Close friends Valentine and Proteus become rivals for the hand of Silvia, daughter of the Duke of Milan, who has promised her to the foolish coward Thurio. Proteus has Valentine banished, but Silvia escapes to the forest to join him. Proteus follows with Julia, who dotes on him. After a confrontation, the Duke eventually allows Valentine and Silvia to wed, and Proteus marries Julia.

A satire directed against intellectual pride and pedantry. The King of Navarre and three of his lords vow to spend three years in study and not to see any women. But when the Princess of France arrives with her three ladies, the men break their vow and fall in love with them.

"The lost twin sons of the old merchant Egeon--both named Antipholus--find themselves in Ephesus, without either one even knowing of the other's existence. Meanwhile, Egeon has arrived in search of the son he thinks is still alive--and has been sentenced to death for the "crime" of being from Syracuse. To add to the confusion, the two Antipholuses have twin servants, both named Dromio. As the four men unwittingly encounter each other, the play is...

Presents the text of Shakespeare's last play, a story of King Leontes' loss and recovery of his wife and daughter through his own jealous suspicions, along with the source material and critical and interpretive essays.

A comedy written by William Shakespeare in 1595/96. The play consists of multiple subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot revolves around a conflict between four Athenian lovers, one about a group of six amateur actors who have to act out their interpretation of the play 'Pyramus and Thisbe' at the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta. These subplots take place in a forest, inhabited by fairies who control the characters...

Prospero, exiled on an enchanted island with his daughter Miranda, raises a magical tempest to wash ashore a ship carrying the enemies who usurped his dukedom years ago -- his brother Antonio and Alonso, the king of Naples. Alonso's son Ferdinand is feared dead but has washed to another part of the island, where he meets and falls in love with Miranda. Prospero punishes the usurpers and regains his dukedom, as Miranda gains a royal husband.

Shakespeare loved to use the device of mistaken identity, and nowhere does he use this convention more skilfully than in Twelfth Night. Viola, surviving a shipwreck, walks ashore at Illyria, and immediately embarks on a gambit to allow her to make her way in a world of men. Dressed as a man, Viola, now Cesario, insinuates herself into the service of the Duke of Illyria, Orsino. Orsino longs for the love of a neighbouring countess, Olivia , who as...

The story of Pericles of Tyre who flees his homeland to escape King Antiochus, wins the love of Thaisa, daughter of Simonides, and through a series of fateful events eventually reunites with Thaisa and their daughter, Marina.

Cruel Angelo is left in charge of Vienna when the Duke pretends to leave town. Angelo revives an old law against fornication and sentences Claudio to death for seducing Juliet, Claudio's betrothed. Claudio's sister, Isabella, pleads for his life and Angelo offers to spare him in exchange for her virginity. Angelo's corruption and severity are punished when the Duke reveals that he has witnessed it all.

At Rome, upon the death of the Emperor, the succession is disputed by his two sons, Saturninus and Bassanius. When the old General, Titus Andronicus, returns from the wars bringing as captive Tamora the Queen and three of her sons, he causes Saturninus to be confirmed as Emperor. Titus allows his sons to sacrifice two of Tamora's sons, which enflames her to vengeance. Saturninus makes Tamora his Empress, but in secret she continues to enjoy the love...