. The narrative unfolds through a series of orchestrated encounters designed to test the morality of the castaways while securing a future for Prospero’s daughter, Miranda. As the play progresses, the boundaries between reality and illusion blur, forcing the characters to confront their past transgressions within a strictly controlled environment.
Discussion often centers on the play's status as a meditation on the nature of art and the playwright's own retirement from the stage. Readers frequently highlight the complex moral ambiguity of Prospero, whose control over the island's inhabitants invites ongoing debate regarding authority and agency. Critics often examine the contrast between the ethereal nature of Ariel and the grounded, physical presence of Caliban as a reflection of human duality. The play's atmosphere is consistently praised for its blend of dark political intrigue and moments of profound, lyrical beauty that resonate across centuries of performance history.
Page Count:
160
Publication Date:
2001-05-10
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0198320302
ISBN-13:
9780198320302