/Plays of Shakespeare

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1564-1616)

William Shakespeare was considered the greatest writer of all times in the world. He was a well-known writer of
sonnets and plays. In fact, he had written about 154 sonnets in his lifetime. Aside from poetry, he was also best known as
a great dramatist. He had written about 37 plays for over 20-year period from 1590 to 1610. He was acclaimed the greatest
dramatist and brilliant playwright who gave immortal glory to the Elizabethan age.

William Shakespeare was born on April 23. 1564 to John, a glover, and Mary Arden, a daughter of a farmer. He
was married to Anne Hathaway in 1582, and had three daughters. Shakespeare was considered a master and molder of the
English language. was both a poet and playwright, but he was most popular in the field of drama. He wrote variety of
wonderful s. comedies, tragedies and historical. Only two great a may be considered his equal. Homer and Dante. Almost
all, if not all, recognized him as the universal poet. e of his greatest plays was Julius Caesar.

Julius Caesar, a Roman general and one of the most powerful man in Rome was treacherously stabbed to death. e
of the suspect was Brutus, Caesar's trusted friend. g the funeral, Brutus spoke to explain to the Romans he found it
necessary to assassinate Caesar. After Brutus has spoken, Mark Anthony, also a Roman general Caesar's close friend
spoke to the people were enraged against Caesar's murderer.

One of his greatest plays was Macbeth, which speaks of a man who lived and died with ambition, colored by
blackness of the nights and redness of blood, uncleansed by remorse. It was said that Shakespeare based his play from
history. The murder of Duncan was based on the murder of Duncan's great grandfather. King Duffe, by Donwald, the
governor of his cantle and his wife, while Macbeth was the grandson of King Malcolm II of Scotland (1031 A.D.). by
daughter Donda, who married Pinilae.
The overpowering influence of supernatural and superstitious elements prevail in the play with the appearance of
Banquo's ghost and the warning of destruction by the witches intensified by the smell of blood and death.
The theme of Macbeth goes beyond mere literary significance. It exposes Shakespeare's genius in portraying
depth his knowledge of human nature, and man's weaknesses. The greatness of the play lies in the way it was written, its
imagery and its presentation of a most spectacular hero and most fascinating heroine. Its beauty also lies in its ability to
stir upon the readers a feeling of grandeur that stems from the shock recognition of the character, Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth who committed hideous act, but the readers are left with the feeling that they are not totally evil; they only serve
as the personification of man's struggle to perfect himself and the world in every individual at times is overcome by evil's
irrationality.

Romeo and Juliet

Prince Escalus of Verona - has the misfortune of ruling over a state where two major families are locked in an
unending war.
Romeo - is the only son of the Montague family of Verona.
Mercutio - is a kinsman of the Prince’s, and a close friend of Romeo’s.
Benvolio - is Montague’s nephew. By nature law-abiding and peaceful, he attempts to
Tybalt - is the nephew of Capulet’s wife, and that family’s chief troublemaker.
Petruchio - is one of Tybalt’s friends. He is present at the Capulets’ feast and accompanies Tybalt when the
latter goes seeking Romeo the next day.
Friar Laurence - is a Franciscan friar who is confessor to both Juliet and Romeo
Friar John - is sent by Friar Laurence to Mantua, with letters informing Romeo that Juliet is not in fact dead.
Lady Capulet - is approximately 28, and makes mock of her aged husband’s pretensions to fighting.
 /Plays of Shakespeare

Juliet - is the only child of the Capulet family. A fortnight shy of fourteen, she is an obedient child, but reveals
herself to be passionate and willing to betray all that she has been brought up to when she falls in love with
Romeo.

Synopsis
On a hot morning fighting by young servants of the Capulet and Montague families is stopped by the
Prince who tells them that the next person who breaks the peace will be punished with death.
Capulet plans a feast to introduce his daughter, Juliet, who is almost fourteen, to the Count Paris who
would like to marry her. By a mistake of the illiterate servant Peter, Montague’s son, Romeo, and his friends
Benvolio and the Prince’s cousin Mercutio, hear of the party and decide to go in disguise. Romeo hopes he will
see his adored Rosaline but instead he meets and falls in love with Juliet.
Juliet’s cousin Tybalt recognises the Montagues and they are forced to leave the party just as Romeo and
Juliet have each discovered the other’s identity. Romeo lingers near the Capulet’s house and talks to Juliet when
she appears on her balcony. With the help of Juliet’s Nurse the lovers arrange to meet next day at the cell of
Friar Lawrence when Juliet goes for confession, and they are married by him.
Tybalt picks a quarrel with Mercutio and his friends and Mercutio is accidentally killed as Romeo
intervenes to try to break up the fight. Romeo pursues Tybalt in anger, kills him and is banished by the Prince
for the deed. Juliet is anxious that Romeo is late meeting her and learns of the fighting from her Nurse. With
Friar Lawrence’s help it is arranged that Romeo will spend the night with Juliet before taking refuge at Mantua.
To calm the family’s sorrow at Tybalt’s death the day for the marriage of Juliet to Paris is brought
forward. Capulet and his wife are angry that Juliet does not wish to marry Paris, not knowing of her secret
contract with Romeo.
Friar Lawrence helps Juliet by providing a sleeping potion that will make everyone think she’s dead.
Romeo will then come to her tomb and take her away. When the wedding party arrives to greet Juliet next day
they think she is dead. The Friar sends a colleague to warn Romeo to come to the Capulet’s family monument
to rescue his sleeping wife but the message doesn’t get through and Romeo, hearing instead that Juliet is dead,
buys poison in Mantua.
He returns to Verona and goes to the tomb where he surprises and kills the mourning Paris. Romeo takes
the poison and dies just as Juliet awakes from her drugged sleep. She learns what has happened from Friar
Lawrence but she refuses to leave the tomb and stabs herself as the Friar returns with the Prince, the Capulets
and Romeo’s father. The deaths of their children lead the families to make peace, promising to erect a
monument in their memory.

"It is the east, and Juliet is the sun" (Act II, Scene II). -Romeo
"Good Night, Good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow."
(Act II, Scene II). - Juliet
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet". (Quote Act II,
Sc. II).
- Juliet
"Tempt not a desperate man" (Act V, Scene III). - Romeo
"For you and I are past our dancing days". (Act I, Scene V). - Capulet
"It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear". (Act I, Scene V).
- Romeo
"See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand! O that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch
that cheek!" (Act II, Sc. II). - Romeo
A plague o' both your houses! They have made worms' meat of me! (Act III, Sc 1), Mercutio
 /Plays of Shakespeare

A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life. (Prologue, 7)

Thus with a kiss I die. (Act 5, Sc 3), Romeo
O Happy Dagger. (Act 5, Sc 3)

Hamlet

Claudius - king of denmark

Hamlet - son to the late, and nephew to the present Horatio - friend to hamlet
king Fortinbras - prince of norway
Gertrude - queen of denmark and mother to hamlet Rosencrantz and Guildenstern – university friends
Polonius - lord chamberlain of Hamlet
Laertes - his son Francisco - a soldier
Ophelia - daughter to polonius Reynaldo - Servant to Polonius

Synopsis

HAMLET
By William Shakespeare
Condensed by Marchette Chute

It was a cold and dark winter night in Denmark and for two nights in succession, just as the bell strikes the hour of
one, a ghost has appeared on the battlements, a figure dressed in complete armor and with a face like that of the dead King
of Denmark, Hamlet's father. A young man named Horatio, who is a school friend of Hamlet, has been told of the
apparition and cannot believe it, and one of the officers has brought him there in the night so that he can see it for himself.

The hour comes, and the ghost walks. The awed Horatio tries to speak to it but it stalks away, leaving the three
men to wonder why the buried king has come back to haunt the land. It may be because his country is in danger, for there
is a threat of war in Denmark; the nephew of the king of Norway is taking of invading. Whatever the message is that has
awakened the ghost, it refuses to share with them. But perhaps it will speak to Hamlet, and they decide
to go and tell the dead King's son what they have seen that night.
:
Hamlet is in one of the great ceremonial rooms of the castle, somberly watching the behavior of his uncle. His
uncle is now king of Denmark, for he has married Hamlet's mother and ascended the throne of Hamlet's father. The new
head of the state handles the dignity of his office with practiced case. He dispatches two countries on * peace mission to
Norway, gives permission to the son of his lord chamberlain to leave for France, and then turns his attention to his loyal
nephew. Hamlet is still wearing block in mourning for his father's death, and his uncle chides him gently for what he feels
is an undue show of grief. But the king can get no answer from Hamlet, who Throws him one brief sentence and then
addresses all his remarks to his mother' and it is his mother, the queen who persuades him not to go back to the university
again but to stay at Elsinore.

The royal pair and their courtiers leave the room, and Hamlet is left alone, to face the sick disgust that he has felt
all through the conversation.
O God, God!
How weary, stale, fiat and unprofitable
Seem to me all the used of this world ...
 /Plays of Shakespeare

It is not only his father's sudden death that has plunged Hamlet so deep in melancholy. It is the even greater shock
of his mother's marriage, less than two months later, to a man for whom Hamlet has the most savage personal contempt.
He cannot keep his sick imagination from playing about the details of their life together and his sense of anguish and
outrage deepens the more his mind dwells on it.

Horatio enters, together with the two officers of the watch, and Hamlet welcomes his delightedly. Horatio has all
the qualities that Hamlet lacks, possessing a gentle, easy steadiness for which Hamlet later thanks him from the heart; and
his fellow student from the university is the only human being with whom the prince can talk freely. Horatio tells him that
the ghost of his dead father has returned to haunt the battlements, and Hamlet is profoundly stirred. "Indeed, indeed, sirs,
but this troubles me'. He arranged to meet the three of them that night, to watch for the ghost's return, and then waited
longingly for the darkness.

The son of the lord chamberlain, a young man named Laertes, makes his preparations to leave for France and
gives his sister a few last-minute instructions before he goes. Her name is Ophella, and Hamlet has been paying court to
her. In Laertes opinion, she should not pay too much attention to the prince's talk of love for he is where he pleases.
Ophelia is a gentle girl, very strictly brought up, and she promises to conduct herself carefully at home if he will do the
same in Paris.

The father, the chamberlain. enters; a pompous, talkative old man whose name is Polonius. He has gathered
together a string of moral maxims to guide his son on his travels, and Laertes leaves, he turns to Ophelia In the opinion of
Polonius also she has been seeing too much of the prince, and although Ophelia maintains that Hamlet has made love
honorably and intends marriage, her father gives her an outright order that she is to see no
more of him.

The ghost beckons and Hamlet's friends try to stop him from following, for it may be an evil spirit that will tempt
him to his own destruction. But Hamlet by this time is in a stage of almost frenzied excitement, and three men cannot hold
him, His nerves on edge, he follows the steel-clad figure that stalks in front of him and finally can endure the silence no
longer. "Speak! I'll go no further."

The ghost turns and speaks, and it is then that Hamlet received the full weight of a hideous discovery. For the king
his father did not die a natural death. He was poisoned by his brother, who stole his life, his crown and his queen; and a
murderer now reigns in Denmark. The dead king has returned from his own torment in purgatory to ask his son avenge the
murder, and to ask him also not to hurt his mother, the woman all three men love. "Leave her to heaven." The ghost
vanishes, leaving Hamlet shaken almost to hysteria by his hatred of his uncle. "O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain."
He has not been told what for his revenge ought to take. He only knows that from this time forward it must be the center
of his life. He sees himself- that subtle, intelligent, civilized man - as a single rigid instrument, dedicated only to
vengeance, and when his friends reach him they can make no sense of his conversation. Horatio continue to give his
friend the steady, loving sympathy that is so characteristics of him, brut even he is disturbed by the prince's "wild and
whirling words."

Hamlet is at least clear that secrecy will be vital, and he tries to make the three men swear that they will not reveal
what they have seen and heard that night. When they show reluctance, the voice of the ghost beneath the earth, echoes.
Hamlet's command, and the straight
forward Horatio is completely bewildered by what is happening "O day and night; but this is wondrous
range. Hamlet turns to him almost with a smile.
And therefore, as a stranger gives it welcome.
There are more things in heaven and earth,
Horatio, Than are dream of in your philosophy...

Finally, the three men swear on the hilt of Hamlet's sword that they will reveal nothing and, if the behaves
strangely about the court, they will not suggest they know why. Once they have taken the oath. Hamlet remembers the
courtesy that is normal to him, but his heart is heavy with the burden that has been laid upon it.
The time is out of joint; O cursed spite.
That ever I was born to set it right!...
 /Plays of Shakespeare

Polonious, the lord chamberlain, has been puttering about in his secretive way, making sure that his children obey
all precepts that have been given them. He sets a servant to pay on his son's behavior in Paris, in the claim conviction he is
doing it only for his son's god, and it is for his daughter's good that he has ordered her to see no more of Hamlet. The
frightened Ophelia comes to tell her father that Hamlet broke in upon her while she sat sewing. With his face as white as
his shirt and the look of a man who had seen hell, he gripped her wrist, stared at her face as intently as though he were
memorizing it, and then backed out of the room with eyes never leaving hers. Polonius, much shocked by this unforeseen
development, decides that Hamlet has been driven insane by unrequited love. He deeply regrets he ever told his daughter
to spurn the prince and trots off to tell the news to the king.

The king is very much aware of the change in Hamlet's behavior, and extremely worried by it. He has asked two
friends of Hamlet's youth to come to the court – Rosenerantz and Guildenstern-in the hope that they can find out what is
troubling the prince. The king has at least the consolation of good news from Norway, for the prince of that country has
given up all thought of invading Denmark and merely wants safe passage for a military expedition farther south. Polonius
enters with long winded explanation of his private theories about Hamlet, and the queen is inclined to believe them. The
kind is not so sure, but he agrees to set watch on Hamlet's behavior when he is with Ophelia Polonius finds himself alone
with Hamlet, who is quietly reading, and interrupts him with one of his silly well. intentioned questions, put to him
anxious solicitude, Hamlet consider him a "great baby' and amuses himself for a few moments by playing him as though
he were a fish. Then Rosencrantz and Guildenstern come in, and Hamlet does not have the contempt for them that he does
for the lord chamberlain. He lets them see a little of the heaviness of his heart and calls Denmark a prison. The two men
protest that it is not, but Hamlet has learned a deeper truth. "Why, then. tis none to you; for there is nothing either good or
bad, but thinking makes it so; to me it is a prison." The suggest that his difficult may be ambition and Denmark is too
narrow for his mind, but Hamlet known better than that. "O God! I could be bounded in a nutshell, and count myself a
king of infinite space, were it not that. I have bad dreams."

Hamlet makes the two men admit that the king has sent them and gives them an answer to take back his
trouble is only melancholy. He makes a most eloquent speech on the beauty and wonder of the world and why it seems
only a heap of grayness to him. Even man, that incredible and intricate piece of creation, though by your smiling you
seem to say so."

The two men hurriedly explain that they smiled only to think what is poor welcome Hamlet would give to the troupe of
traveling actors who have come to Elsinore, and Hamlet is instantly delighted to know that the players have arrived. His
quick and which leaps at everything wants to know how they have prospered since he saw them last and when the players
themselves appear Hamlet greets them as old friends. He ask one of them to recite a scene from a tragedy he admires and
is so moved that the speech has to be broken off. The actors are taken away by Polonius, who, as lord chamberlain, is
responsible for all, the entertainment in the castle but who has a frank lack of interest in classified tragedy. Hamlet detains
one of the actors for a moment and asks him to present a play called "The Murder of Gonzago" before the king, with a few
extra lines to be written into the text by Hamlet himself.

Then Hamlet is left alone, and the courteous, witty, intelligent young prince dissolves into a tormented human
being. He has just been watching an actor work himself up into a torment of tragic emotion over a character in a play.
For Hecuba! What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba
That he should weep for her?

But he himself with enough cause to drown an audience in tears, has done nothing. He starts to rage at his uncle
and yet he is perfectly aware that he is making a fool of himself to shout curses when it is action that is required.

Still he cannot be sure what he ought to do. It may very well be that the ghost was an evil spirit, tempting him to
his own destruction by telling lies, and Hamlet must have proofs of his uncle's guilt before he has a right to take revenge.
Tomorrow night, at the play, a scene of murder by poison will be presented by the actors whom Hamlet has trained; and if
his uncle turns pale, the dead man's son will know what to do.
The play's the thing Wherein l’ll catch the conscience of the king.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstem report to the king that they have not been able to find the real reason for Hamlet's
behavior, and the king turns to his second source of information, Ophelia. Her father sets her out, with a book in her hand,
in a place where Hamlet is sure to come, and then he and the king hide themselves to watch what will happen.
 /Plays of Shakespeare

Hamlet enters, desperate enough by this time to be thinking of suicide. It seems to him that it would be such a
sure way of escape from torment, just to cease existing and he gives the famous speech on suicide that has never been
worn thin by repetition. To be, or not to be...* It would be easy to stop living.
To die, to sleep.
No more. And by a sleep to say we end.
The heartache and the thousand natural shocks.
The flesh in heir to...
But Hamlet has never succeeded in deceiving Mal id he cannot do so now.
To die, to sleep...

To sleep; perchance to dream; there's the rub;

For in that sleep of death what dreams may come.
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil.
Must give us pause. There's the respect.
That makes calamity of so long life...

No one would endure the weight of human living if he would put a stop to it merely be ceasing to exist. But it
may be that a man does not end his torment by suicide but only, enters worse territory;

...the dread of something after death.

The undiscovered country, from whose bourn
No traveler return, puzzles the will.
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of ...

Hamlet will not be even be able to kill himself. He was thought to much about it to be able to make any action. He
sees Ophelia, who has been holding some little gifts he gave her in the days when he also gave her his love. She wants to
give them back to him, and Hamlet, in his turn, wants nothing to do with any woman. His mother has given herself to a
murderer, and everything about the idea of marriage sickens him. 'Get thee to a nunnery; why wouldst thou be a breeder of
sinner? He lashes out at Ophelia as wildly as though she has invented the propagation of the human race, so full of pain
himself that he cannot stop to be aware of the pain he is causing, and she can only conclude that Hamlet is hopelessly
insane.

The listening king is not so easily deceived he knows that Hamlet has something definite on his mind and is amid
it may threaten his own safety. Hamlet must be sent out of the country, and the king is easily able to think of a political
excuse to send him in England. Polonius, a determined old sentimentalist, is still sure that Hamlet is suffering from
unrequited love, and the king agrees after the play the queen should try to discover what is wrong. Hamlet is very much
occupied with his production of the play and is full of advice to the players on the art of acting. It is only to Horatio that
he tells his basic purpose., and he asks his friend to watch the king's face during thee. poisoning scene. The king and
queen and all the countries; enter to see the show, and Hamlet, as restless as a cat hest down at Ophelia's feet and talks
more than he should.

'The Murder of Gonzago" begins, and the king grows increasingly disturbed. Hamlet assures him that the whole
thing is mere make-believe; 'They do but jost; poison in jest; no offense in the world: The actual scene of poisoning'
Wales and the king sets a reenactment of his own crime. He can endure it no longer. He rises and calls for lights, and the
performance ends in confusion. Hamlet is wild with excitement at the success of his plan, and when he receives! word that
his mother wants to speak to him, he goes with the conviction that now he can be firm in the "bitter! business," he has
vowed to perform.

The king knows now that his crown and his life are in danger as long as Hamlet remains alive, and he plots with
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to destroy the prince. But the king is no monster, and he bitterly aware of the magnitude of
his sins. He longs for his soul's peace, and is on his knees in prayer when Hamlet passes on the way to his mother's room.
It occurs to the prince how easy it would be to plunge a sword into his uncle's back and be done with the whole thing, and
then he dismisses the idea as too weak a form of revenge. He must choose some moment when tie the king is sunk in evil,
not in prayer, so that his soul may. be damned.
 /Plays of Shakespeare

Polonius has gone to the queen's room, since he. intends to report back to the king everything that Hamlet. says,
and he is giving her some final instruction when they hear Hamlet coming. Polonius hides behind the wall hanging, and
Hamlet enters the room so tense with fury that the queen thinks for a moment her son intends to murder her. She calls out
for help and Polonius echoes her; and Hamlet, thinking it is the king drives his word through the tapestry. Then he
discovers that he has killed the silly old man Instead.

Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell!

I took thee for thy better.

Hamlet has no interest in Polonius at the moment Ills whole soul is focused on his mother, intent on making har
acknowledge her sin. The bewildered woman can understand nothing in his words except the violence in them, and when
he suddenly begins to talk to the empty air she is more convinced than ever that he must be mad. But Hamlet has seen the
ghost of his father again, come to force him on his revenge, and he will not let the unhappy queen so until he is almost in a
state of collapse. “O Hamlet thou hast let my heart in twain”

The queen tells her husband that Hamlet has killed Polonius in a fit of instantly, and the king sent Rosencrentz
slid Guildenstern to find where Hamlet has hidden the body I (gimlet will not tell anyone where he has been able to lung
the guts,' as he calls it, and his behavior is so wild that the king has no difficulty in justifying his own plan. For
Rosencrentz and Guildenstern bear letters to England demanding the death of Hamlet as soon as he arrives there.

On his way to England, Hamlet encounters the army of lie prince of Norway, who is passing through Denmark on
him way to Poland. Hamlet is deeply impressed by the fact that do many brave men are prepared to fight and die in a
quarrel not their own. It throws the real trouble; it comes from 'thinking too precisely on the event? And he prays that
from his time forward, since he cannot stop thinking Its thoughts will be of blood only.

Her father's death has been too much for the gentle, sheltered spirit of Ophelia, and she wanders through the r0urt
singing songs she should never heard or known. She is Insane, and the king and queen can only watch her in helpless pity.

Her brother Laertes, when he hears the news, takes a different course. He is sure that it was the king who
murdered his father, and he promptly raises the standard of molt. The king knows exactly how to handle a hasty young
man and has no difficulty in persuading Laertes that Hamlet should br the object of his rage. It takes the king a little
longer to persuade Laertes to murder Hamlet, but he finally agrees to challenge him to a duel and kill him with a poisoned
rapier.

The king is obliged to hurry, for Hamlet has slipped out of the trap that was laid for him in England. lie sends
word to the king that he is coming home, but he knows nothing of what has been happening in his absence. Above all, he
does not know that Ophelia is no longer living. She tried to hang a wreath on a willow tree near a brook, and even the
branch broke with her weight she made no effort to save herself. Instead she lay in the water singing her little songs, until
she drowned.

Ophelia is to be buried in the churchyard, and two very chatty gravediggers prepared her grave. It was not usual
for anyone suspected of suicide to be buried in holy ground, and the realistic diggers decide it must be because she
belongs to the 'great folk? One of them remains behind to finish the grave, and Hamlet arrives to find him singing to
himself, as cheerfully insensitive to death as the clods of earth he is flinging about.

Hamlet is in no special hurry to return to the court, and the gravedigger and the loose bones fascinate him. lie
finds the skull of a jester he loved when was a small boy, a man named Verick, and his quick imagination begins to range
over the whole subject of the dissolution of the human body. He has reached the point of convincing the dust of the
mighty Alexander stuffed in the bunghole of a beer barrel when a funeral procession approaches and he lingers to see
whose it is.

It is the funeral of Ophelia, attended by all the court and her brother Laertes is halt-crazed with grief. Lie is
enraged that the priest will not permit the singing of a ' requiem for his sister because she was a suicide, and finally he
leaps into her grave, shouting to them to pile the earth over them both until they have reached a mountain. His ranting
suddenly puts Hamlet into a 'towering passion' and he leaps into the grave to shout even louder than Laertes.
 /Plays of Shakespeare

` I loved Ophelia; forty thousand brothers Could not, with all their quantity of love
Wake up my sum...

If there is to be talk of mountains, let 'millions of acres' of mountains be filed on them both, for Hamlet can bowl
rhetoric too.

Back in the castle, Hamlet can feel only the most profound regret for his behavior in the graveyard. 'I forget
myself.' He resolves to make a special effort to be a friend to Laertes, and when a mincing courtier brings a challenge
from him, Hamlet teases the courtier a little but accepts the challenge. He believes it is only a friendly bout, and yet he
admits to Horatio that he feels a foreboding. -Thou wouldst not think how ill all's here about my heart.' Horatio tries to
persuade him to give up the match and offers to make his excuses for him, but Hamlet is able to look at the future with
steady eyes.

'If it is not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet It will come; the readiness is all.'

The court gathers to watch the fencing match between the two young men, and only the king and Laertes know
that both the rapier and the wine are poisoned. Hamlet begins by offering Laertes his full apologies with the courtesy that
is always his when his shaken soul can give it time to show itself, and the last scene of his life begins.

The end comes quickly. Hamlet scores the first and drink a little wine. Hamlet, intent on the match, puts the cup
aside, and the queen picks it up and drinks it. The king knowing it poisoned, tries too late to stop her, and she falls dying
just as her son and his opponent are both hurt by the poisoned sword. It was changed hands in a close scuffle, and Laertes
knows that he deserves his coming death.

'I am justly killed with mine own treachery? He manages to gasp out the whole of the plot to Hamlet, ending with
his final cry. The king, the King's to blame.'

The dying Hamlet seizes the poisoned sword with his own blood still upon it, stab the king and then forces the
poisoned wined down his throat. The courtiers stand aghast and he tries to tell them what has happened for even with
death closing in upon him he can still remember that he is prince of Denmark and responsible for the welfare of his
country. But he no longer has the strength and he leaves the task to Haratio, with the final wish that the prince of Norway
is to rule Denmark. He has no more to say. The rest is silence.'
Goodnight, sweet prince.

And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. Four captains carry Hamlet's body away to give it a soldier's burial.

"To be, or not to be: that is the question". (Act III, Sc. I). - Hamlet
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. (Act 1 Sc 5)
- Hamlet
"Though this be madness, yet there is method in't." (Act II, Scene II). - Polonius
"The lady doth protest too much, methinks". (Act III, Sc. II). - Gertrude
"A little more than kin, and less than kind". (Act I, Scene II). - Hamlet
"The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king". (Act II, Scene II). - Hamlet
"This is the very ecstasy of love". - (Act II, Sc I). - Polonius
"Brevity is the soul of wit". - (Act II, Scene II). - Polonius
"Doubt that the sun doth move, doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt I love". (Act II, Sc. II). -
Polonius
"Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind". - (Hamlet Quote Act III, Scene I). - Ophelia
"Frailty, thy name is woman!" (Act I, Scene II) - Hamlet
 /Plays of Shakespeare

"Neither a borrower nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend, and borrowing dulls the
edge of husbandry." (Act I, Scene III) - Polonius
Othello
Brabantio, a Venetian senator, Desdemona’s father Emilia, wife to Iago, and Desdemona’s assistant
Gratiano, brother to Brabantio Desdemona, daughter to Brabantio, and wife to
Othello
Lodovico, kinsman to Brabantio
Roderigo, a Venetian gentleman, Desdomona’s
Othello, a noble moor in the service of the Venetian
suitor
state
Bianca, mistress to Cassio
Cassio, his lieutenant
Montano, Othello’s predecessor in the government
Iago, Othello’s ensign, also known as an ancient or
of Cyprus
standard bearer

Synopsis
The opening scene, Iago complains to Roderigo that Othello, his Commander, has passed him over to
promote the handsome young Cassio to be his Lieutenant. He vows to get revenge. Iago first asks Roderigo to
tell Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, that his daughter has left to marry Othello, a marriage Brabantio opposes
because Othello is a Moor. Brabantio confronts Othello, and they take their argument to the Duke, who has
summoned Othello to ask him to sail to Cyprus to stop a Turkish invasion. Convinced by Othello and
Desdemona that they love each other deeply despite their differences, the Duke gives Desdemona permission to
travel with Othello. By the time they reach Cyprus the foreign threat has gone.
Iago manipulates Cassio to make him drunk and gets Roderigo to draw him into a street fight. Iago has
his revenge on Cassio when Othello strips Cassio of his rank for misbehavior. Then Iago decides to make
Othello believe his wife is unfaithful. He encourages Cassio to ask Desdemona to plead with Othello to be
reinstated. Iago suggests to Othello that Desdemona is Cassio’s lover. Trusting Iago, and mad with jealousy,
Othello promotes Iago and asks Iago to help him kill Cassio and Desdemona.
Iago plants Desdemona’s handkerchief in Cassio’s room. Cassio gives it to his mistress, Bianca. Othello
believes Bianca’s possession of the handkerchief is proof that Desdemona and Cassio are lovers. He verbally
abuses his wife in front of others, who are shocked at the change in the noble and powerful man.
Iago has manipulated Roderigo into trying to kill Cassio. The attempt goes wrong, and Cassio wounds
Roderigo; Iago stabs Cassio in the leg. Othello hears Cassio cry out and thinks Iago has killed him. He returns
home, ready to kill Desdemona. Meanwhile, Iago “finds” the wounded Cassio and accuses Bianca of causing
Cassio’s injury. Iago quietly kills Roderigo and sends Emilia (Iago’s wife) to Desdemona with news of what has
happened.
Othello reaches the sleeping Desdemona first. He kisses her, wakes her, and accuses her again. Over her
protests that she loves him and is innocent, he smothers her. Emilia enters and Desdemona revives for a
moment, declaring herself guiltless but saying, as she dies, that Othello is innocent of her death. Iago and others
enter, and Emilia defends Desdemona’s innocence, recognizing that Iago is behind the tragedy.Othello sees the
truth and tries to kill Iago. Iago kills Emilia and flees; Othellocondemns himself and commits suicide. Iago is
seized and taken away.

"‘T’is neither here nor there." (Act IV, Scene III). - Emilia
"I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at". (Act I, Scene I). - Iago
"To mourn a mischief that is past and gone is the next way to draw new mischief on". (Act I, Scene III).
 /Plays of Shakespeare

- Duke of Venice
"The robbed that smiles steals something from the thief". (Act I, Scene III). – Duke of Venice
"It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock". (Act III) – Iago
"[w]ho would not make her husband a cuckold to make him a monarch?" (Act IV, Scene III, lines 74-
75)
“Your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs.” (Act 1, Sc 1) - Iago

Macbeth

The Witches: They are three sisters who trick Macbeth into believing that he is invincible, which leads to his
downfall.
Macbeth: Nobleman of Scotland, Thane of Glamis, and soon becomes Thane of Cawdor after defeating the
previous Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth is a brave and loyal man, but succumbs to his desires and ambitions by
murdering King Duncan in order to gain the throne.
Duncan: is the king of Scotland who was betrayed in the beginning of the play by the Thane of Cawdor.
Malcolm: is Duncan's oldest son and heir to the Scottish throne.
Banquo: is a general of Duncan's army, and the witches prophesy that his descendants will rule Scotland after
Macbeth is king..
Lady Macbeth: Lady Macbeth is Macbeth's wife.
Macduff: is a Scottish noble who suspects that Macbeth has murdered Duncan from the very beginning.
Donalbain: is the younger of Duncan's sons.
Lennox: is a Thane, a nobleman, of Scotland, seems to side with Macbeth for most of the play, but in the end
he is with Malcolm and the English soldiers who are fighting against Macbeth.
Fleance: is Banquo's son
Lady Macduff: is Macduff's wife.

Synopsis

MACBETH
William Shakespeare

Macbeth and Banguo, two Scottish generals of the King's army were coming home after defeating the enemies in
a great battle, when they were accosted by three ugly evil-looking woman making such a hurly-burly for their Victory.
The witches hailed them and greeted Macbeth as the Thane of Cawdor. They told him that he would become a king
someday.

In a camp near Forres, the court of King Duncan, were attending a bloodied soldier who told them of the victory
of the two generals. Just then, the King of Scotland arrived to welcome the heroes. Upon their arrival, the long bestowed
upon Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor for his valor in the battle,

Lust for power in Macbeth's heart, he called the three witches again for some more predictions. He was told that
he would be recognized as Thane of Cawdor and the King would be killed and he to become King of Scotland Pilled with
 /Plays of Shakespeare

ambition, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth started planning for the king's death. The sin of ingratitude filled the hearts of the
couple as they traced out how to execute the plan of murder for the king.

When King Duncan, with his two sons, was at Inverness to spend the night with the couple, Lady Macbeth
realized that this was the best opportunity to carry out the plan of murder the moment he fell asleep She was carefully able
to carry out her plan of action by making the guard dragged with wine and giving the dangers ready for Macbeth to
perform the job. Macbeth, a courageous general, was brave when it comes to action, but when he starts thinking, he
hesitates and fears, and has to be goaded by his wife and by the sense of security that he obtained from his contact with
the witches." He was a man caught between wanting to live and wanting to let live. His desires for the throne and yet, his
nature was too weak to enables himself to kill with firmness. However, Macbeth's love for his wife was the strongest
motivation to kill for he considered his wife his "dearest partner of greatness." In great fear and apprehension, Macbeth
slayed the sleeping Duncan, after which he returned to his wife in a state of horror. Lady Macbeth completed the
gruesome task by placing the blood-stained daggers near the guard smearing the face with blood. When the murder was
discovered by Macduff, one of the members of the King's court, Macbeth joined in the lamentations for the dead king. He
proudly announced that he had killed the guard responsible for the king's murder.

The King's sons, fearing for their lives and more violence, fled, Malcolm to England and Donaldbain to Ireland.
Suspicion of murder befell to the people of Scotland while Macbeth and Lady Macbeth together with all his followers,
had a grand celebration as he succeeded the throne.
Macbeth, though he had accomplished his ambition lived in fear of Banquo who was suspicious of the truth. Fear and
tortured by nightly dreams, Macbeth hired killers of Banquo, but his child Fleance escaped death. Even after Banquo's
death, Macbeth was devoured with apprehension and cowardice for his wrong deeds.

At one time during dinner, Banquo's ghost appeared at him, "shakes his gory looks" and glared at him with black
eyes. Macbeth was horrified by his appearance and he was driven to a strange behavior, until he suffered a recurrent
ailment. Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, tried to appease him and explained that ghosts are product of imaginations.

Meanwhile, Macduff had fled to England where Malcolm was a fugitive. He asked the help of the Royal Court for
assistance in restoring peace in Scotland where tyranny of Macbeth was overpowering. The loyalty of Macduff was tested
in England and when the king had him proven true, he obtained the thrust and confidence of the king so he was given an
army of soldiers to return to Scotland in order to overthrow Macbeth. Macduff returned to Scotland and vowed to kill
Macbeth with his own hands.

Meantime, Macbeth's foreboding had driven him return once again to consult the witches who warned him of
Macduff, but assured him that "none of woman born shall harm him, and that he would not die until the great Birham
wood would come to Dunsinane Hill against him. Macbeth, after hearing the prophecy immediately sent troops to Fife,
the home of Macduff and Macduff's wife and children and all their relatives were murdered.

Lady Macbeth, who had fallen fool and mad of his own conscience, had taken to walking in her sleep. She came -
bearing a lighted candle, eyes closed, rubbing her blooded hands off, washing them violently. Later, Lady Macbeth was
found dead as reported: she committed suicide.

Once again, Macbeth called secretly the three black and midnight hags. He asked them for some more predictions.
He was shown three apparitions. The first apparition was an armed head of Macbeth. He was warned of Macduff. The
second apparition was Macduff at the moment of his birth, a bloody child. Macbeth just laughed it off to scorn the power
of man for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth. The third and last apparition was a child crowned, with a tree in his
hand. The child was Malcolm, the murdered King Duncan's son, the tree which he was carrying would be important in the
attack on Macbeth's castle. The apparition told him to be lion-mettled and proud for "Macbeth shall never vanquished
until Great Birham wood to high Bunsinane Hill come against him.' And Macbeth became satisfied to hear these.

In a place near Birham wood, Macduff and the soldiers were marching hewed among the bough of the wood of
Birham. Macbeth, in an overwhelming fear, saw the moving branches of the trees that conceal the number of soldiers
coming in, despised it taking words from the witches that he would never Hirham wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come
against him, but reassured by the witches' last prophesy that one of woman born shall harm him. He ordered his soldiers a
siege to scorn the coming warriors until the ague had eaten them up. Macbeth had almost forgotten the Taste of ear when
he met face to face with Macduff.
 /Plays of Shakespeare

In their struggle, they exchanged words and Macbeth beastly mentioned his vulnerability, but Macduff answered
sharply. "I have no words, my voice is my sword, thou bloodier villain than terms can give thee out!"

As they crossed words, Macbeth reassured himself of the last pledge of the witches that "none of woman born
could harm him." Macduff, in turn, told Macbeth, "let the angel whom thou still has served tell thee, Macduff was from
his mother's womb untimely ripped."

Macbeth realizing this, cried, "I will not yield."

To kiss the ground before young Macolm's feet
And to be baited with the rabble's curse.
Though Birham wood become to Dunsinane,
And thou opposed. Being of woman born,
Yet I will try to the last, before my body
I throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff.
And damned be him that first cries "Hold, enough!"

And Macduff killed Macbeth. He brought to Malcolm and his people the head of the tyrant ruler.
All people exulted with joy. "Hail, the King of Scotland."
Quotes
“There's daggers in men's smiles". - (Act II, Sc. III). - Donalbain
"What's done is done". (Act III, Scene II). – Lady Macbeth
"Fair is foul, and foul is fair". - (Act I, Scene I) - Witches
"I bear a charmed life". (Act V, Sc. VIII). - Macbeth
"Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness." (Act I, Scene V). – Lady Macbeth
"Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the
multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red" (Act II, Sc. II). - Macbeth
"Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble." (Act IV, Scene I). - Witches
"Out, damned spot! Out, I say!" - (Act V, Scene I). – Lady Macbeth
"All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand." (Act V, Sc. I). – Lady Macbeth

Merchant of Venice

Antonio: A Venetian merchant of considerable wealth, he makes his money from "ventures", or mercantile
enterprises using his fleet of ships.
Bassanio: The romantic lead of this play. He aims to successfully court the fair Portia.
Shylock: A successful Jewish moneylender who is much maligned over his religion and the practice of
moneylenders such as himself of charging interest
Portia: The heroine of this play, Portia is a wealthy and beautiful woman who is desired by many, so much so
that her father has devised an ingenious test all suitors must perform to win her hand in marriage.
Nerissa: As Portia's waiting-maid, she tends to Portia and also helps Portia save Antonio's life. She later
marries Bassanio's friend Gratiano.
Gratiano: A good friend of Bassanio, he marries Nerissa after falling in love with her at Portia's palace.
Lorenzo: A close friend of both Bassanio and Antonio, Jessica’s love interest
Jessica: The daughter of Shylock,
The Duke of Venice: As judge over the court case between Shylock and Antonio,
 /Plays of Shakespeare

Launcelot Gobbo: A clown and servant to Shylock, he later aids in the escape of Jessica from Shylock and
works for Bassanio.
Synopsis

A young Venetian, Bassanio, needs a loan of three thousand ducats so that he can woo Portia, a wealthy
Venetian heiress. He approaches his friend Antonio, a merchant. Antonio is short of money because all his
wealth is invested in his fleet, which is currently at sea. He goes to a Jewish money lender, Shylock, who hates
Antonio because of Antonio’s anti-semitic behaviour towards him.

Shylock nevertheless agrees to make the short-term loan, but, in a moment of dark humour, he makes a
condition – the loan must be repaid in three months or Shylock will exact a pound of flesh from Antonio.
Antonio agrees, confident that his ships will return in time.

Because of the terms of Portia’s father’s will, all suitors must choose from among three caskets, one of which
contains a portrait of her. If he chooses that he may marry Portia, but if doesn’t he must vow never to marry or
court another woman. The Princes of Morocco and Arragon fail the test and are rejected. As Bassanio prepares
to travel to Belmont for the test, his friend Lorenzo elopes with Shylock’s daughter, Jessica. Bassanio chooses
the lead casket, which contains her picture, and Portia happily agrees to marry him immediately.

Meanwhile, two of Antonio’s ships have been wrecked and Antonio’s creditors are pressurising him for
repayment. Word comes to Bassanio about Antonio’s predicament, and he hurries back to Venice, leaving
Portia behind. Portia follows him, accompanied by her maid, Nerissa. They are disguised as a male lawyer and
his clerk. When Bassanio arrives the date for the repayment to Shylock has passed and Shylock is demanding
his pound of flesh. Even when Bassanio offers much more than the amount in repayment, Shylock, now
infuriated by the loss of his daughter, is intent on seeking revenge on the Christians. The Duke refuses to
intervene.

Portia arrives in her disguise to defend Antonio. Given the authority of judgment by the Duke, Portia decides
that Shylock can have the pound of flesh as long as he doesn’t draw blood, as it is against the law to shed a
Christian’s blood. Since it is obvious that to draw a pound of flesh would kill Antonio, Shylock is denied his
suit. Moreover, for conspiring to murder a Venetian citizen, Portia orders that he should forfeit all his wealth.
Half is to go to Venice, and half to Antonio.
Antonio gives his half back to Shylock on the condition that Shylock bequeaths it to his disinherited daughter,
Jessica. Shylock must also convert to Christianity. A broken Shylock accepts. News arrives that Antonio’s
remaining ships have returned safely. With the exception of Shylock, all celebrate a happy ending to the affair.

Quotes

"If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and if you
wrong us, shall we not revenge?". - ( Quote Act III, scene I). - Shylock
"The devil can cite scripture for his purpose". -( Quote Act I, sce. III).
All that glisters is not gold. (Act 2. Sc 7), Morocco.
But love is blind, and lovers cannot see The pretty follies that themselves commit. Act ii. sce. 6. – Jessica
I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?
(Act 3. Sc 1.), Shylock
“The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children.” Act 3 Sc 5 - Launcelot