The theme of the great Shakespearean tragedies is a hero's fall from grace due to a fatal character flaw. Whether it is the ruthless ambition of Macbeth or the folly of Lear, the irresolution of Hamlet or the suspicion of Othello, the cause of the tragedy - even when it is the murder of a king - is trifling compared to the calamity that it unleashes. Despite their flawed natures, however, the tragic protagonists all have a nobility that emphasizes the greatness of humanity. From this paradox the audience is brought to a greater understanding of - and sympathy with - suffering.
The four tragedies in this collection are accompanied by notes and an introduction to each text.
| ISBN: | 9780241726976 |
| Publication date: | 24th April 2025 |
| Author: | William Shakespeare |
| Publisher: | Penguin Classics an imprint of Penguin Books Ltd |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 960 pages |
| Series: | Penguin Clothbound Classics |
| Genres: |
Classic and pre-20th century plays Literary studies: c 1600 to c 1800 Literary studies: plays and playwrights |