Shakespear

The Shakespear books and their summaries

King Lear

A king divides his power and land between two of his daughters based on who loves him most; he then becomes destitute and insane.

Goneril, Regan, Cordelia

Macbeth

Three witches' predictions come true but not in the way anyone expected. “The Scottish Play” (1606)

Duncan, Malcolm, Banquo, Macduff

Othello

A Moorish general of the Venetian army defending Cyprus against Ottomans kills his wife, Desdemona, out of jealousy. (1594)

A Midsummer Nights Dream

A comedy in which four Athenian lovers and six amateur actors find themselves in a forest inhabited by fairies who manipulate the humans for their own enjoyment. (1595)

Oberon, Titania, Puck, Theseus, Hippolyta, Lysander, Hermia

Hamlet

Prince of Denmark learns his uncle killed his father, everyone dies. Shakespear’s longest play (1601)

Claudius, Gertrude, Polonius, Ophelia

Romeo and Juliet

Two romantic teenagers from feuding families get married and kill themselves within days of meeting. (1594)

Count Paris, Mercutio, Tybalt, Rosaline, Benvolio, Friar Laurence

The Tempest

Sorcerer Prospero, his daughter Miranda, and his two servants Caliban and Ariel live on a remote island filled with enchantment. (1611)

Julius Caeser

Tragic play in which Brutus joins a conspiracy led by Cassius to assassinate a Roman leader. Antony stirs up hostility against the conspirators and Rome becomes embroiled in a civil war. "Beware the Ides of March!" "Et tu, brute?" (1599)

The Merchant of Venice

"Comedic" play. Antonio defaults on a large loan to Jewish moneylender, Shylock. (1596)

Portia, Jessica, Lorenzo, Bassanio