Shakespearean Tragedy: Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and MacBeth

Shakespearean Tragedy: Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and MacBeth is a book written by A.C. Bradley. It is a comprehensive analysis of four of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies, namely Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and MacBeth. The book is a compilation of lectures delivered by Bradley at Oxford University in the early 1900s. The book provides an in-depth analysis of the themes, characters, and plot of each of these plays. Bradley explores the psychological complexities of the characters and the moral dilemmas they face. He also examines the use of language, imagery, and symbolism in each play, highlighting Shakespeare's mastery of the English language. The book is divided into four sections, with each section devoted to one of the four plays. Each section includes a detailed analysis of the plot and characters, followed by an exploration of the themes and motifs that run throughout the play. Bradley also provides a historical and cultural context for each play, helping readers to better understand the world in which Shakespeare was writing. Shakespearean Tragedy: Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and MacBeth is a must-read for anyone interested in Shakespearean literature, as well as for students and scholars of English literature. It is a timeless classic that continues to be relevant and insightful today, over a century after its initial publication.1908. From the Introduction: In these lectures I propose to consider the four principal tragedies of Shakespeare from a single point of view. Nothing will be said of Shakespeare's place in the history of either English literature or of the drama in general. No attempt will be made to compare him with other writers. I shall leave untouched, or merely glanced at, questions regarding his life and character, the development of his genius and art, the genuineness, sources, texts, interrelations of his various works. Even what may be called, in a restricted sense, the poetry of the four tragedies-the beauties of style, diction, versification-I shall pass by in silence. Our one object will be what, again in a restricted sense, may be called dramatic appreciation; to increase our understanding and enjoyment of these works as dramas; to learn to apprehend the action and some of the personages of each with a somewhat greater truth and intensity, so that they may assume in our imaginations a shape a little less unlike the shape they wore in the imagination of their creator.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.