Most Popular Books by William Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet is a tragic play written early in the career of William Shakespeare about two teenage "star-cross''d lovers" whose untimely deaths ultimately unite their feuding households. 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 "young lovers".Romeo and Juliet is a tragic play written early in the career of William Shakespeare about two teenage "star-cross''d lovers" whose untimely deaths ultimately unite their feuding households. 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 "young lovers".Romeo and Juliet is a tragic play written early in the career of William Shakespeare about two teenage "star-cross''d lovers" whose untimely deaths ultimately unite their feuding households. 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 "young lovers".Romeo and Juliet is a tragic play written early in the career of William Shakespeare about two teenage "star-cross''d lovers" whose untimely deaths ultimately unite their feuding households. 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 "young lovers".Romeo and Juliet is a tragic play written early in the career of William Shakespeare about two teenage "star-cross''d lovers" whose untimely deaths ultimately unite their feuding households. 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 "young lovers".

In The Merchant of Venice, the path to marriage is hazardous. To win Portia, Bassanio must pass a test prescribed by her father''s will, choosing correctly among three caskets or chests. If he fails, he may never marry at all. Bassanio and Portia also face a magnificent villain, the moneylender Shylock. In creating Shylock, Shakespeare seems to have shared in a widespread prejudice against Jews. Shylock would have been regarded as a villain because he was a Jew. Yet he gives such powerful expression to his alienation due to the hatred around him that, in many productions, he emerges as the hero. Portia is most remembered for her disguise as a lawyer, Balthazar, especially the speech in which she urges Shylock to show mercy that "droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven." The authoritative edition of The Merchant of Venice from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers, includes:

Originally published in the First Folio of 1623, William Shakespeare''s "The Winter''s Tale" is a play which has been classified by some critics as a comedy and by others as a romance. The confusion arises out of the fact that the first three acts are filled with intense psychological drama while the last two acts provide a comedic and happy ending. At the outset of the play we are introduced to two childhood friends, Leontes, King of Sicilia, and Polixenes, the King of Bohemia, who has travelled to Sicilia to visit his old friend. After several months of joyful reunion, Polixenes yearns to return home to attend to his affairs and see his son. Leontes however doesn''t wish to see his friend go and implores his wife, Queen Hermione, to try and convince him to stay. Hermione easily convinces Polixenes, which should make Leontes happy, but instead arises suspicion that the two may be engaged in an affair considering how quickly Hermione is able to change Polixenes'' mind. The jealousy of Leontes sets in motion a series of events which threaten to ruin his entire kingdom and legacy. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper, includes a preface and annotations by Henry N. Hudson, and an introduction by Charles Harold Herford.

Shakespeare''s King Lear challenges us with the magnitude, intensity, and sheer duration of the pain that it represents. Its figures harden their hearts, engage in violence, or try to alleviate the suffering of others. Lear himself rages until his sanity cracks. What, then, keeps bringing us back to King Lear? For all the force of its language, King Lear is almost equally powerful when translated, suggesting that it is the story, in large part, that draws us to the play. The play tells us about families struggling between greed and cruelty, on the one hand, and support and consolation, on the other. Emotions are extreme, magnified to gigantic proportions. We also see old age portrayed in all its vulnerability, pride, and, perhaps, wisdom-one reason this most devastating of Shakespeare''s tragedies is also perhaps his most moving.

The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the short story Un Capitano Moro ("A Moorish Captain") by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565. The work revolves around four central characters: Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army; his beloved wife, Desdemona; his loyal lieutenant, Cassio; and his trusted but unfaithful ensign, Iago. Because of its varied and current themes of racism, love, jealousy, betrayal, revenge and repentance, Othello is still often performed in professional and community theatres alike and has been the basis for numerous operatic, film, and literary adaptations.

Shakespeare’s grim Scottish play is a gripping masterpiece about ambition, witchcraft, and blood. The tragedy begins with the Weird Sisters appearing to prophesy that Macbeth will become king. Upon hearing their words, Macbeth, spurred by his wife, begins his dreadful ascent to the throne, cutting a bloody swath to achieve his ambitions. But as he clutches this newfound power, his life begins to unravel, and the horrible truth of the witches’ words becomes increasingly clear.

Antony and Cleopatra is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The play was performed first circa 1607 at the Blackfriars Theatre or the Globe Theatre by the King''s Men. Its first appearance in print was in the Folio of 1623. The plot is based on Thomas North''s translation of Plutarch''s Lives and follows the relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony from the time of the Sicilian revolt to Cleopatra''s suicide during the Final War of the Roman Republic. The major antagonist is Octavius Caesar, one of Antony''s fellow triumvirs of the Second Triumvirate and the first emperor of the Roman Empire. The tragedy is mainly set in Rome and Egypt and is characterized by swift shifts in geographical location and linguistic register as it alternates between sensual, imaginative Alexandria and a more pragmatic, austere Rome. Many consider Shakespeare''s Cleopatra, whom Enobarbus describes as having "infinite variety," as one of the most complex and fully developed female characters in the playwright''s body of work. She is frequently vain and histrionic enough to provoke an audience almost to scorn; at the same time, Shakespeare invests her and Antony with tragic grandeur. These contradictory features have led to famously divided critical responses.It is difficult to classify Antony and Cleopatra as belonging to a single genre. It can be described as a history play (though it does not completely adhere to historical accounts), as a tragedy (though not completely in Aristotelian terms), as a comedy, as a romance, and according to some critics, such as McCarter, a problem play. All that can be said with certainty is that it is a Roman play, and perhaps even a sequel to another of Shakespeare''s tragedies, Julius Caesar. Antony and Cleopatra dramatizes a major event in world history: the founding of the Roman Empire. The future first emperor, Octavius Caesar (later called Augustus Caesar), cold-bloodedly manipulates other characters and exercises iron control over himself. At first, he shares power with Mark Antony, Rome''s preeminent military leader, and the weaker Lepidus. Caesar needs Antony to fend off other Roman strongmen like Pompey; he even offers his sister Octavia to him as a bride, despite Antony''s reputation as a libertine and his past rivalry with Caesar. Once Caesar defeats Pompey, however, he needs no allies. He brings charges against Lepidus, denies Antony his spoils from Pompey''s defeat, and seizes cities in the eastern Roman colonies that Antony rules. The play''s emphasis, however, is on those whom Caesar defeats: Antony and his wealthy Egyptian ally, Queen Cleopatra. The play does not sugarcoat Antony and Cleopatra''s famous love affair, including her calculated attempts to seduce Antony from his duties and his rage when he thinks she has betrayed him to Caesar. Nonetheless, the lovers find such sensual and emotional satisfaction that Caesar''s world conquest seems smaller than what they find in each other.

One night on the heath, the brave and respected general Macbeth encounters three witches who foretell that he will become king of Scotland. At first sceptical, he''s urged on by the ruthless, single-minded ambitions of Lady Macbeth, who suffers none of her husband''s doubt. But seeing the prophecy through to the bloody end leads them both spiralling into paranoia, tyranny, madness, and murder.This shocking tragedy - a violent caution to those seeking power for its own sake - is, to this day, one of Shakespeare''s most popular and influential masterpieces.

"King Henry the Eighth is a history play generally believed to be a collaboration between William Shakespeare and John Fletcher, based on the life of Henry VIII of England. The play implies, without stating it directly, that the treason charges against the Duke of Buckingham were false and trumped up; and it maintains a comparable ambiguity about other sensitive issues. The disgrace and beheading of Anne Boleyn (here spelled Bullen) is carefully avoided, and no indication of the succeeding four wives of Henry VIII can be found in the play. However, Catherine of Aragon''s plea to Henry before the Legatine Court seems to have been taken straight from historical record."

"The Taming of the Shrew" is a comedic play by way of William Shakespeare that revolves around the courtship and marriage of contrasting personalities, Katherine and Petruchio. Set in the Italian town of Padua, the tale explores issues of gender roles, strength dynamics, and the nature of affection. The play opens with a rich nobleman named Baptista Minola, who has daughters: the beautiful and slight-mannered Bianca, and the pointy-tongued and rebellious Katherine, regularly referred to as the shrew. Baptista declares that Bianca can''t marry till Katherine finds a husband, as he fears her sturdy personality will scare away suitors. Various suitors, consisting of Gremio and Hortensio, vie for Bianca''s hand, however, Baptista''s decree proves difficult. However, a newcomer named Petruchio arrives in Padua seeking a wealthy spouse. Hearing of Katherine''s dowry, he units his attraction on her, despite her reputation. Petruchio meets Katherine and, undeterred by means of her fiery temper, resolves to woo and marry her. He employs unconventional methods to "tame" her, using tactics inclusive of hunger, sleep deprivation, and mental manipulation. Despite Katherine''s initial resistance, she sooner or later succumbs to Petruchio''s forceful persona and concurs to marry him. Meanwhile, Hortensio gives up on Bianca and marries a wealthy widow, while Lucentio, any other suitor, disguises himself as a Latin educator named Cambio to win Bianca''s affection. They elope and marry in mystery.

A Midsummer Night''s Dream is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, suggested by "The Knight''s Tale" from Geoffrey Chaucer''s The Canterbury Tales, written around 1594 to 1596. It portrays the adventures of four young Athenian lovers and a group of amateur actors, their interactions with the Duke and Duchess of Athens, Theseus and Hippolyta, and with the fairies who inhabit a moonlit forest. The play is one of Shakespeare''s most popular works for the stage and is widely performed across the world.

Measure for Measure was originally published in the First Folio of 1623 (where it was first labelled as a comedy), the play''s first recorded performance was in 1604. The play deals with the issues of mercy, justice, and truth and their relationship to pride and humility.

A Midsummer Night''s Dream is a comedy written by William Shakespeare in 1595/96. The play is set in Athens and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict between four Athenian lovers. Another follows a group of six amateur actors rehearsing the play which they are to perform before the wedding. Both groups find themselves in a forest inhabited by fairies who manipulate the humans and are engaged in their own domestic intrigue. The play is one of Shakespeare''s most popular and is widely performed

"The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is based on the Italian short story Un Capitano Moro (""A Moorish Captain"") by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565. The work revolves around four central characters: Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army; his new wife, Desdemona; his lieutenant, Cassio; and his trusted ensign, Iago.FREE DOWNLOAD (BELOW DO"

Henry V is Shakespeare''s most famous "war play"; it includes the storied English victory over the French at Agincourt. Some of it glorifies war, especially the choruses and Henry''s speeches urging his troops into battle. But we also hear bishops conniving for war to postpone a bill that would tax the church, and soldiers expecting to reap profits from the conflict. Even in the speeches of Henry and his nobles, there are many chilling references to the human cost of war.

Love''s Labour''s Lost follows the King of Navarre and his three companions as they attempt to foreswear the company of women for three years of study and fasting, and their subsequent infatuation with the Princess of Aquitaine and her ladies. In an untraditional ending for a comedy, the play closes with the death of the Princess''s father, and all weddings are delayed for a year. The play draws on themes of masculine love and desire, reckoning and rationalization, and reality versus fantasy.

Henry IV Part II by William Shakespeare

Measure for Measure is a play by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1603 or 1604 and first performed in 1604, according to available records. It was published in the First Folio of 1623. The play''s plot features its protagonist, Duke Vincentio of Vienna, stepping out from public life to observe the affairs of the city under the governance of his deputy, Angelo. Angelo''s harsh and ascetic public image is compared to his abhorrent personal conduct once in office, in which he exploits his power to procure a sexual favour from Isabella, whom he considers enigmatically beautiful. The tension in the play is eventually resolved through Duke Vincentio''s intervention, which is considered an early use of the deus ex machina in English literature. Measure for Measure was printed as a comedy in the first folio and continues to be classified as one. Though it shares features with other Shakespearean comedies, such as the use of wordplay and irony, and the employment of disguise and substitution as plot devices, it also features tragic elements such as executions and soliloquys, with Claudio''s speech in particular having been favorably compared to tragic heroes like Prince Hamlet. Today, it is often cited as one of Shakespeare''s problem plays due to its ambiguous tone.

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, often shortened to Hamlet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare at an uncertain date between 1599 and 1602. Set in the Kingdom of Denmark, the play dramatises the revenge Prince Hamlet is called to wreak upon his uncle, Claudius, by the ghost of Hamlet''s father, King Hamlet. Claudius had murdered his own brother and seized the throne, also marrying his deceased brother''s widow. Hamlet is Shakespeare''s longest play, and is ranked among the most powerful and influential tragedies in English literature, with a story capable of "seemingly endless retelling and adaptation by others." The play likely was one of Shakespeare''s most popular works during his lifetime, and still ranks among his most performed, topping the performance list of the Royal Shakespeare Company and its predecessors in Stratford-upon-Avon since 1879. It has inspired many other writers - from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Charles Dickens to James Joyce and Iris Murdoch - and has been described as "the world''s most filmed story after Cinderella.

"The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest (people) of the past centuries." - Descartes Read Shakespeare''s plays in all their brilliance--and understand what every word means! In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare creates a tragic world in which two young people fall in love. It is not simply that their families disapprove; the Montagues and the Capulets are engaged in a blood feud. This play, set in an extraordinary world, has become the quintessential story of young love. This new full-cast recording - based on the most respected edition of Shakespeare''s classic - expertly produced by the Folger Theatre, is perfect for students, teachers, and the everyday listener. A 19th century classics literature edition.

Egeon, a merchant of Syracuse, is condemned to death in Ephesus for violating the ban against travel between the two rival cities. As he is led to his execution, he tells the Ephesian Duke, Solinus, that he has come to Syracuse in search of his wife and one of his twin sons, who were separated from him 25 years ago in a shipwreck. The other twin, who grew up with Egeon, is also traveling the world in search of the missing half of their family. (The twins, we learn, are identical, and each has an identical twin slave named Dromio.) The Duke is so moved by this story that he grants Egeon a day to raise the thousand-mark ransom that would be necessary to save his life. Meanwhile, unknown to Egeon, his son Antipholus of Syracuse (and Antipholus'' slave Dromio) is also visiting Ephesus--where Antipholus'' missing twin, known as Antipholus of Ephesus, is a prosperous citizen of the city. Adriana, Antipholus of Ephesus'' wife, mistakes Antipholus of Syracuse for her husband and drags him home for dinner, leaving Dromio of Syracuse to stand guard at the door and admit no one. Shortly thereafter, Antipholus of Ephesus (with his slave Dromio of Ephesus) returns home and is refused entry to his own house. Meanwhile, Antipholus of Syracuse has fallen in love with Luciana, Adriana''s sister, who is appalled at the behavior of the man she thinks is her brother-in-law.

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, often shortened to Hamlet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare at an uncertain date between 1599 and 1602. Set in the Kingdom of Denmark, the play dramatises the revenge Prince Hamlet is called to wreak upon his uncle, Claudius, by the ghost of Hamlet''s father, King Hamlet. Claudius had murdered his own brother and seized the throne, also marrying his deceased brother''s widow. Hamlet is Shakespeare''s longest play, and is ranked among the most powerful and influential tragedies in English literature, with a story capable of "seemingly endless retelling and adaptation by others." The play likely was one of Shakespeare''s most popular works during his lifetime, and still ranks among his most performed, topping the performance list of the Royal Shakespeare Company and its predecessors in Stratford-upon-Avon since 1879. It has inspired many other writers - from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Charles Dickens to James Joyce and Iris Murdoch - and has been described as "the world''s most filmed story after Cinderella.

The Winter''s Tale is a play by William Shakespeare originally published in the First Folio of 1623. Although it was grouped among the comedies, many modern editors have relabelled the play as one of Shakespeare''s late romances.

Romeo and Juliet is a tragic play written early in the career of William Shakespeare about two teenage "star-cross''d lovers" whose untimely deaths ultimately unite their feuding households. 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 "young lovers".Romeo and Juliet is a tragic play written early in the career of William Shakespeare about two teenage "star-cross''d lovers" whose untimely deaths ultimately unite their feuding households. 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 "young lovers".

Twelfth Night, Or What You Will is a comedy by William Shakespeare, based on the short story "Of Apolonius and Silla" by Barnabe Rich. It is named after the Twelfth Night holiday of the Christmas season. It was written around 1601 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. The main title is believed to be an afterthought, created after John Marston premiered a play titled What You Will during the course of the writing.

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, often shortened to Hamlet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare at an uncertain date between 1599 and 1602. Set in the Kingdom of Denmark, the play dramatises the revenge Prince Hamlet is called to wreak upon his uncle, Claudius, by the ghost of Hamlet''s father, King Hamlet. Claudius had murdered his own brother and seized the throne, also marrying his deceased brother''s widow. Hamlet is Shakespeare''s longest play, and is ranked among the most powerful and influential tragedies in English literature, with a story capable of "seemingly endless retelling and adaptation by others." The play likely was one of Shakespeare''s most popular works during his lifetime, and still ranks among his most performed, topping the performance list of the Royal Shakespeare Company and its predecessors in Stratford-upon-Avon since 1879. It has inspired many other writers - from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Charles Dickens to James Joyce and Iris Murdoch - and has been described as "the world''s most filmed story after Cinderella

How is this book unique? Font adjustments & biography included Unabridged (100% Original content) Illustrated About Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare Titus Andronicus is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1588 and 1593, probably in collaboration with George Peele. 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, which were extremely popular with audiences throughout the 16th century. The play is set during the latter days of the Roman Empire and tells the fictional story of Titus, a general in the Roman army, who is engaged in a cycle of revenge with Tamora, Queen of the Goths. It is Shakespeare''s bloodiest and most violent work, and traditionally was one of his least respected plays; although it was extremely popular in its day, by the later 17th century it had fallen out of favour. In the Victorian era, it was disapproved of primarily because of what was considered to be a distasteful use of graphic violence, but from around the middle of the 20th century its reputation began to improve.

King Richard the Second is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to be written in approximately 1595. It is based on the life of King Richard II of England and is the first part of a tetralogy, referred to by scholars as the Henriad, followed by three plays concerning Richard''s successors: Henry IV, part 1, Henry IV, part 2, and Henry V. It may not have been written as a stand-alone work.

Much Ado About Nothing is a comedic play by William Shakespeare thought to have been written in 1598 and 1599, as Shakespeare was approaching the middle of his career. The play was included in the First Folio, published in 1623. Much Ado About Nothing is generally considered one of Shakespeare''s best comedies, because it combines elements of robust hilarity with more serious meditations on honor, shame, and court politics.By means of "noting" (which, in Shakespeare''s day, sounded the same as "nothing," and which is gossip, rumour, and overhearing), Benedick and Beatrice are tricked into confessing their love for each other, and Claudio is tricked into rejecting Hero at the altar on the erroneous belief that she has been unfaithful. At the end, Benedick and Beatrice join forces to set things right, and the others join in a dance celebrating the marriages of the two couples.

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, often shortened to Hamlet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare at an uncertain date between 1599 and 1602. Set in the Kingdom of Denmark, the play dramatises the revenge Prince Hamlet is called to wreak upon his uncle, Claudius, by the ghost of Hamlet''s father, King Hamlet. Claudius had murdered his own brother and seized the throne, also marrying his deceased brother''s widow. Hamlet is Shakespeare''s longest play, and is ranked among the most powerful and influential tragedies in English literature, with a story capable of "seemingly endless retelling and adaptation by others." The play likely was one of Shakespeare''s most popular works during his lifetime, and still ranks among his most performed, topping the performance list of the Royal Shakespeare Company and its predecessors in Stratford-upon-Avon since 1879. It has inspired many other writers - from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Charles Dickens to James Joyce and Iris Murdoch - and has been described as "the world''s most filmed story after Cinderella

Macbeth is among the best-known of William Shakespeare''s plays, and is his shortest tragedy, believed to have been written between 1603 and 1606. It is frequently performed at both amateur and professional levels, and has been adapted for opera, film, books, stage and screen. Often regarded as archetypal, the play tells of the dangers of the lust for power and the betrayal of friends. For the plot Shakespeare drew loosely on the historical account of King Macbeth of Scotland by Raphael Holinshed and that by the Scottish philosopher Hector Boece.

Why buy our paperbacks? Printed in USA on High Quality Paper Standard Font size of 10 for all books Fulfilled by Amazon Expedited shipping 30 Days Money Back Guarantee Unabridged (100% Original content) BEWARE OF LOW-QUALITY SELLERS Don''t buy cheap paperbacks just to save a few dollars. Most of them use low-quality papers & binding. Their pages fall off easily. Some of them even use very small font size of 6 or less to increase their profit margin. It makes their books completely unreadable. About The Merry Wives of Windsor By William Shakespeare The Merry Wives of Windsor is a comedy by William Shakespeare, first published in 1602, though believed to have been written prior to 1597. The Windsor of the play''s title is a reference to Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England, and though nominally set in the reign of Henry IV, the play makes no pretence to exist outside contemporary Elizabethan era English middle class life. It features the character Sir John Falstaff, the fat knight who had previously been featured in Henry IV Parts 1 and 2. It has been adapted for the opera on several occasions.

Why buy our paperbacks? Expedited shipping High Quality Paper Made in USA Standard Font size of 10 for all books 30 Days Money Back Guarantee BEWARE of Low-quality sellers Don''t buy cheap paperbacks just to save a few dollars. Most of them use low-quality papers & binding. Their pages fall off easily. Some of them even use very small font size of 6 or less to increase their profit margin. It makes their books completely unreadable. How is this book unique? Unabridged (100% Original content) Font adjustments & biography included Illustrated Venus and Adonis by William Shakespeare Venus and Adonis is a narrative poem by William Shakespeare published in 1593, the same year that Christopher Marlowe published Hero and Leander and Thomas Nashe published The Choice of Valentines, all three classic erotic poems. It is probably Shakespeare''s first publication.The poem tells the story of Venus, who is Goddess of Love, and her attempted seduction of Adonis, an extremely handsome young man, who would rather go hunting. The poem is dramatic, pastoral, and at times erotic, comic, tragic, pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical-comical-historical-pastoral. It contains discourses on the nature of love, and many brilliantly described observations of nature. It is written in a verse form known as sesta rima, which is a quatrain followed by a couplet. The sesta rima form was also used by Edmund Spenser and Thomas Lodge. The rhyme scheme is ABABCC. Synopsis: Adonis is a young man renowned for his incredible beauty. However, he is not interested at all in love; he only wants to go hunting. Venus is the goddess of love. When she sees Adonis, she falls in love with him, and comes down to earth, where she encounters him setting out on a hunt. She desires him to get off his horse, and speak to her. Adonis doesn''t want to talk to any woman, not even a goddess. So she forces him. She lays down beside him, gazes at him, and talks of love. She craves a kiss, he wants to leave and go hunting. He manages to get away, and he goes to get his horse. At that moment his horse becomes enamored of another horse, who at first resists, but soon the two animals gallop off together. Which keeps Adonis from going hunting. Venus approaches him, and continues to speak to him of love. He listens for a bit, then turns away scornfully. This pains her, and she faints. Afraid he might have killed her, Adonis kneels beside her, strokes and kisses her. Venus recovers and requests one last kiss. He begrudgingly gives in. Venus wants to see him again, Adonis tells her that he can''t tomorrow, because he''s going to hunt the wild boar. Venus has a vision, and warns him that if he does so, he will be killed by a boar. She then flings herself on him and tackles him to the ground. He gets away from her, and lectures her on the topic of lust versus love. He then leaves, and she cries.

Shakespeare''s King Lear challenges us with the magnitude, intensity, and sheer duration of the pain that it represents. Its figures harden their hearts, engage in violence, or try to alleviate the suffering of others. Lear himself rages until his sanity cracks. What, then, keeps bringing us back to King Lear? For all the force of its language, King Lear is almost equally powerful when translated, suggesting that it is the story, in large part, that draws us to the play. The play tells us about families struggling between greed and cruelty, on the one hand, and support and consolation, on the other. Emotions are extreme, magnified to gigantic proportions. We also see old age portrayed in all its vulnerability, pride, and, perhaps, wisdom--one reason this most devastating of Shakespeare''s tragedies is also perhaps his most moving.