‘Timon of Athens’ is a tragedy in five acts by William Shakespeare, probably written sometime in 1605-1606. It belongs to Shakespeare’s late experimental period when he explored a new kind of tragic form.   Unlike the plots of his other tragedies, the story of ‘Timon of Athens’ is simple and lacks complexity. It demonstrates events in the life of Timon, a man known for his great and universal generosity, who spends his fortune and then is spurned when he requires help.

‘Titus Andronicus’ is believed to have been written between 1588 and 1593. It is thought to be Shakespeare’s first tragedy and is often seen as his attempt to emulate the violent and bloody revenge plays of his contemporaries.   Titus, a general in the Roman army, presents Tamora, Queen of the Goths, as a slave to the new Roman emperor, Saturninus. Saturninus takes her as his wife. From this position, Tamora vows revenge against Titus for killing her son.   In ‘Titus Andronicus’ Shakespeare...

‘Twelfth Night’ is a fast-paced romantic comedy with several interwoven plots, mistaken identities and practical jokes. Separated from her twin brother Sebastian in a shipwreck, Viola disguises herself as a boy, calls herself Cesario, and becomes a servant to the Duke Orsino. Even though it is a comedy, based on a day of partying, ‘Twelfth Night’ still deals with some serious themes. Romantic love, family love and even the love of love are all presented, as is the question of appearance and real...

‘King Lear’, a tragedy in five acts by William Shakespeare, is considered to be  written between 1605 and 1606.   The aging King Lear decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters, allotting each a portion in proportion to the eloquence of her declaration of love. The hypocritical Goneril and Regan make grand pronouncements and are rewarded; Cordelia, the youngest daughter, who truly loves Lear, refuses to make an insincere speech to prove her love and is disinherited.   The main themes...

‘The Comedy of Errors’ is probably one of the most complicated plays, involving two sets of identical twins with multiple identity confusions. The play begins with a Syracuse merchant, Egeon, being led to his execution for defying the ban against travel between Syracuse and Ephesus. As he is taken to the gallows, he tells Duke Solinus, the Ephesian ruler, that he has come in search of his wife and one of his twin sons, who were lost in a shipwreck. The other twin is also searching for his mother...

‘The Merchant of Venice’ is centered around a merchant named Antonio who defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock. Although classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare’s other romantic comedies, the play is most remembered for its dramatic scenes, and it is best known for Shylock and his famous demand for a “pound of flesh” in retribution. ‘The Merchant of Venice’ is a play whose central theme can be identified...

‘Romeo and Juliet’ is a tragedy about two young Italian star-crossed sweethearts  whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare’s most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with Hamlet, is one of his most frequently performed plays. Today, the title characters are regarded as archetypal.   ‘Romeo and Juliet’ belongs to a tradition of tragic romances stretching back to antiquity. The plot is based on an Italian tale translated into verse as ‘The Tragical...

‘Othello, in full ‘Othello, the Moor of Venice’, tragedy in five acts by William Shakespeare, written in 1603–1604 and published in 1622. The play derives its plot from ‘Giambattista Giraldi’s De gli Hecatommithi’ (1565), which Shakespeare appears to have known in the Italian original. The play is set in motion when Othello, a heroic black general in the service of Venice, appoints Cassio and not Iago as his chief lieutenant. Jealous of Othello’s success and envious of Cassio, Iago plots Othello’s...

Once upon a time, there was an orphan named Kimball O’Hara, Kim for short. Kim spent his time in the city of Lahore running around, scrounging food, and generally leading a carefree and mischief-heavy life. Apparently, Kim’s luck  changed once he found a Red Bull on a green field. Kim  was originally released in a serialized version in 1900-1901, after which it was published as a book. It offers a wide-ranging view of the cultural and religious diversity of British India in the late-19th...

‘Heartbreak House’ is a play by George Bernard Shaw. Published in 1919, it first played at Garrick Theater in 1920. The play begins as Ellie Dunn, her father, and her fiancé are invited to one of Hesion Hushabye’s infamous dinner parties. The party is being held at the house of her eccentric father, Captain Shotover, whose house is built in the shape of the stern of a ship. Captain Stopover is an inventor who is trying to create a sort of “psychic ray” that will destroy dynamite. ‘Major Barbara’...