TITLE/ SETTING CHARACTERS PLOT THEMES/SYMBOLS/

INFLUENCES MOTIFS

Romeo - The son and In the streets of Verona another brawl breaks Themes
ROMEO AND heir of Montague and out between the servants of the feuding noble
JULIET SETTINGS (TIME) Lady Montague. A young families of Capulet and Montague. Benvolio, a The Forcefulness of Love
Renaissance man of about sixteen, Montague, tries to stop the fighting, but is (The play focuses
Romeo and Juliet (fourteenth or Romeo is handsome, embroiled when the rash Capulet, Tybalt, on romantic love,
belongs to a tradition fifteenth intelligent, and sensitive. arrives on the scene. After citizens outraged by specifically the
of tragic romances century) the constant violence beat back the warring intense passion that
stretching back to Juliet - A beautiful factions, Prince Escalus, the ruler of Verona, springs up at first
antiquity. Its plot is thirteen-year-old girl and attempts to prevent any further conflicts sight between
SETTINGS (PLACE)
based on an Italian the daughter of Capulet between the families by decreeing death for any Romeo and Juliet.
· Verona and Mantua
tale, translated into and Lady Capulet. individual who disturbs the peace in the future. In Romeo and
(cities in northern Italy)
verse as The Juliet, love is a
Tragical History of Friar Lawrence - A Romeo, the son of Montague, runs into his violent, ecstatic,
Romeus and Juliet Franciscan friar, friend to cousin Benvolio, who had earlier seen Romeo overpowering force
by Arthur Brooke in both Romeo and Juliet. moping in a grove of sycamores. After some that supersedes all
1562, and retold in He is kind, civic-minded, prodding by Benvolio, Romeo confides that he is other values,
prose in Palace of a proponent of in love with Rosaline, a woman who does not loyalties, and
Pleasure by William moderation, and always return his affections. Benvolio counsels him to emotions).
Painter in 1582. ready with a plan. forget this woman and find another, more
Shakespeare beautiful one, but Romeo remains despondent. Love as a Cause of
borrowed heavily Mercutio - A kinsman to Violence (Love, in
from both, but the Prince, and Romeo’s Meanwhile, Paris, a kinsman of the Prince, Romeo and Juliet,
developed close friend. seeks Juliet’s hand in marriage. Her father is a grand passion,
supporting Capulet, though happy at the match, asks Paris and as such it is
characters, The Nurse - Juliet’s to wait two years, since Juliet is not yet even blinding; it can
particularly Mercutio nurse, the woman who fourteen. Capulet dispatches a servant with a overwhelm a
and Paris, in order to breast-fed Juliet when list of people to invite to a masquerade and person as
expand the plot. she was a baby and has feast he traditionally holds. He invites Paris to powerfully and
cared for Juliet her entire the feast, hoping that Paris will begin to win completely as hate
Romeo and Juliet life. Juliet’s heart. can).
borrows from a
tradition of tragic Tybalt - A Capulet, Romeo and Benvolio, still discussing Rosaline,
love stories dating Juliet’s cousin on her encounter the Capulet servant bearing the list of The Individual versus
back to antiquity. mother’s side. He is vain, invitations. Benvolio suggests that they attend, Society (Much of
One of these is fashionable, and since that will allow Romeo to compare his Romeo and Juliet
Pyramus and supremely aware of beloved to other beautiful women of Verona. involves the lovers’
Thisbe, from Ovid's courtesy and the lack of Romeo agrees to go with Benvolio to the feast, struggles against
Metamorphoses, it. but only because Rosaline, whose name he public and social
which contains
parallels to Capulet - The patriarch
Shakespeare's story: of the Capulet family,
the lovers' parents father of Juliet, husband
despise each other, of Lady Capulet, and
and Pyramus falsely enemy, for unexplained
believes his lover reasons, of Montague.
Thisbe is dead.The
Ephesiaca of Lady Capulet - Juliet’s
Xenophon of mother, Capulet’s wife.
Ephesus, written in
the 3rd century, also Montague - Romeo’s
contains several father, the patriarch of the
similarities to the Montague clan and bitter
play, including the enemy of Capulet.
separation of the
lovers, and a potion Lady
which induces a Montague - Romeo’s
deathlike sleep. mother, Montague’s wife.
Paris - A kinsman of the
Prince, and the suitor of
Juliet most preferred by
Capulet.
Benvolio - Montague’s
nephew, Romeo’s cousin
and thoughtful friend.
Prince Escalus - The
Prince of Verona. A
kinsman of Mercutio and
Paris.
Friar John - A
Franciscan friar charged
by Friar Lawrence with
taking the news of Juliet’s
false death to Romeo in
Mantua.
Balthasar - Romeo’s
dedicated servant, who
reads on the list, will be there.
institutions that
In Capulet’s household, young Juliet talks with either explicitly or
her mother, Lady Capulet, and her nurse about implicitly oppose
the possibility of marrying Paris. Juliet has not the existence of
yet considered marriage, but agrees to look at their love. Such
Paris during the feast to see if she thinks she structures range
could fall in love with him. from the concrete to
the abstract:
The feast begins. A melancholy Romeo follows families and the
Benvolio and their witty friend Mercutio to placement of
Capulet’s house. Once inside, Romeo sees familial power in the
Juliet from a distance and instantly falls in love father; law and the
with her; he forgets about Rosaline completely. desire for public
As Romeo watches Juliet, entranced, a young order; religion; and
Capulet, Tybalt, recognizes him, and is enraged the social
that a Montague would sneak into a Capulet importance placed
feast. He prepares to attack, but Capulet holds on masculine
him back. Soon, Romeo speaks to Juliet, and honor).
the two experience a profound attraction. They
kiss, not even knowing each other’s names. The Inevitability of Fate
When he finds out from Juliet’s nurse that she is (The mechanism of
the daughter of Capulet—his family’s enemy— fate works in all of
he becomes distraught. When Juliet learns that the events
the young man she has just kissed is the son of surrounding the
Montague, she grows equally upset. lovers: the feud
between their
As Mercutio and Benvolio leave the Capulet families; the horrible
estate, Romeo leaps over the orchard wall into series of accidents
the garden, unable to leave Juliet behind. From that ruin Friar
his hiding place, he sees Juliet in a window Lawrence’s
above the orchard and hears her speak his seemingly well-
name. He calls out to her, and they exchange intentioned plans at
vows of love. the end of the play;
and the tragic
Romeo hurries to see his friend and confessor timing of Romeo’s
Friar Lawrence, who, though shocked at the suicide and Juliet’s
sudden turn of Romeo’s heart, agrees to marry awakening. These
the young lovers in secret since he sees in their events are not mere
love the possibility of ending the age-old feud coincidences, but
between Capulet and Montague. The following rather
day, Romeo and Juliet meet at Friar Lawrence’s manifestations of
cell and are married. The Nurse, who is privy to
brings Romeo the news
of Juliet’s death, unaware
that her death is a ruse.
Sampson & The next day, Benvolio and Mercutio encounter
Gregory - Two servants
of the house of Capulet,
who, like their master,
hate the Montagues.
Abram - Montague’s
servant, who fights with
Sampson and Gregory in
the first scene of the play.
The Apothecary - An
apothecary in Mantua.
Peter - A Capulet servant
who invites guests to
Capulet’s feast and
escorts the Nurse to meet
with Romeo.
Rosaline - The woman
with whom Romeo is
infatuated at the
beginning of the play.
the secret, procures a ladder, which Romeo will
use to climb into Juliet’s window for their fate that help bring
wedding night. about the
unavoidable
outcome of the
Tybalt—Juliet’s cousin—who, still enraged that young lovers’
Romeo attended Capulet’s feast, has deaths).
challenged Romeo to a duel. Romeo appears.
Now Tybalt’s kinsman by marriage, Romeo Motifs
begs the Capulet to hold off the duel until he
understands why Romeo does not want to fight. Light/Dark Imagery
Disgusted with this plea for peace, Mercutio Opposite Points of View
says that he will fight Tybalt himself. The two
begin to duel. Romeo tries to stop them by Symbols
leaping between the combatants. Tybalt stabs
Mercutio under Romeo’s arm, and Mercutio Poison (Poison is not
dies. Romeo, in a rage, kills Tybalt. Romeo flees intrinsically evil, but
from the scene. Soon after, the Prince declares is instead a natural
him forever banished from Verona for his crime. substance made
Friar Lawrence arranges for Romeo to spend lethal by human
his wedding night with Juliet before he has to hands).
leave for Mantua the following morning.
Thumb-biting (The thumb-
In her room, Juliet awaits the arrival of her new biting, as an
husband. The Nurse enters, and, after some essentially
confusion, tells Juliet that Romeo has killed meaningless
Tybalt. Distraught, Juliet suddenly finds herself gesture, represents
married to a man who has killed her kinsman. the foolishness of
But she resettles herself, and realizes that her the entire
duty belongs with her love: to Romeo. Capulet/Montague
feud and the
Romeo sneaks into Juliet’s room that night, and stupidity of violence
at last they consummate their marriage and their in general).
love. Morning comes, and the lovers bid
farewell, unsure when they will see each other Queen Mab
again. Juliet learns that her father, affected by
the recent events, now intends for her to marry
Paris in just three days. Unsure of how to
proceed—unable to reveal to her parents that
she is married to Romeo, but unwilling to marry
Paris now that she is Romeo’s wife—Juliet asks
her Nurse for advice. She counsels Juliet to
proceed as if Romeo were dead and to marry
Paris, who is a better match anyway. Disgusted
with the Nurse’s disloyalty, Juliet disregards her
advice and hurries to Friar Lawrence. He
concocts a plan to reunite Juliet with Romeo in
Mantua. The night before her wedding to Paris,
Juliet must drink a potion that will make her
appear to be dead. After she is laid to rest in the
family’s crypt, the Friar and Romeo will secretly
retrieve her, and she will be free to live with
Romeo, away from their parents’ feuding.

Juliet returns home to discover the wedding has

been moved ahead one day, and she is to be
married tomorrow. That night, Juliet drinks the
potion, and the Nurse discovers her, apparently
dead, the next morning. The Capulets grieve,
and Juliet is entombed according to plan. But
Friar Lawrence’s message explaining the plan to
Romeo never reaches Mantua. Its bearer, Friar
John, gets confined to a quarantined house.
Romeo hears only that Juliet is dead.

Romeo learns only of Juliet’s death and decides

to kill himself rather than live without her. He
buys a vial of poison from a reluctant
Apothecary, then speeds back to Verona to take
his own life at Juliet’s tomb. Outside the Capulet
crypt, Romeo comes upon Paris, who is
scattering flowers on Juliet’s grave. They fight,
and Romeo kills Paris. He enters the tomb, sees
Juliet’s inanimate body, drinks the poison, and
dies by her side. Just then, Friar Lawrence
enters and realizes that Romeo has killed Paris
and himself. At the same time, Juliet awakes.
Friar Lawrence hears the coming of the watch.
When Juliet refuses to leave with him, he flees
alone. Juliet sees her beloved Romeo and
realizes he has killed himself with poison. She
kisses his poisoned lips, and when that does not
kill her, buries his dagger in her chest, falling
dead upon his body.
 The watch arrives, followed closely by the
Prince, the Capulets, and Montague. Montague
declares that Lady Montague has died of grief
over Romeo’s exile. Seeing their children’s
bodies, Capulet and Montague agree to end
their long-standing feud and to raise gold
statues of their children side-by-side in a newly
peaceful Verona.

Troilus - A prince of In the seventh year of the Trojan War, a Trojan Themes
TROILUS AND Troy. The younger prince named Troilus falls in love with Cressida,
CRESSIDA It is set in the city of brother of Hector and the daughter of a Trojan priest who has Ignorance breeds
Troy and surrounding Paris, he is a valiant defected to the Greek side. Troilus is assisted in mediocrity. The central
Shakespeare drew plains in northwestern warrior and an honorable his pursuit of her by Pandarus, Cressida's uncle. characters in the play do not
on a number of Anatolia, a region in the man. Meanwhile, in the Greek camp, the Greek understand themselves and
sources for this Asia Minor that is part general, Agamemnon, wonders why his do not learn from their
plotline, in particular of modern-day Turkey. Cressida - A beautiful commanders seem so downcast and mistakes. Consequently, they
Chaucer's version of The action takes place young Trojan woman. pessimistic. The wise and crafty Ulysses informs do not grow or change
the tale, Troilus and in Troy and the Greek The daughter of Calchas, him that the army's troubles spring from a lack radically; they remain small
Criseyde, but also camp outside the walls a Trojan priest who of respect for authority, brought about by the and mediocre.
John Lydgate's Troy of Troy. Anatolia is west defected to the Greek behavior of Achilles, the greatest Greek warrior,
Book and Caxton's of Greece (across the camp, she becomes who refuses to fight and instead spends his time Love is blind. Troilus falls in
translation of the Aegean Sea) and north Troilus's lover. sitting in his tent with his comrade (and lover) love with Cressida without
Recuyell of the of Egypt (across the Patroclus, mocking his superiors. Shortly due heed to her faults.
Historyes of Troye. Mediterranean Sea). Hector - A prince of thereafter, a challenge to single combat arrives
The time is about 3,200 Troy. The greatest warrior from Prince Hector, the greatest Trojan warrior, Fame and glory are false
The story of the years ago in recorded on the Trojan side--and and Ulysses decides to have Ajax, a headstrong gods. The Greeks and
persuasion of history's infancy. matched in might only by fool, fight Hector instead of Achilles, in the Trojans kill for glory, bragging
Achilles into battle is Achilles himself--he is a hopes that this snub will wound Achilles's pride rights, and eternal fame–false
drawn from Homer's hero to his entire city and and bring him back into the war. gods that entice them onto
Iliad (perhaps in the is respected even by his the path of self-destruction.
translation by enemies. In Troy, the sons of King Priam debate whether
George Chapman), it is worthwhile to continue the war--or whether
and from various Ulysses - One of the they should return Helen to the Greeks and end It is folly to fight a war for a
medieval and Greek commanders. A the struggle. Hector argues for peace, but he is trivial reason. The Greeks
Renaissance highly intelligent, even won over by the impassioned Troilus, who and Trojans went to war after
retellings. philosophical man, he is wants to continue the struggle. In the Greek Paris took Helen from King
renowned for his cunning. camp, Thersites, Ajax's foul-mouthed slave, Menelaus, bruising Greek
The story was a abuses everyone who crosses his path. His pride and honor. After seven
popular one for Pandarus - Cressida's master, meanwhile, has been honored by the years of war, the combatants
dramatists in the uncle. He serves as a go- commanders over the sulking Achilles, and is to stubbornly continue to fight.
early 1600s and between for Troilus and fight Hector the next day.
Shakespeare may Cressida, acting as a kind Appearances are deceiving.
have been inspired of cheerful, bawdy pimp
by contemporary for his niece.
plays. Thomas
Heywood's two-part Thersites - A deformed
play The Iron Age slave serving Ajax who
also depicts the has a vicious, abusive
Trojan war and the tongue.
story of Troilus and
Cressida, but it is not Achilles - The greatest
certain whether his of the Greek warriors, he
or Shakespeare's is also an arrogant,
play was written first. vicious thug, who refuses
In addition, Thomas to fight in the war
Dekker and Henry whenever his pride is
Chettle wrote a play injured.
called Troilus and
Cressida at around Ajax - A Greek warrior,
the same time as he is as proud as
Shakespeare, but Achilles, but less
this play survives intelligent and less skilled
only as a in battle.
fragmentary plot
outline. Agamemnon - The
Greek general, and the
elder brother of
Menelaus.
Diomedes - A Greek
commander who seduces
Cressida.
Paris - A prince of Troy.
His theft of Menelaus's
wife, Helen, precipitated
the Trojan War.
Menelaus - A Greek
commander,
Agamemnon's brother,
and the abandoned
husband of Helen.
Helen - Menelaus's wife.
That night, Pandarus brings Troilus and Outwardly, Cressida and
Cressida together, and after they pledge to be Helen are beautiful and
forever true to one another, he leads them to a charming; the various
bedchamber to consummate their love. warriors, handsome and
Meanwhile, Cressida's father, the treacherous mighty. Inwardly, they are all
Trojan priest Calchas, asks the Greek ugly, spiteful, weak, and/or
commanders to exchange a Trojan prisoner for depraved.
his daughter, so that he may be reunited with
her. The commanders agree, and the next
morning--to Troilus and Cressida's dismay--the
trade is made, and a Greek lord named
Diomedes leads Cressida away from Troy. That
afternoon, Ajax and Hector fight to a draw, and
after Hector and Achilles exchange insults,
Hector and Troilus feast with the Greeks under
a flag of truce. As the camp goes to bed,
Ulysses leads Troilus to the tent of Calchas,
where the Trojan prince watches from hiding as
Cressida agrees to become Diomedes's lover.
The next day, in spite of unhappy premonitions
from his wife, sister, and his father, Hector takes
the field, and a furious and heartbroken Troilus
accompanies him. The Trojans drive the Greeks
back, but Patroclus is killed, which brings a
vengeful Achilles back into the war, finally.
Achilles is unable to defeat Hector in single
combat, but he later catches him unarmed and,
together with a gang of Greek warriors,
slaughters him. Achilles then drags Hector's
body around the walls of Troy, and the play
ends with the Trojan warriors retreating to the
city to mourn their fallen hero.
 Her elopement with Paris
led to the Trojan War.

Calchas - A Trojan
priest, and Cressida's
father. He defected to the
Greeks in the early days
of the war.

Aeneas - A Trojan
commander.

Nestor - The oldest of

the Greek commanders.

Cassandra - A Trojan
princess and prophetess;
she is considered mad.

Patroclus - A Greek
warrior. Achilles's best
friend--and, it is
suggested, his lover.

Priam - The king of

Troy, and the father of
Hector, Paris, and
Troilus, among others.

Antenor - A Trojan
commander, he is
exchanged for Cressida
after his capture by the
Greeks.

Helenus - A prince of
Troy.

Andromache - Hector's
wife.

Katherine - The “shrew” IN THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE, a poor tinker named Themes
TAMING OF THE SETTINGS (TIME) of the play’s title, Christopher Sly becomes the target of a prank
 SHREW · Unspecific, though Katherine, or Kate, is the by a local lord. Finding Sly drunk out of his wits Marriage as an Economic
presumably sometime daughter of Baptista in front of an alehouse, the lord has his men Institution
The basic elements during the Italian Minola, with whom she take Sly to his manor, dress him in his finery, The Taming of the Shrew
of the story are Renaissance lives in Padua. and treat him as a lord. When Sly recovers, the emphasizes the
present in the 14th- men tell him that he is a lord and that he only economic aspects
century Castilian tale SETTINGS (PLACE) Petruccio - Petruccio is believes himself to be a tinker because he has of marriage—
by Don Juan Manuel · Padua, a city-state in a gentleman from been insane for the past several years. Waking specifically, how
of the "young man Italy prominent during Verona. Loud, boisterous, in the lord’s bed, Sly at first refuses to accept economic
who married a very the Renaissance eccentric, quick-witted, the men’s story, but when he hears of his “wife,” considerations
strong and fiery and frequently drunk, he a pageboy dressed in women’s clothing, he determine who
woman". The play's has come to Padua “to readily agrees that he is the lord they purport marries whom.
subplot, involving the wive and thrive.” him to be. Sly wants to be left alone with his
characters Bianca wife, but the servants tell him that a troupe of Renaissance Italy promotes
and Lucentio, Bianca - The younger actors has arrived to present a play for him. The inequality of females by
derives from daughter of Baptista. She play that Sly watches makes up the main story forcing them into
Ludovico Ariosto's I is soft-spoken, sweet, of The Taming of the Shrew. submissive roles.
Suppositi, either and unassuming. The Taming of the Shrew is a
directly or through In the Italian city of Padua, a rich young man comedy that satirizes silly and
George Gascoigne's Baptista - Minola named Lucentio arrives with his servants, Tranio unfair social customs and
English version Baptista is one of the and Biondello, to attend the local university. behaviors that favor males.
Supposes wealthiest men in Padua, Lucentio is excited to begin his studies, but his Consider that Baptista Minola
(performed 1566, and his daughters priorities change when he sees Bianca, a treats his daughters, Bianca
printed 1573). become the prey of many beautiful, mild young woman with whom and Katharina, like
suitors due to the Lucentio instantly falls in love. There are two marionettes, expecting them
substantial dowries he problems: first, Bianca already has two suitors, always to do his bidding. It is
can offer. He is good- Gremio and Hortensio; second, Bianca’s father, he who decides whom Bianca
natured, if a bit a wealthy old man named Baptista Minola, has will marry (the richest
superficial. declared that no one may court Bianca until first bachelor), and it is he who
her older sister, the vicious, ill-tempered orders Katharina's betrothal
Lucentio - A young Katherine, is married. Lucentio decides to to Petruchio, a man she says
student from Pisa, the overcome this problem by disguising himself as she despises. Consider, too,
good-natured and intrepid Bianca’s Latin tutor to gain an excuse to be in that Petruchio forces
Lucentio comes to Padua her company. Hortensio disguises himself as Katharina to acknowledge
to study at the city’s her music teacher for the same reason. While that he is always right, even
renowned university. Lucentio pretends to be Bianca’s tutor, Tranio when he says the sun is the
dresses up as Lucentio and begins to confer moon. At the end of the play,
Tranio - Lucentio’s with Baptista about the possibility of marrying all of the husbands brag
servant who is wry and his daughter. about what they apparently
comical. believe is an important quality
The Katherine problem is solved for Bianca’s of a wife: submissiveness.
Gremio and Hortensio suitors when Hortensio’s friend Petruccio, a
- Two gentlemen of brash young man from Verona, arrives in Padua Some women must be
Padua. Gremio and to find a wife. He intends to marry a rich woman,
Hortensio are Bianca’s
suitors at the beginning of
the play.
Grumio - Petruccio’s
servant and the fool of
the play—a source of
much comic relief.
Biondello - Lucentio’s
second servant, who
assists his master and
Tranio in carrying out
their plot.
Christopher Sly - The
principal character in the
play’s brief Induction, Sly
is a drunken tinker,
tricked by a mischievous
nobleman into thinking
that he is really a lord.
and does not care what she is like as long as tamed, like wild animals.
she will bring him a fortune. He agrees to marry Petruchio uses the same
Katherine sight unseen. The next day, he goes tactics to tame Katharina that
to Baptista’s house to meet her, and they have a he uses to tame hunting birds
tremendous duel of words. As Katherine insults and other animals.
Petruccio repeatedly, Petruccio tells her that he
will marry her whether she agrees or not. He Money makes the man–and
tells Baptista, falsely, that Katherine has woman. Lucentio gets Bianca
consented to marry him on Sunday. Hearing this because he has the most
claim, Katherine is strangely silent, and the money. Katharina gets a
wedding is set. suitor, Petruchio, because
she has a handsome dowry.
On Sunday, Petruccio is late to his own
wedding, leaving Katherine to fear she will Love at first SIGHT. When
become an old maid. When Petruccio arrives, they first meet, Katharina and
he is dressed in a ridiculous outfit and rides on a Petruchio engage in a battle
-broken-down horse. After the wedding, of insults. It is clear during
Petruccio forces Katherine to leave for his their exchange that opposites
country house before the feast, telling all in attract and that they are
earshot that she is now his property and that he destined to marry and
may do with her as he pleases. Once they reach become strange bedfellows.
his country house, Petruccio continues the
process of “taming” Katherine by keeping her Don't drink and drowse. In
from eating or sleeping for several days—he the induction, Christopher Sly
pretends that he loves her so much he cannot dozes on the side of a road in
allow her to eat his inferior food or to sleep in his the English countryside after
poorly made bed. getting drunk. Mischievous
passersby play an elaborate
In Padua, Lucentio wins Bianca’s heart by trick on him deceiving him
wooing her with a Latin translation that declares into believing that he is a lord
his love. Hortensio makes the same attempt who has just come through
with a music lesson, but Bianca loves Lucentio, 15 years of insanity. All of
and Hortensio resolves to marry a wealthy which proves that in vino,
widow. Tranio secures Baptista’s approval for there is no veritas.
Lucentio to marry Bianca by proposing a huge
sum of money to lavish on her. Baptista agrees Kill with kindness. Using
but says that he must have this sum confirmed reverse psychology,
by Lucentio’s father before the marriage can Petruchio praises, pampers,
take place. Tranio and Lucentio, still in their and coddles Katharina in
respective disguises, feel there is nothing left to order to rob her of occasion
do but find an old man to play the role of to complain and thereby kill
Lucentio’s father. Tranio enlists the help of an her scolding tongue.
old pedant, or schoolmaster, but as the pedant
speaks to Baptista, Lucentio and Bianca decide
to circumvent the complex situation by eloping.
The Effect of Social Roles
Katherine and Petruccio soon return to Padua to on Individual
visit Baptista. On the way, Petruccio forces Happiness The
Katherine to say that the sun is the moon and primary excitement
that an old man is really a beautiful young in The Taming of
maiden. Since Katherine’s willfulness is the Shrew stems
dissipating, she agrees that all is as her from its permeable
-husband says. On the road, the couple meets social boundaries,
Lucentio’s father, Vincentio, who is on his way crisscrossed
to Padua to see his son. In Padua, Vincentio is continually by those
shocked to find Tranio masquerading as who employ a
Lucentio. At last, Bianca and Lucentio arrive to disguise or a clever
spread the news of their marriage. Both lie. In the end,
Vincentio and Baptista finally agree to the however, the
marriage. conventional order
reestablishes itself,
At the banquet following Hortensio’s wedding to and those
the widow, the other characters are shocked to characters who
see that Katherine seems to have been harmonize with that
“tamed”—she obeys everything that Petruccio order achieve
says and gives a long speech advocating the personal happiness.
loyalty of wives to their husbands. When the
three new husbands stage a contest to see Motifs
which of their wives will obey first when
summoned, everyone expects Lucentio to win. Disguise
Bianca, however, sends a message back Domestication
refusing to obey, while Katherine comes Fathers and their Children
immediately. The others acknowledge that
Petruccio has won an astonishing victory, and Symbols
the happy Katherine and Petruccio leave the
banquet to go to bed. Petruccio’s Wedding
Costume (The
ridiculous outfit
Petruccio wears to
his wedding with
Kate symbolizes his
control over her.
Simply by wearing
the costume, he is
able to humiliate
 her. The outfit also
symbolizes the
transient nature of
clothing.)

The Haberdasher’s Cap and

Tailor’s Gown (The cap and
gown that Petruccio denies
Katherine, despite the fact
that she finds them truly
appealing, symbolizes yet
again his power over her. The
outfit functions as a kind of
bait used to help convince
Kate to recognize and comply
with Petruccio’s wishes. Only
he has the power to satisfy
her needs and desires, and
this lesson encourages her to
satisfy him in return.)

Prospero - The play’s A STORM STRIKES A SHIP carrying Alonso, Ferdinand, Themes
THE TEMPEST SETTING (TIME)
· The protagonist, and father of Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, Stefano, and
Renaissance Miranda. Twelve years Trinculo, who are on their way to Italy after
before the events of the coming from the wedding of Alonso’s daughter, The Illusion of Justice
The Tempest may SETTING (PLACE) · An play, Prospero was the Claribel, to the prince of Tunis in Africa. The
take its overall island in the duke of Milan. royal party and the other mariners, with the The Tempest tells a fairly
structure from Mediterranean sea, exception of the unflappable Boatswain, begin straightforward story involving
traditional Italian probably off the coast Miranda - The daughter to fear for their lives. Lightning cracks, and the an unjust act, the usurpation
commedia dell'arte, of Italy of Prospero, Miranda was mariners cry that the ship has been hit. of Prospero’s throne by his
which sometimes brought to the island at Everyone prepares to sink. brother, and Prospero’s quest
featured a magus an early age and has to re-establish justice by
and his daughter, never seen any men The next scene begins much more quietly. restoring himself to power.
their supernatural other than her father and Miranda and Prospero stand on the shore of
attendants, and a Caliban, though she dimly their island, looking out to sea at the recent Forgive and forget. Though
number of rustics. remembers being cared shipwreck. Miranda asks her father to do Prospero has been wronged,
The commedia often for by female servants as anything he can to help the poor souls in the he reconciles with his
featured a clown an infant. ship. Prospero assures her that everything is all wrongdoers.
known as Arlecchino right and then informs her that it is time she
(or his predecessor, Ariel - Prospero’s spirit learned more about herself and her past. He
helper. He is mischievous reveals to her that he orchestrated the Repent your sins. All of
Zanni) and his Prospero's wrongdoers
partner Brighella, and ubiquitous, able to shipwreck and tells her the lengthy story of her
traverse the length of the past, a story he has often started to tell her repent at the end and achieve
 island in an instant and to before but never finished. The story goes that redemption.
who bear a striking change shapes at will. Prospero was the Duke of Milan until his brother
resemblance to Antonio, conspiring with Alonso, the King of The New World (America) is
Stephano and Caliban - Another of Naples, usurped his position. With the help of a raw, untamed wilderness.
Trinculo; a lecherous Prospero’s servants. Gonzalo, Prospero was able to escape with his Prospero's island may have
Neapolitan Caliban, the son of the daughter and with the books that are the source symbolized America, or the
hunchback named now-deceased witch of his magic and power. Prospero and his islands off the coast
Pulcinella, who Sycorax, acquainted daughter arrived on the island where they of America, with Caliban
corresponds to Prospero with the island remain now and have been for twelve years. representing the uncivilized
Caliban; and the when Prospero arrived. Only now, Prospero says, has Fortune at last native population.
clever and beautiful sent his enemies his way, and he has raised the
Isabella, whose Ferdinand - Son and tempest in order to make things right with them Exploration of new lands
wealthy and heir of Alonso. Ferdinand once and for all. often results in
manipulative father, seems in some ways to mistreatment of native
Pantalone, be as pure and naïve as After telling this story, Prospero charms Miranda populations. It has been
constantly seeks a Miranda. to sleep and then calls forth his familiar spirit suggested that Caliban
suitor for her, thus Ariel, his chief magical agent. Prospero and represents indigenous
mirroring the Alonso - King of Naples Ariel’s discussion reveals that Ariel brought the peoples exploited by
relationship between and father of Ferdinand. tempest upon the ship and set fire to the mast. Europeans during the Age of
Miranda and He then made sure that everyone got safely to Discovery.
Prospero. Antonio - Prospero’s the island, though they are now separated from
brother. Antonio quickly each other into small groups. Ariel, who is a The storms of life are
demonstrates that he is captive servant to Prospero, reminds his master followed by peace and
One of Gonzalo's
power-hungry and foolish. that he has promised Ariel freedom a year early calm.
speeches is derived
if he performs tasks such as these without Friends in need are friends
from Montaigne's
Sebastian - Alonso’s complaint. Prospero chastises Ariel for indeed. Thanks to his friend
essay Of the
brother. Like Antonio, he protesting and reminds him of the horrible fate Gonzalo, Prospero and his
Canibales, which
is both aggressive and from which he was rescued. Before Prospero daughter survive their ordeal
John Florio
cowardly. came to the island, a witch named Sycorax at sea.
translated into
imprisoned Ariel in a tree. Sycorax died, leaving
English in 1603, that
Gonzalo - An old, honest Ariel trapped until Prospero arrived and freed Freedom must be earned.
praises the society
lord, Gonzalo helped him. After Ariel assures Prospero that he knows Everyone in The Tempest is a
of the Caribbean
Prospero and Miranda to his place, Prospero orders Ariel to take the slave or a captive–socially,
natives.
escape after Antonio shape of a sea nymph and make himself emotionally, geographically or
usurped Prospero’s title. invisible to all but Prospero. otherwise. For example,
In addition, much of
Prospero and Miranda,
Prospero's Trinculo & Stefano - Miranda awakens from her sleep, and she and victims of treachery, are
renunciative speech Trinculo, a jester, and Prospero go to visit Caliban, Prospero’s servant captives of their environment.
is taken word for Stefano, a drunken butler, and the son of the dead Sycorax. Caliban The shipwrecked adversaries
word from a speech are two minor members curses Prospero, and Prospero and Miranda of Prospero are captives of
by Medea in Ovid's of the shipwrecked party. berate him for being ungrateful for what they guilt, ambition or desire for
poem have given and taught him. Prospero sends revenge. Ariel, a free spirit of
Metamorphoses. Boatswain - Appearing Caliban to fetch firewood. Ariel, invisible, enters
 only in the first and last playing music and leading in the awed the air, is Prospero's slave.
Since source scenes, the Boatswain is Ferdinand. Miranda and Ferdinand are Caliban, a misshapen half-
scholarship began in vigorously good-natured. immediately smitten with each other. He is the human, is a prisoner of unruly
the 18th century, He seems competent and only man Miranda has ever seen, besides instincts. Only through ordeal,
researchers have almost cheerful in the Caliban and her father. Prospero is happy to tribulation, and
suggested that shipwreck scene, see that his plan for his daughter’s future demonstrations of humanity
passages from demanding practical help marriage is working, but decides that he must do these characters redeem
Erasmus's rather than weeping and upset things temporarily in order to prevent their and liberate themselves.
Naufragium (The prayer. relationship from developing too quickly. He
Shipwreck, accuses Ferdinand of merely pretending to be
published in 1523 the Prince of Naples and threatens him with The Allure of Ruling a
and translated into imprisonment. When Ferdinand draws his Colony
English in 1606) and sword, Prospero charms him and leads him off
Richard Eden's 1555 to prison, ignoring Miranda’s cries for mercy. He The nearly uninhabited island
translation of Peter then sends Ariel on another mysterious mission. presents the sense of infinite
Martyr's De orbo possibility to almost everyone
novo (or Decades of On another part of the island, Alonso, who lands there. The urge to
the New Worlde Or Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, and other rule and the urge to be ruled
West India, 1530) miscellaneous lords give thanks for their safety seem inextricably intertwined.
influenced the but worry about the fate of Ferdinand. Alonso
composition of the says that he wishes he never had married his Motifs
play daughter to the prince of Tunis because if he Masters and Servants(The
had not made this journey, his son would still be play explores the master-
alive. Gonzalo tries to maintain high spirits by servant dynamic most harshly
discussing the beauty of the island, but his in cases in which the
remarks are undercut by the sarcastic sourness harmony of the relationship is
of Antonio and Sebastian. Ariel appears, threatened or disrupted, as by
invisible, and plays music that puts all but the rebellion of a servant or
Sebastian and Antonio to sleep. These two then the ineptitude of a master.)
begin to discuss the possible advantages of
killing their sleeping companions. Antonio Water and Drowning
persuades Sebastian that the latter will become (Perhaps the most important
ruler of Naples if they kill Alonso. Claribel, who overall effect of this water
would be the next heir if Ferdinand were indeed motif is to heighten the
dead, is too far away to be able to claim her symbolic importance of the
right. Sebastian is convinced, and the two are tempest itself.)
about to stab the sleeping men when Ariel Mysterious Noises
causes Gonzalo to wake with a shout. Everyone
wakes up, and Antonio and Sebastian concoct a Symbols
ridiculous story about having drawn their swords
to protect the king from lions. Ariel goes back to The Tempest. The tempest
Prospero while Alonso and his party continue to that begins the play, and
search for Ferdinand.
 which puts all of Prospero’s
Caliban, meanwhile, is hauling wood for enemies at his disposal,
Prospero when he sees Trinculo and thinks he symbolizes the suffering
is a spirit sent by Prospero to torment him. He Prospero endured, and which
lies down and hides under his cloak. A storm is he wants to inflict on others.
brewing, and Trinculo, curious about but
undeterred by Caliban’s strange appearance The Game of Chess. The
and smell, crawls under the cloak with him. object of chess is to capture
Stefano, drunk and singing, comes along and the king. That, at the simplest
stumbles upon the bizarre spectacle of Caliban level, is the symbolic
and Trinculo huddled under the cloak. Caliban, significance of Prospero
hearing the singing, cries out that he will work revealing Ferdinand and
faster so long as the “spirits” leave him alone. Miranda playing chess in the
Stefano decides that this monster requires liquor final scene.
and attempts to get Caliban to drink. Trinculo
recognizes his friend Stefano and calls out to Prospero’s Books. Like the
him. Soon the three are sitting up together and tempest, Prospero’s books
drinking. Caliban quickly becomes an are a symbol of his power.
enthusiastic drinker, and begins to sing.

Prospero puts Ferdinand to work hauling wood.

Ferdinand finds his labor pleasant because it is
for Miranda’s sake. Miranda, thinking that her
father is asleep, tells Ferdinand to take a break.
The two flirt with one another. Miranda proposes
marriage, and Ferdinand accepts. Prospero has
been on stage most of the time, unseen, and he
is pleased with this development.

Stefano, Trinculo, and Caliban are now drunk

and raucous and are made all the more so by
Ariel, who comes to them invisibly and provokes
them to fight with one another by impersonating
their voices and taunting them. Caliban grows
more and more fervent in his boasts that he
knows how to kill Prospero. He even tells
Stefano that he can bring him to where
Prospero is sleeping. He proposes that they kill
Prospero, take his daughter, and set Stefano up
as king of the island. Stefano thinks this a good
plan, and the three prepare to set off to find
Prospero. They are distracted, however, by the
sound of music that Ariel plays on his flute and
tabor-drum, and they decide to follow this music
before executing their plot.

Alonso, Gonzalo, Sebastian, and Antonio grow

weary from traveling and pause to rest. Antonio
and Sebastian secretly plot to take advantage of
Alonso and Gonzalo’s exhaustion, deciding to
kill them in the evening. Prospero, probably on
the balcony of the stage and invisible to the
men, causes a banquet to be set out by
strangely shaped spirits. As the men prepare to
eat, Ariel appears like a harpy and causes the
banquet to vanish. He then accuses the men of
supplanting Prospero and says that it was for
this sin that Alonso’s son, Ferdinand, has been
taken. He vanishes, leaving Alonso feeling
vexed and guilty.

Prospero now softens toward Ferdinand and

welcomes him into his family as the soon-to-be-
husband of Miranda. He sternly reminds
Ferdinand, however, that Miranda’s “virgin-knot”
(IV.i.15) is not to be broken until the wedding
has been officially solemnized. Prospero then
asks Ariel to call forth some spirits to perform a
masque for Ferdinand and Miranda. The spirits
assume the shapes of Ceres, Juno, and Iris and
perform a short masque celebrating the rites of
marriage and the bounty of the earth. A dance
of reapers and nymphs follows but is interrupted
when Prospero suddenly remembers that he still
must stop the plot against his life.

He sends the spirits away and asks Ariel about

Trinculo, Stefano, and Caliban. Ariel tells his
master of the three men’s drunken plans. He
also tells how he led the men with his music
through prickly grass and briars and finally into a
filthy pond near Prospero’s cell. Ariel and
Prospero then set a trap by hanging beautiful
clothing in Prospero’s cell. Stefano, Trinculo,
and Caliban enter looking for Prospero and,
finding the beautiful clothing, decide to steal it.
 They are immediately set upon by a pack of
spirits in the shape of dogs and hounds, driven
on by Prospero and Ariel.

Prospero uses Ariel to bring Alonso and the

others before him. He then sends Ariel to bring
the Boatswain and the mariners from where
they sleep on the wrecked ship. Prospero
confronts Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian with
their treachery, but tells them that he forgives
them. Alonso tells him of having lost Ferdinand
in the tempest and Prospero says that he
recently lost his own daughter. Clarifying his
meaning, he draws aside a curtain to reveal
Ferdinand and Miranda playing chess. Alonso
and his companions are amazed by the miracle
of Ferdinand’s survival, and Miranda is stunned
by the sight of people unlike any she has seen
before. Ferdinand tells his father about his
marriage.

Ariel returns with the Boatswain and mariners.

The Boatswain tells a story of having been
awakened from a sleep that had apparently
lasted since the tempest. At Prospero’s bidding,
Ariel releases Caliban, Trinculo and Stefano,
who then enter wearing their stolen clothing.
Prospero and Alonso command them to return it
and to clean up Prospero’s cell. Prospero invites
Alonso and the others to stay for the night so
that he can tell them the tale of his life in the
past twelve years. After this, the group plans to
return to Italy. Prospero, restored to his
dukedom, will retire to Milan. Prospero gives
Ariel one final task—to make sure the seas are
calm for the return voyage-before setting him
free. Finally, Prospero delivers an epilogue to
the audience, asking them to forgive him for his
wrongdoing and set him free by applauding.

Proteus - Valentine's Bosom buddies Valentine and Proteus bid a Themes

THE TWO The action takes place supposed best friend and tearful farewell on a street in Verona. Valentine
GENTLEMEN OF in Italy, including one of the title gentleman is off to improve himself, venturing out to see True love is steadfast and
 VERONA Verona, Milan, and a of Verona, though he the world, while Proteus stays home in Verona, strong while infatuation is
forest near Mantua. behaves in a most tied by his love for Julia. After Valentine departs, fickle and weak. Valentine
In writing The Two Milan and Mantua are ungentlemanly fashion. his servant, Speed, enters. Proteus inquires and Silvia never waver in
Gentlemen of in Lombardy, a whether or not Speed delivered a letter to Julia, their love for one another. Nor
Verona, province in north- Valentine - The other to which Speed replies affirmatively. Julia, does Julia in her love for
Shakespeare drew central Italy. Verona is title gentlemen of Verona. meanwhile, asks her maid, Lucetta, with which Proteus. But Proteus, who is
on a Spanish prose in Veneto, a province in He is Proteus' best friend, man she should fall in love, and Lucetta infatuated with Silvia, hardly
romance Diana northeastern Italy. and Silvia's love. recommends Proteus. Lucetta admits that she blinks when he abandons his
Enamorada by the has a letter for Julia from Proteus. After much suit for her to return to Julia.
Portuguese writer Julia - Proteus' beloved, bickering, Julia tears up the letter, only to regret
Jorge de and mistress to the this act an instant later. Disloyalty and perfidy
Montemayor. This servant Lucetta. cannot defeat constancy.
work was published Antonio decides to send Proteus, his son, to the Proteus (whose very name–
in 1559, was Silvia - Daughter to the Duke's court in Milan, a decision with which that of a Greek god who
translated into Duke and beloved of neither Proteus nor Julia is particularly happy. could change his appearance
French in 1578, and Valentine, also sought They exchange rings and promises to keep at will–symbolizes caprice
was published in after by Proteus and loving each other. Meanwhile, Valentine has and inconstancy) betrays
English in 1598, Thurio. fallen in love with the Duke's feisty daughter, both Valentine and Julia
though the Silvia. When Proteus arrives at court, he too when he woos Silvia on a
translation was Duke of Milan - Silvia's falls in love with Silvia, and vows to do anything whim. But he discovers his
made several years father, the Duke wants he can to win her away from Valentine. When flighty, immature behavior is
earlier. It is believed her to marry the boorish Valentine confesses that he and Silvia plan to no match for true fidelity.
that Shakespeare but wealthy suitor Sir elope, Proteus notifies the Duke of their plans,
could have read the Thurio. gaining favor for himself and effecting Father does not always
story in French, or in Valentine's banishment from court. Back in know best. Silvia's father,
an unpublished Lucetta - Julia's servant, Verona, Julia has hatched a plan to disguise the Duke of Milan, attempts to
English version, or who considers love from herself as a man so that she can journey to force her to marry Thurio, a
could have learned a practical point of view. Milan to be reunited with Proteus. Upon arriving haughty buffoon. Silvia
of it from an Lucetta helps Julia at court, she witnesses Proteus and Thurio refuses–and rightly so–for her
anonymous English disguise herself as a wooing Silvia. heart and soul are with
play of 1585, The man. Valentine.
History of Felix and The banished Valentine, while traveling to
Philiomena, which is Launce - Proteus' Mantua, is apprehended by a group of outlaws. Forgive and forget.
now lost humorous servant, and The outlaws, all of whom are banished Valentine and Julia forgive
master to a poorly-trained gentlemen as well, demand Valentine to Proteus for his reprehensible
mutt named Crab. become their king. Since they threaten to kill behavior, and the Duke of
him if he refuses, Valentine accepts. Silvia and Milan pardons the outlaws.
Speed - Valentine's Julia, who is disguised as the page Sebastian, Lovers exhibit irrational,
page, though at the meet when Julia delivers the ring Proteus had unpredictable, or silly
beginning of the play he given her to Silvia on behalf of Proteus. Julia behavior. Proteus first loves
does Proteus' bidding as does not reveal her identity. Silvia calls on her Julia, then Silvia, then Julia.
well. friend Sir Eglamour to help her escape her Julia wears a disguise to be
father's oppressive will (he wants her to marry close to Proteus. Silvia
 Thurio - A foolish rival to
Valentine for Silvia's
hand. Thurio is very rich,
but does not make for
pleasant company.
Sir Eglamour - The
gentleman upon whom
Silvia calls to help her
escape from the Duke's
court, in order to find her
love, Valentine, and to
avoid marrying Thurio.
Antonio - Father to
Proteus and master to the
servant Panthino.
Host - Houses Julia
while she searches for
Proteus.
Outlaws - When
Valentine is banished
from Milan, the outlaws
intercept him during his
journey to Mantua and
make him the king of their
crew of gentlemen
bandits.
Thurio) and to find Valentine. However, while dictates loves letters to
traveling through the forest, she and Eglamour Valentine, pretending they
are overtaken by a band of outlaws. Eglamour are for someone else when
runs away, leaving Silvia to fend for herself they are really for Valentine.
against the outlaws. By this time, the Duke,
Proteus, and Thurio, with Sebastian/Julia in tow, A major theme of the play is
have organized a search party for Silvia. the contest between
friendship and love: that is,
Proteus wrests Silvia away from the outlaws. the question of whether the
Valentine watches the interaction unseen. relationship between two
Proteus demands that Silvia give him some sign male friends is more
of her favor for freeing her, but she refuses. He important than that between
tries to rape her for her resistance, but Valentine lovers.
jumps out and stops him. Proteus immediately
apologizes, and Valentine offers to give him Motifs
Silvia as a token of their friendship. At this Disguise
moment, Sebastian faints and his true identity
becomes clear. Proteus decides that he really
loves Julia better than Silvia, and takes her
instead. The Duke realizes that Thurio is a thug
and says that Valentine is far nobler and can
marry Silvia. Valentine asks for clemency for the
outlaws, and suggests that his marriage to Silvia
and Proteus' marriage to Julia should take place
on the same day.

Crab - Launce's dog.

Panthino - Antonio's
servant.

SETTING (TIME)
· The Beatrice - Leonato’s LEONATO, A KINDLY, RESPECTABLE NOBLEMAN, lives in The road to marriage is
MUCH ADO ABOUT sixteenth century niece and Hero’s cousin. the idyllic Italian town of Messina. Leonato often lined with pitfalls and
NOTHING Beatrice is “a pleasant- shares his house with his lovely young impediments. Benedick and
SETTING spirited lady” with a very daughter, Hero, his playful, clever niece, Beatrice are hostile lovers
(PLACE) · Messina, sharp tongue. Beatrice, and his elderly brother, Antonio. As the before they warm to each
Much Ado About Sicily, on and around play begins, Leonato prepares to welcome other. Claudio doubts Hero's
Governor Leonato’s Benedick - An some friends home from a war. The friends chastity before he is proven
 estate aristocratic soldier who include Don Pedro, a prince who is a close wrong.
Nothing conflates has recently been fighting friend of Leonato, and two fellow soldiers:
two separate stories under Don Pedro, and a Claudio, a well-respected young nobleman, and People often wear masks to
into one plot: the friend of Don Pedro and Benedick, a clever man who constantly makes disguise their true feelings.
baiting of Benedick Claudio. Benedick is very witty jokes, often at the expense of his For example, Benedick and
and Beatrice into a witty, always making friends. Don John, Don Pedro’s illegitimate Beatrice pretend to despise
declaration of love jokes and puns. brother, is part of the crowd as well. Don John is each other even though they
and the deception of sullen and bitter, and makes trouble for the love each other, and Don
Claudio into Claudio - A young others. John pretends to be
mistakenly thinking soldier who has won remorseful when all the while
that Hero is great acclaim fighting When the soldiers arrive at Leonato’s home, he is plotting revenge.
unchaste. There is under Don Pedro during Claudio quickly falls in love with Hero.
not specific source the recent wars. Meanwhile, Benedick and Beatrice resume the All is not what it seems.
for the first story, war of witty insults that they have carried on with Mistaken identities, false
although Chaucer's Hero - The beautiful each other in the past. Claudio and Hero pledge accusations, misleading
Troilus and Criseyde young daughter of their love to one another and decide to be conversations, and ironic
provides a basis Leonato and the cousin of married. To pass the time in the week before the outcomes all confound the
where two people Beatrice. Hero is lovely, wedding, the lovers and their friends decide to principle characters.
who scorn love fall in gentle, and kind. play a game. They want to get Beatrice and
love with each other. Benedick, who are clearly meant for each other, Love is NOT blind. Benedick
The for the second Don Pedro - An to stop arguing and fall in love. Their tricks well knows that Beatrice has
story of a lady falsely important nobleman from prove successful, and Beatrice and Benedick a sharp tongue whose stings
accused, however, Aragon, sometimes soon fall secretly in love with each other. he must endure if he is to be
there are numerous referred to as “Prince.” her husband and live with her
possible sources. Don Pedro is generous, But Don John has decided to disrupt everyone’s for decades to come.
Ludovico Ariosto's courteous, intelligent, and happiness. He has his companion Borachio Likewise, Beatrice well knows
version in Canto V of loving to his friends, but make love to Margaret, Hero’s serving woman, Benedick's faults. Yet, before
Orlando Furioso in he is also quick to believe at Hero’s window in the darkness of the night, the end of play, they
1516 was translated evil of others and hasty to and he brings Don Pedro and Claudio to watch. acknowledge their deep love
into English in 1591 take revenge. Believing that he has seen Hero being unfaithful for each other and marry.
by Sir John to him, the enraged Claudio humiliates Hero by
Harington or Matteo Leonato - A respected, suddenly accusing her of lechery on the day of Love IS blind. Hero ignores
Bandello's twenty- well-to-do, elderly noble their wedding and abandoning her at the altar. Claudio's faults. For example,
second Novella from at whose home, in Hero’s stricken family members decide to she accepts Claudio as her
1554 and translated Messina, Italy, the action pretend that she died suddenly of shock and husband even though only a
into French by is set. Leonato is the grief and to hide her away while they wait for the short time before he so
Belleforest in 1590 father of Hero and the truth about her innocence to come to light. In the readily believed the slanders
are two possible uncle of Beatrice. aftermath of the rejection, Benedick and against her, called her a
versions that Beatrice finally confess their love to one "rotten orange," and agreed
Shakespeare may Don John - The another. Fortunately, the night watchmen to marry another in her place.
have known. illegitimate brother of Don overhear Borachio bragging about his crime. Moreover, she never
Pedro; sometimes called Dogberry and Verges, the heads of the local questions his motives–one of
“the Bastard.” Don John police, ultimately arrest both Borachio and
is melancholy and sullen Conrad, another of Don John’s followers. which, apparently, is to marry
by nature, and he creates Everyone learns that Hero is really innocent, into money. (He had
a dark scheme to ruin the and Claudio, who believes she is dead, grieves previously inquired whether
happiness of Hero and for her. Governor Leonato had a son
Claudio. and was told Hero was
Leonato tells Claudio that, as punishment, he Leonato's only child and,
Margaret - Hero’s wants Claudio to tell everybody in the city how thus, sole heir to his
serving woman, who innocent Hero was. He also wants Claudio to property.)
unwittingly helps marry Leonato’s “niece”—a girl who, he says,
Borachio and Don John looks much like the dead Hero. Claudio goes to A woman's chastity is a
deceive Claudio into church with the others, preparing to marry the treasure no man should
thinking that Hero is mysterious, masked woman he thinks is Hero’s possess except in
unfaithful. cousin. When Hero reveals herself as the marriage. The brouhaha over
masked woman, Claudio is overwhelmed with the false charge that Hero
Borachio - An associate joy. Benedick then asks Beatrice if she will slept with a stranger
of Don John. Borachio is marry him, and after some arguing they agree. underscores the high regard
the lover of Margaret, The joyful lovers all have a merry dance before that the central characters in
Hero’s serving woman. they celebrate their double wedding. the play have for a virginal
bride.
Conrad - One of Don
John’s more intimate
associates, entirely The Ideal of Social Grace.
devoted to Don John. The characters’
dense, colorful
Dogberry - The manner of speaking
constable in charge of the represents the ideal
Watch, or chief that Renaissance
policeman, of Messina. courtiers strove for
Dogberry is very sincere in their social
and takes his job interactions.
seriously, but he has a Benedick and his
habit of using exactly the companions try to
wrong word to convey his display their
meaning. polished social
graces both in their
Verges - The deputy to behavior and in
Dogberry, chief their speech.
policeman of Messina.
Deception as a Means to an
Antonio - Leonato’s End. Deceit is
elderly brother, and Hero neither purely
and Beatrice’s uncle. positive nor purely
Balthasar - A waiting
man in Leonato’s negative: it is a
household and a means to an end, a
musician. way to create an
illusion that helps
Ursula - One of Hero’s one succeed
waiting women. socially.

The Importance of Honor. In

Shakespeare’s
time, a woman’s
honor was based
upon her virginity
and chaste
behavior. For a
woman to lose her
honor by having
sexual relations
before marriage
meant that she
would lose all social
standing, a disaster
from which she
could never
recover. Moreover,
this loss of honor
would poison the
woman’s whole
family.

Motifs
Public Shaming (Even
though Hero is
ultimately
vindicated, her
public shaming at
the wedding
ceremony is too
terrible to be
ignored. Shame is
also what Don John
hopes will cause
 Claudio to lose his
place as Don
Pedro’s favorite)

Noting (In Shakespeare’s

time, the “Nothing”
of the title would
have been
pronounced
“Noting.” Thus, the
play’s title could
read: “Much Ado
About Noting.”
Indeed, many of the
players participate
in the actions of
observing, listening,
and writing, or
noting. In order for
a plot hinged on
instances of deceit
to work, the
characters must
note one another
constantly.)

Entertainment (From the

witty yet plaintive
song that Balthasar
sings about the
deceitfulness of
men to the masked
ball and the music
and dancing at the
end of the play, the
characters of Much
Ado About
Nothing spend
much of their time
engaging in
elaborate
spectacles and
 entertainments.)

Counterfeiting (The idea of

counterfeiting, in
the sense of
presenting a false
face to the world,
appears frequently
throughout the play.
A particularly rich
and complex
example of
counterfeiting
occurs as Leonato,
Claudio, and Don
Pedro pretend that
Beatrice is head
over heels in love
with Benedick.
Another, more
serious reference to
counterfeiting
occurs at the
wedding ceremony,
as Claudio
rhetorically paints a
picture of Hero as a
perfect counterfeit
of innocence,
unchaste and
impure beneath a
seemingly
unblemished
surface)

Symbols
The Taming of Wild Animals
War
Hero’s Death (Hero’s false
death is less a
charade aimed to
 induce remorse in
Claudio than it is a
social ritual
designed to cleanse
her name and
person of infamy.)
Rosalind - The daughter SIR ROWLAND DE BOIS HAS RECENTLY DIED, and, The Delights of Love. As
AS YOU LIKE IT SETTING (TIME) of Duke Senior. Rosalind, according to the custom of primogeniture, the You Like It spoofs
· Sixteenth century considered one of vast majority of his estate has passed into the many of the
As his only source Shakespeare’s most possession of his eldest son, Oliver. Although conventions of
for As You Like It, SETTING (PLACE)· France, delightful heroines, is Sir Rowland has instructed Oliver to take good poetry and literature
Shakespeare used primarily the fictional independent minded, care of his brother, Orlando, Oliver refuses to do dealing with love,
Rosalynde: Euphues Forest of Ardenne strong-willed, good- so. Out of pure spite, he denies Orlando the such as the idea
Golden Legacie, a hearted, and terribly education, training, and property befitting a that love is a
novel written by clever. gentleman. Charles, a wrestler from the court of disease that brings
Thomas Lodge, Duke Frederick, arrives to warn Oliver of a suffering and
published in 1590. Orlando - The youngest rumor that Orlando will challenge Charles to a torment to the lover,
son of Sir Rowland de fight on the following day. Fearing censure if he or the assumption
Bois and younger brother should beat a nobleman, Charles begs Oliver to that the male lover
of Oliver. Orlando is an intervene, but Oliver convinces the wrestler that is the slave or
attractive young man Orlando is a dishonorable sportsman who will servant of his
who, under his brother’s take whatever dastardly means necessary to mistress. But at the
neglectful care, has win. Charles vows to pummel Orlando, which end of the play,
languished without a delights Oliver. Rosalind proves
gentleman’s education or that love is a source
training. Duke Senior has been usurped of his throne by of incomparable
his brother, Duke Frederick, and has fled to the delight.
Duke Senior - The Forest of Ardenne, where he lives like Robin
father of Rosalind and the Hood with a band of loyal followers. Duke The Malleability of the
rightful ruler of the Frederick allows Senior’s daughter, Rosalind, to Human
dukedom in which the remain at court because of her inseparable Experience. As
play is set. Duke Senior friendship with his own daughter, Celia. The day You Like It not only
proves himself to be a arrives when Orlando is scheduled to fight insists that people
kind and fair-minded Charles, and the women witness Orlando’s can and do change,
ruler. defeat of the court wrestler. Orlando and but also celebrates
Rosalind instantly fall in love with one another, their ability to
Jaques - A faithful lord though Rosalind keeps this fact a secret from change for the
who accompanies Duke everyone but Celia. Orlando returns home from better.
Senior into exile in the the wrestling match, only to have his faithful
Forest of Ardenne. servant Adam warn him about Oliver’s plot City Life Versus Country
Jaques is an example of against Orlando’s life. Orlando decides to leave Life. Often, it
a stock figure in for the safety of Ardenne. Without warning, suggests that the
Elizabethan comedy, the Duke Frederick has a change of heart regarding
man possessed of a
hopelessly melancholy
disposition.
Celia - The daughter of
Duke Frederick and
Rosalind’s dearest friend.
Celia possesses a loving
heart, but is prone to
deep, almost excessive
emotions.
Duke Frederick - The
brother of Duke Senior
and usurper of his throne.
Duke Frederick’s cruel
nature and volatile
temper are displayed
when he banishes his
niece, Rosalind, from
court without reason.
Touchstone - A clown in
Duke Frederick’s court
who accompanies
Rosalind and Celia in
their flight to Ardenne.
Oliver - The oldest son
of Sir Rowland de Bois
and sole inheritor of the
de Bois estate.
Silvius - A young,
suffering shepherd, who
is desperately in love with
the disdainful Phoebe.
Phoebe - A young
shepherdess, who
disdains the affections of
Silvius.
Rosalind and banishes her from court. She, too,
decides to flee to the Forest of Ardenne and oppressions of the
leaves with Celia, who cannot bear to be without city can be
Rosalind, and Touchstone, the court jester. To remedied by a trip
ensure the safety of their journey, Rosalind into the country’s
assumes the dress of a young man and takes therapeutic woods
the name Ganymede, while Celia dresses as a and fields, and that
common shepherdess and calls herself Aliena. a person’s sense of
balance and
Duke Frederick is furious at his daughter’s rightness can be
disappearance. When he learns that the flight of restored by
his daughter and niece coincides with the conversations with
disappearance of Orlando, the duke orders uncorrupted
Oliver to lead the manhunt, threatening to shepherds and
confiscate Oliver’s lands and property should he shepherdesses.
fail. Frederick also decides it is time to destroy This type of
his brother once and for all and begins to raise restoration, in turn,
an army. enables one to
return to the city a
Duke Senior lives in the Forest of Ardenne with better person,
a band of lords who have gone into voluntary capable of making
exile. He praises the simple life among the the most of urban
trees, happy to be absent from the machinations life.
of court life. Orlando, exhausted by travel and
desperate to find food for his starving Motifs
companion, Adam, barges in on the duke’s Artifice
camp and rudely demands that they not eat until Homoeroticism
he is given food. Duke Senior calms Orlando Exile
and, when he learns that the young man is the
son of his dear former friend, accepts him into
his company. Meanwhile, Rosalind and Celia, Symbols
disguised as Ganymede and Aliena, arrive in
the forest and meet a lovesick young shepherd Orlando’s Poems . The
named Silvius who pines away for the disdainful poems that Orlando
Phoebe. The two women purchase a modest nails to the trees of
cottage, and soon enough Rosalind runs into Ardenne are a
the equally lovesick Orlando. Taking her to be a testament to his
young man, Orlando confides in Rosalind that love for Rosalind.
his affections are overpowering him. Rosalind,
as Ganymede, claims to be an expert in The Slain Deer. The deer
exorcising such emotions and promises to cure placed atop the
Orlando of lovesickness if he agrees to pretend hunter’s head is a
that Ganymede is Rosalind and promises to symbol of
Lord Amiens - A faithful
lord who accompanies
Duke Senior into exile in
the Forest of Ardenne.
Lord Amiens is rather jolly
and loves to sing.
Charles - A professional
wrestler in Duke
Frederick’s court.
Adam - The elderly
former servant of Sir
Rowland de Bois.
Sir Rowland de Bois -
The father of Oliver and
Orlando, friend of Duke
Senior, and enemy of
Duke Frederick.
Corin - A shepherd.
Corin attempts to counsel
his friend Silvius in the
ways of love, but Silvius
refuses to listen.
Audrey - A Audrey, a goatherd he intends to marry; and
simpleminded goatherd
who agrees to marry
Touchstone.
William - A young
country boy who is in love
with Audrey.
come woo her every day. Orlando agrees, and
the love lessons begin. cuckoldry,
commonly
Meanwhile, Phoebe becomes increasingly cruel represented by a
in her rejection of Silvius. When Rosalind man with horns
intervenes, disguised as Ganymede, Phoebe atop his head.
falls hopelessly in love with Ganymede. One
day, Orlando fails to show up for his tutorial with Ganymede. Rosalind’s
Ganymede. Rosalind, reacting to her infatuation choice of alternative identities
with Orlando, is distraught until Oliver appears. is significant. Ganymede is
Oliver describes how Orlando stumbled upon the cupbearer and beloved of
him in the forest and saved him from being Jove and is a standard
devoured by a hungry lioness. Oliver and Celia, symbol of homosexual love.
still disguised as the shepherdess Aliena, fall In the context of the play, her
instantly in love and agree to marry. As time choice of an alter ego
passes, Phoebe becomes increasingly insistent contributes to a continuum of
in her pursuit of Ganymede, and Orlando grows sexual possibilities.
tired of pretending that a boy is his dear
Rosalind. Rosalind decides to end the charade.
She promises that Ganymede will wed Phoebe,
if Ganymede will ever marry a woman, and she
makes everyone pledge to meet the next day at
the wedding. They all agree.
The day of the wedding arrives, and Rosalind
gathers the various couples: Phoebe and
Silvius; Celia and Oliver; Touchstone and
Orlando. The group congregates before Duke
Senior and his men. Rosalind, still disguised as
Ganymede, reminds the lovers of their various
vows, then secures a promise from Phoebe that
if for some reason she refuses to marry
Ganymede she will marry Silvius, and a promise
from the duke that he would allow his daughter
to marry Orlando if she were available. Rosalind
leaves with the disguised Celia, and the two
soon return as themselves, accompanied by
Hymen, the god of marriage. Hymen officiates at
the ceremony and marries Rosalind and
Orlando, Celia and Oliver, Phoebe and Silvius,
and Audrey and Touchstone. The festive
wedding celebration is interrupted by even more
 festive news: while marching with his army to
attack Duke Senior, Duke Frederick came upon
a holy man who convinced him to put aside his
worldly concerns and assume a monastic life.
-Frederick changes his ways and returns the
throne to Duke Senior. The guests continue
dancing, happy in the knowledge that they will
soon return to the royal court.

Mistress Ford - A Justice Shallow, Master Slender, and Sir Hugh Women can hold their own
THE MERRY The action takes place resident of Windsor, Evans enter, discussing Shallow's anger at Sir against men–and the
WIVES OF in Windsor in Berkshire Mistress Ford is married John Falstaff. Evans changes the topic to the dictates of custom. The
WINDSOR County, England, to Ford and is a friend of young Anne Page, whom he would like to see Merry Wives of Windsor takes
Some elements of during the Elizabethan Mistress Page. Slender marry. They arrive at Master Page's place in an age when males
The Merry Wives of Age. Windsor, a few door, where Shallow confronts Falstaff and his often regarded females as
Windsor may have miles west of London, Mistress Page - A entourage. The men enter to dine, but Slender playthings and when parents
been adapted from Il is the site of Windsor resident of Windsor, drifts around outside, trying unsuccessfully to often chose the suitors for
Pecorone, a Castle, a royal Mistress Page is married converse with Anne Page until he goes inside. their daughters. But it is the
collection of stories residence from the time to Page and is a friend of women who win the day in
by Ser Giovanni of William the Mistress Ford. Falstaff and his entourage settle in at the Garter this comedy. Two ordinary
Fiorentino; one of Conqueror, who Inn, where Falstaff reveals his plan to seduce housewives, Mrs. Page and
these stories was reigned as king from Falstaff - Falstaff is a Mistress Page and Mistress Ford, both of whom Mrs. Ford, get the better of a
included in William 1066 to 1087. The play knight, but he is also a have control over their husband's money, which gold-digging philanderer,
Painter's The Palace was said to have scoundrel and he desires. He sends Pistol and Nim to deliver Falstaff. And Anne Page goes
of Pleasure. debuted at Windsor occasionally a thief. letters to the women, but they refuse. Instead against the wishes of her
Castle before Queen they plot to stymie Falstaff's plans by telling parents when she runs off
Elizabeth I. Ford - Husband of Page and Ford of his intentions. with Fenton. The outcome of
Mistress Ford. Ford is the play must have pleased
very jealous of his wife. Mistress Quickly talks to Slender's servant the women in Shakespeare's
Simple, sent by Evans, and agrees that she will audience. One of them was
Page - Husband of consent to speak positively of Slender to Anne Queen Elizabeth I, according
Mistress Page. Page. Her master, Doctor Caius, enters and to evidence indicating that the
encounters Simple. When he hears about his play was first performed
Sir Hugh Evans - Sir errand, he becomes angry and drafts a letter to before her at Windsor Castle.
Hugh Evans is the local Evans. Caius too is in love with Anne Page and It is interesting to note,
clergyman. blames Evans for encouraging Slender; hence though, that the women who
he challenges him to a duel. He threatens make a fool of Falstaff, a
Caius - The local doctor, Quickly, who had promised him she would knight, are members of the
Caius is Mistress encourage Anne to look favorably on him. Later middle class, not the nobility
Quickly's master. Fenton enters; he's also in love with Anne and or aristocracy. If the queen
wants to know if Quickly has related his indeed delighted in the victory
Anne Page - Daughter affections to her. of the merry wives, her
of Page and Mistress enjoyment may have been
Page, Anne is sought for
marriage by an array of
idiots, including Caius
and Slender.
Fenton - A suitor for
Anne Page's hand, Page
denies his suit because
he fears that Fenton's
interest is purely financial,
being high-born but poor.
Slender - The third suitor
for Anne Page's hand,
Slender is urged on by
Shallow, but he is unable
to speak anything but
nonsense to Anne.
Shallow - Shallow is a
figure of the law, but
nevertheless a foolish
character of misplaced
authority.
Mistress Quickly -
Caius's servant, Mistress
Quickly is everyone's
messenger.
Bardolph - One of
Falstaff's men, Bardolph
takes over as the
bartender of the Garter
Inn in order to pay for
Falstaff's entourage's
room and board.
Nim - One of Falstaff's
men, Nim wants to stay
honest, and he refuses to
deliver Falstaff's
seductive letters to
Mistress Page enters with a letter from Falstaff. tempered by this fact–or so
She's astonished that he has the gall to try to one may speculate.
seduce her and wonders how she will seek
revenge. Mistress Ford appears with her own All things are not as they
letter, which they discover is exactly the same. seem. Falstaff first deceives
They decide to lead Falstaff on until he is ruined the wives. The wives then
and humiliated. Mistress Ford agrees to deceive Falstaff and their
anything that won't harm her honor. Meanwhile, husbands. Mr. Ford and
Pistol and Nim enter, conversing with Ford and Mistress Quickly also deceive
Page; they reveal Falstaff's plans. The Falstaff. Falstaff deceives
husbands are astonished. Page doesn't think his himself.
wife will fall for Falstaff, but Ford is horribly Insincerity breeds trouble.
jealous and convinced his wife will dishonor him. Falstaff gets into trouble
because he is insincere,
Shallow and the Host of the Garter Inn enter pretending to be lovestruck
with news of a fight between Caius and Evans. when he is really money-
Page goes with them to watch, while Ford struck.
makes a deal with the Host to be introduced to
Falstaff in disguise, in order to find out how far Turnabout is fair play. The
Falstaff has gotten in his plan. wives turn the tables on
Falstaff, and he gets his just
At the Garter Inn, Quickly enters with a desert.
message from Mistresses Ford and Page for
Falstaff. She reports that Ford will be out the
next morning, and Mistress Ford will be
expecting a visit from him. Mistress Page has
not yet gotten her husband to leave the house,
so she'll make a date at a later time. Then Ford
enters in disguise, announced under the name
Brooke. He tells Falstaff that he's in love with
Mistress Ford, but that she has always rebuffed
his advances, claiming that she's too honorable
to cheat on her husband. He asks Falstaff to
seduce Mistress Ford, thus destroying her
honor, so she won't be able to turn him down in
the future. Falstaff reports his date the next
morning with Mistress Ford. Alone, Ford curses
his wife for preparing to cheat on him and thinks
Page is foolish to trust his wife.
Caius awaits Evans for their duel, but Evans is
nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, Evans has
been wandering around looking for Caius. They
Mistress Page and meet and prepare to fight. The other men take
Mistress Ford. their swords away, and Caius and Evans speak
quietly to each other of their suspicion that the
Pistol - One of Falstaff's Host has plotted to make them look like fools
men, Pistol wants to stay because he scorns Evans for his Welsh accent
honest, and he refuses to and Caius for his French one. They agree to
deliver Falstaff's work together to get revenge against the Host.
seductive letters to
Mistress Page and On the way back from the fight, the men discuss
Mistress Ford. Anne's marriage options. Page says he favors
Slender, but his wife prefers Caius. What about
Host - Host of the Garter Fenton?, asks one, but Page dismisses him
Inn, the Host makes fun entirely. Ford invites the men back to his house
of Evans and Caius's to catch Falstaff.
broken and accented
English Falstaff has arrived at Mistress Ford's house; he
hides when Mistress Page is announced. She
William Page - Page's comes in and speaks loudly of the imminent
son, he meets Evans, arrival of Ford, who angrily suspects his wife of
who gives him an cheating. Falstaff comes out and asks them to
impromptu Latin lesson help him flee. They hide him in a laundry basket.
which Mistress Quickly Ford and his buddies enter as Mistress Ford's
entirely mishears as men carry the laundry out. Ford is unable to find
sexual innuendo. Falstaff, and the Mistresses are doubly
delighted to have fooled both Falstaff and Ford.
Simple - Slender's They decide to humiliate Falstaff further in the
servant. service of making Ford get over his jealousy.

Fenton and Anne Page speak. He says her

father objects to him because he suspects him
of just wanting Anne's money, since he is high-
born but poor. Fenton admits that that was his
intention at first, but, since getting to know her,
he has come to feel differently. Shallow,
Slender, and Quickly enter; Quickly draws
Fenton away, while Shallow tries to get Slender
to talk to Anne. Slender only makes a fool of
himself by speaking nonsense. Page and his
wife enter, and they invite the favored Slender
inside. Fenton asks Quickly to continue to
campaign on his behalf with Anne. Alone,
Quickly notes that she likes him better than the
other two men who have asked her to sway
Anne's opinion.

Falstaff arrives at the Garter Inn, soaked after

having been thrown in the river with the laundry.
Quickly enters with a second invitation from
Mistress Ford. Ford enters in disguise as
Brooke and asks how Falstaff's date with
Mistress Ford went. He tells how it ended, but
says he is visiting again that night!

Falstaff returns to Mistress Ford's house, and

again Mistress Page enters soon after. Falstaff
hides, and Mistress Page warns Mistress Ford
of her husband's approach. How will they hide
Falstaff this time? He emerges and refuses to
go in the laundry again. Mistress Ford suggests
that he wear the clothes of her servant's fat aunt
to escape in disguise. He does, and when Ford
arrives, he beats Falstaff and chases him away
because he hates the fat aunt. Mistress Ford
and Mistress Page are pleased; they think they
have proven their point, and so they decide to
tell their husbands of their schemes.

Ford apologizes to his wife for his jealousy, and

he promises never to suspect her again. They
decide that it would be fun to work together to
humiliate Falstaff publicly. They plan to have
Mistress Ford invite Falstaff to meet her in an
allegedly haunted wood, and they'll dress their
children up as ghosts and monsters to terrify
and embarrass Falstaff. Then, having caught
him in the act of trying to meet Mistress Ford
secretly, they can tell the story all around town.

Fenton speaks to the Host of a letter he has

received from Anne. She says that her parents
want to use the chaos of disguised children in
the haunted wood as an opportunity for her
suitors to elope with her. Her mother wants her
to run off with Caius and her father prefers
Slender. Each instructs her to wear a specific
outfit so each suitor may find her. But she
intends to deceive them both. Fenton asks the
Host to help him find a vicar who will marry them
that night.

Meanwhile, Caius and Evans avenge

themselves on the Host by stealing three of his
horses in a scheme that had him believing he
had lent the horses to three German lords on
their way to the royal court.

Falstaff arrives in the haunted woods. The

disguised children hide and wait. Ford and Page
and their friends arrive to watch, and Mistress
Ford and Mistress Page approach Falstaff. He's
delighted to see they have both come to meet
him. Then they hear a noise and the women run
away. Falstaff is surrounded by disguised elves
and ghouls and is terrified. Mistress Quickly,
playing the fairy queen, says they should try to
burn the human they have encountered, and if
he doesn't burn then he is pure. They burn
Falstaff with candles and encircle him and pinch
him.

Finally, the disguised children depart, and Page

and Ford enter. Falstaff sees that he has been
fooled and humiliated. Evans tells Falstaff that
he should give up on his lusts and tells Ford that
he should trust his wife. Meanwhile, they all
wonder where Anne is. Slender arrives upset; in
the confusion, he eloped with a young boy in
Anne's outfit. Then Caius enters, in a rage that
he has married a boy wearing Anne's assigned
color outfit. Then Anne herself enters with
Fenton. Fenton scolds the Pages for having
thought to send Anne into a marriage without
love. He and Anne have long been in love, he
says, and now it has been finalized.

Ford says that love has won out, and Page and
his wife realize their mistake in not having
listened to the wishes of their daughter. Falstaff
is pleased that their plan to humiliate him

Helena - The play's
ALL’S WELL THAT The action begins in heroine. The orphan
ENDS WELL Roussillon, a region in daughter of a great
southern France, then doctor, she is the ward of
moves to other locales, the Countess of
The play is based on including Paris, France; Rousillon, and hopelessly
a tale of Boccacio's Florence, Italy; and in love with the Countess'
Decameron. Marseilles, France. son, Bertram.
Shakespeare may Bertram, one of the
have read an central characters in Bertram - The Count of
English translation of the play, is the Count of Rousillon since the death
the tale in William Roussillon. of his father, and the
Painter's Palace of Countess' only son. A
Pleasure. handsome, well-liked
young man, he proves to
be an excellent soldier,
The name of the
but a cad in his
play comes from the
relationship with Helena,
proverb All's well
who he unwillingly
that ends well, which
marries and quickly
means that problems
abandons.
do not matter so
long as the outcome
Countess - The mother
is good.
of Bertram, the mistress
of Rousillon, and
Helena's guardian, she is
a wise, discerning old
woman who perceives
Helena's worth and
rejoices when she
marries Bertram.
King of France - Widow. With the connivance of the daughter,
Bertram's liege lord. He is
deathly ill when the play
begins, and is
miraculously cured by
Helena, who uses one of
her father's medicines.
backfired partially in the marriage of Anne and
Fenton. They adjourn to celebrate the marriage
and invite Falstaff to join them.
Helena, the orphan daughter of a famous A human being should be
physician, is the ward of the Countess of judged on his or her inner
Rousillon, and hopelessly in love with her son, qualities, not on social
Count Bertram, who has been sent to the court standing. Bertram rejects
of the King of France. Despite her beauty and Helena (until the end of the
worth, Helena has no hope of attracting play) because she is below
Bertram, since she is of low birth and he is a him on the social scale.
nobleman. However, when word comes that the Blinded by his prejudices, he
King is ill, she goes to Paris and, using her fails to see her good qualities.
father's arts, cures the illness. In return, she is This theme foreshadows the
given the hand of any man in the realm; she themes of later English
chooses Bertram. Her new husband is appalled writers, such as Jane Austen,
at the match, however, and shortly after their Emily Brontë and Charles
marriage flees France, accompanied only by a Dickens.
scoundrel named Parolles, to fight in the army of
the Duke of Florence. Women have the
intelligence and know-how
Helena is sent home to the Countess, and to compete with men.
receives a letter from Bertram informing her that Examples: (1) Only Helena
he will never be her true spouse unless she can can cure the king's fistula. (2)
get his family ring from his finger, and become Helena and Diana team up to
pregnant with his child--neither of which, he trick Bertram. The motif of
declares, will ever come to pass. The Countess, women struggling to prove
who loves Helena and approves of the match, their worth--or suffering under
tries to comfort her, but the distraught young male domination--is a
woman departs Rousillon, planning to make a recurring theme in literature.
religious pilgrimage. For example, in the 5th
Century B.C., Sophocles
Meanwhile, in Florence, Bertram has become a dealt with this theme in
general in the Duke's army. Helena comes to Antigone, a play in which a
the city, and discovers that her husband is trying teenage girl challenges the
to seduce the virginal daughter of a kindly authority of a king. In the 19th
Century A.D., Kate Chopin
named Diana, she contrives to trick Bertram: he dealt with this theme in
gives Diana his ring as a token of his love, and several of her works,
when he comes to her room at night, Helena is including a splendid short
in the bed, and they make love without him story entitled "The Story of an
realizing that it is her. At the same time, two Hour," in which an oppressed
lords in the army expose Parolles as a coward woman fails to assert herself
 and a villain, and he falls out of Bertram's favor. in a male world but does
Lafew - An old French Meanwhile, false messengers have come to the enjoy an hour of freedom.
nobleman, who offers camp bearing word that Helena is dead, and
advice to the King and is with the war drawing to a close, Bertram All things are not as they
friendly with the decides to return to France. Unknown to him, seem. Bertram thinks high
Countess. He is wise and Helena follows, accompanied by Diana and the standing brings happiness. In
discerning, perceiving Widow. reality, he discovers later,
both Helena's worth and only love, honesty, and other
Parolles' worthlessness. In Rousillon, everyone is mourning Helena as virtues can bring happiness.
dead. The King is visiting, and consents to
Parolles - A companion Bertram marrying the daughter of an old, faithful All is well when it ends
of Bertram, he is a lord, named Lafew. However, he notices a ring well. Helena gets her man
coward, a liar and a on Bertram's finger that formerly belonged to even though she had to
braggart, who pretends to Helena--it was a gift from the King after she pretend to be another
be a great soldier when saved his life. (Helena gave the ring to Diana in woman, in a darkened room,
he is nothing of the sort. Florence, and she in turn gave it to her would-be to trick him into accepting her.
lover.) Bertram is at a loss to explain where it At the end of the play, Helena
First Lord - A genial came from, but just then Diana and her mother says that success or failure of
French nobleman named appear to explain matters--followed by Helena, a course of action depends
Dumaine, he serves in who informs her husband that both his on how it turned out, not on
the Florentine army and conditions have been fulfilled. Chastened, how it came about.
becomes friends with Bertram consents to be a good husband to her,
Bertram. and there is general rejoicing.

Second Lord - The First

Lord Dumaine's brother,
similar in character and
also a friend to Bertram.

Diana - A young virgin in

Florence, who Bertram
attempts to seduce.

Widow - Diana's mother.

Mariana - A woman of
Florence.

Duke of Florence - The

ruler of Florence, many
French lords (including
Bertram, Parolles, and
Dumaine) volunteer to
 fight for him.

Clown - An old servant

of the Countess, who
serves as a messenger
and enjoys coarse,
sexual humor.

Steward - Another
servant of the Countess.

Isabella - The main Shakespeare's Measure for Measure centers It discusses serious issues of
MEASURE FOR The setting is in character, Isabella, is a around the fate of Claudio, who is arrested by the abuses of power and
MEASURE Vienna. very virtuous and chaste Lord Angelo, the temporary leader of Vienna. authority.
young woman who faces Angelo is left in charge by the Duke, who
a difficult decision when pretends to leave town but instead dresses as a In Shakespeare's time,
The main source of her brother is sentenced friar to observe the goings-on in his absence. sexual harassment was non-
the play is George to death for fornication Angelo is strict, moralistic, and unwavering in existent, but today it remains
Whetstone's 1578 (unlawful sex). Isabella his decision-making; he decides that there is too a large issue. Measure for
lengthy two-part does not approve of her much freedom in Vienna and takes it upon Measure deals with this
closet drama brother's actions at all, himself to rid the city of brothels and unlawful harassment in the
Promos and but she pleads for his life sexual activity. Laws against these behaviors relationship between Isabella
Cassandra. out of loyalty and sisterly and institutions already exist, and Angelo simply and Angelo. To gain her
Whetstone took the devotion. Isabella is a decides to enforce them more strictly. Claudio is brother's freedom, Isabella
story from Cinthio's spiritual person who arrested for impregnating Juliet, his lover, before has to make the choice of
Hecatommithi, which starts off wanting to they were married. Although they were engaged whether to sleep with Angelo
Shakespeare seems become a nun. and their sexual intercourse was consensual, or let her brother die. The
to have consulted, Claudio is sentenced to death in order to serve ultimatum is something that
as well as a The Duke - The other as an example to the other Viennese citizens. would be illegal today.
dramatization of the central figure is the Duke,
story, also by who spends most of his Isabella, Claudio's sister, is about to enter a A leader being above the law
Cinthio. time dressed as a friar in nunnery when her brother is arrested. She is is another major theme that
order to observe what is unfailingly virtuous, religious, and chaste. When runs rampant through the
happening in his she hears of her brother's arrest, she goes to
The title, which story. Though Claudio is
absence. The Duke is Angelo to beg him for mercy. He refuses, but
appears as a line of sentenced to death for
unfailingly virtuous, good, suggests that there might be some way to
dialogue in the play, sleeping with his fiancée
and kind-hearted. change his mind. When he propositions her,
may be related to whom he loves, Angelo takes
saying that he will let Claudio live if she agrees
the Bible, Matthew advantage of being in power,
Claudio - Isabella's to have sexual intercourse with him, she is
7:2 and sleeps with Isabella.
brother Claudio is a shocked and immediately refuses. Her brother Even though he has attacks
young man sentenced to agrees at first but then changes his mind. of conscience, Angelo still
death for impregnating an Isabella is left to contemplate a very important expects to get away with his
unmarried woman. decision.
Lord Angelo - Angelo is
the villain of the play, a
man who rules strictly
and without mercy. He
has his own weaknesses,
however, and he is
loathsome more for his
hypocrisy than for
anything else.
Escalus - Escalus is a
wise lord who advises
Angelo to be more
merciful.
Lucio - Lucio, described
by Shakespeare as a
"fantastic," is a her brother is dead, and that she should submit
flamboyant bachelor who
provides much of the
play's comedic content.
Mariana - Mariana was
supposed to marry
Angelo, but he called the
wedding off when she lost
her dowry in a shipwreck
that killed her brother.
Mistress Overdone -
Mistress Overdone runs a
brothel in Vienna.
Pompey - Pompey is a
clown who also works for
Mistress Overdone.
Provost - The provost
runs the prison and is
responsible for carrying
out all of Angelo's orders.
Isabella is, in a way, let off the hook when the crime because of the position
Duke, dressed as a friar, intervenes. He tells her he holds. The major
that Angelo's former lover, Mariana, was metaphor in the play was also
engaged to be married to him, but he a person of power. The Duke
abandoned her when she lost her dowry in a in disguise stands as a God-
shipwreck. The Duke forms a plan by which like watcher figure who fixes
Isabella will agree to have sex with the Angelo, the wrongs the characters
but then Mariana will go in her place. The next make, judges those who
morning, Angelo will pardon Claudio and be deserve to be judged, and
forced to marry Mariana according to the law. rewards those who are loyal
and virtuous. The Duke uses
Everything goes according to plan, except that his power to help, not to
Angelo does not pardon Claudio, fearing hinder those around him as
revenge. The provost and the Duke send him Shakespeare may have
the head of a dead pirate, claiming that it perceived his God to be.
belonged to Claudio, and Angelo believes that
his orders were carried out. Isabella is told that
a complaint to the Duke, who is due to arrive
shortly, accusing Angelo of immoral acts.
The Duke returns in his usual clothes, saying
that he will hear all grievances immediately.
Isabella tells her story, and the Duke pretends
not to believe her. Eventually, the Duke reveals
his dual identity, and everyone is forced to be
honest. Angelo confesses to his misdeeds,
Claudio is pardoned, and the Duke asks Isabella
to marry him.
 Elbow - Elbow is a dim-
witted constable who
arrests people for
misconduct, particularly
of the sexual variety.

Barnadine - A long-term
prisoner in the jail,
Barnadine is sentenced
to be executed together
with Claudio.

Juliet - Claudio's lover,

she is pregnant with his
baby.

Leontes - The King of King Leontes of Sicilia begs his childhood friend, Youth and Age
WINTER’S TALE The action takes place Sicilia, and the childhood King Polixenes of Bohemia, to extend his visit to One theme is the power of
in Sicily (or Sicilia) and friend of the Bohemian Sicilia. Polixenes protests that he has been youth to regenerate age. For
The main plot of The Bohemia. Sicily is a King Polixenes. away from his kingdom for nine months, but example, it is the young
Winter's Tale is large island west of the after Leontes's pregnant wife, Hermione, pleads people, Perdita and Florizel,
taken from Robert toe of Italy's boot. Hermione - The virtuous with him he relents and agrees to stay a little who effect the reconciliation
Greene's pastoral Bohemia was a and beautiful Queen of longer. Leontes, meanwhile, has become between the old kings,
romance Pandosto, kingdom within the Sicilia. possessed with jealousy--convinced that Leontes and Polixenes. This
published in 1590. boundaries of the Polixenes and Hermione are lovers, he orders theme is struck in the very
present-day Czech Perdita - The daughter his loyal retainer, Camillo, to poison the first scene, in which Camillo
republic, between of Leontes and Hermione. Bohemian king. Instead, Camillo warns comments that young
present-day Poland on Polixenes of what is afoot, and the two men flee Mamilius is such a promising
the north and Austria Polixenes - The King of Sicilia immediately. prince that he makes "old
on the south. In ancient Bohemia, and Leontes's hearts fresh." (See also
times, a Celtic people boyhood friend. Furious at their escape, Leontes now publicly Polixenes' comments, Act 1,
called the Boii settled accuses his wife of infidelity, and declares that scene 2, lines 170-71.)
the land that became Florizel - Polixenes's the child she is bearing must be illegitimate. He Mamilius of course does not
Bohemia. In The only son and heir throws her in prison, over the protests of his live to fulfill his promise, but
Winter's Tale, Bohemia nobles, and sends to the Oracle of Delphi for Perdita does. There is a
has a coastline along Camillo - An honest what he is sure will be confirmation of his sense of human life renewing
which ships arrive and Sicilian nobleman suspicions. Meanwhile, the queen gives birth to itself through the cycle of
debark. In real life, a girl, and her loyal friend Paulina brings the generations.
Bohemia was a Paulina - A noblewoman baby to the king, in the hopes that the sight of
landlocked region; it of Sicily, she is fierce in the child will soften his heart. He only grows Forgiveness and
was entirely surrounded her defense of angrier, however, and orders Paulina's husband, Reconciliation
by terra firma. Hermione's virtue, and Lord Antigonus, to take the child and abandon it The importance of
Shakespeare may have unrelenting in her in some desolate place. While Antigonus is
been a magnificent condemnation of Leontes gone, the answer comes from Delphi--Hermione
writer, but he was no after Hermione's death and Polixenes are innocent, and Leontes will forgiveness and reconciliation
geographer. have no heir until his lost daughter is found. As is another theme in the last
Autolycus - A roguish this news is revealed, word comes that plays of Shakespeare.
peddler, vagabond, and Leontes's son, Mamillius, has died of a wasting Hermoine forgives Leontes
pickpocket sickness brought on by the accusations against the wrong he inflicted on her,
his mother. Hermione, meanwhile, falls in a and they are finally
Shepherd - An old and swoon, and is carried away by Paulina, who reconciled. Polixenes forgives
honorable sheep-tender, subsequently reports the queen's death to her Leontes. Leontes must also
he finds Perdita as a heartbroken and repentant husband. try to forgive himself.
baby and raises her as
his own daughter. Antigonus, meanwhile abandons the baby on Supernatural Intervention
the Bohemian coast, reporting that Hermione Supernatural or improbable
Antigonus - Paulina's appeared to him in a dream and bade him name events often feature in the
husband, and also a loyal the girl Perdita and leave gold and other tokens Shakespearean romances. In
defender of Hermione. on her person. Shortly thereafter, Antigonus is The Winter's Tale, the god
killed by a bear, and Perdita is raised by a kindly Apollo intervenes, through the
Clown - The Shepherd's Shepherd. Sixteen years pass, and the son of oracle, when Leontes is blind
buffoonish son, and Polixenes, Prince Florizel, falls in love with to the truth and bent on
Perdita's adopted brother. Perdita. His father and Camillo attend a injustice. The "resurrection" of
sheepshearing in disguise and watch as Florizel Hermoine is also presented
Mamillius - The young and Perdita are betrothed--then, tearing off the as a supernatural event, a
prince of Sicilia, Leontes disguise, Polixenes intervenes and orders his miracle.
and Hermione's son. son never to see the Shepherd's daughter
again. With the aid of Camillo, however, who
Cleomenes - A lord of longs to see his native land again, Florizel and Nobility of Woman
Sicilia, sent to Delphi to Perdita take ship for Sicilia, after using the Another theme of the
ask the Oracle about clothes of a local rogue, Autolycus, as a romances, prominent in The
Hermione's guilt. disguise. They are joined in their voyage by the Winter's Tale, is the nobility,
Shepherd and his son, a Clown, who are purity and resoluteness of
Dion - A Sicilian lord, he directed there by Autolycus. woman. These qualities are
accompanies Cleomenes embodied in Hermoine, who
to Delphi. In Sicilia, Leontes--still in mourning after all this is not only beyond reproach
time--greets the son of his old friend effusively. in her duties as queen, but
Emilia - One of Florizel pretends to be on a diplomatic mission also endures false accusation
Hermione's ladies-in- from his father, but his cover is blown when and condemnation with great
waiting. Polixenes and Camillo, too, arrive in Sicilia. dignity.
What happens next is told to us by gentlemen of
Archidamus - A lord of the Sicilian court: the Shepherd tells everyone Nature and the Perpetual
Bohemia. his story of how Perdita was found, and Leontes Renewal of Life. human life
realizes that she is his daughter, leading to will be healed by nature and
general rejoicing. The entire company then goes time, just as spring always
to Paulina's house in the country, where a returns to the earth. What
 statue of Hermione has been recently finished. time takes away it will
The sight of his wife's form makes Leontes ultimately restore.
distraught, but then, to everyone's amazement,
the statue comes to life--it is Hermione, restored
to life. As the play ends, Paulina and Camillo
are engaged, and the whole company
celebrates the miracle.

Antipholus of Syracuse Egeon, a merchant of Syracuse, is condemned Identity

THE COMEDY OF The setting for The - The twin brother of to death in Ephesus for violating the ban against That this is a play about
ERRORS Comedy of Errors is Antipholus of Ephesus travel between the two rival cities. As he is led identity is heralded by the
Ephesus, in present- and the son of Egeon to his execution, he tells the Ephesian Duke, presence of two sets of
day Turkey, which Solinus, that he has come to Syracuse in search identical twins who have been
Key plot elements was a leading trade Antipholus of Ephesus of his wife and one of his twin sons, who were separated since they were
are taken from two centre in ancient - The twin brother of separated from him 25 years ago in a babies.
Roman comedies of times. Antipholus of Syracuse shipwreck. The other twin, who grew up with
Plautus. and the son of Egeon; he Egeon, is also traveling the world in search of Debt
is a well-respected the missing half of their family. (The twins, we Debt is a theme that arises in
merchant in Ephesus and learn, are identical, and each has an identical almost every scene of the
From Menaechmi
Adriana's husband. twin slave named Dromio.) The Duke is so play. It appears in two forms:
comes the main
moved by this story that he grants Egeon a day material debt (money and
premise of mistaken
Dromio of Syracuse - to raise the thousand-mark ransom that would goods) and social or marital
identity between
The bumbling, comical be necessary to save his life. obligations. The entire theme
identical twins with
slave of Antipholus of of debt is that of a cruelly
the same name, plus
Syracuse. He is the twin Meanwhile, unknown to Egeon, his son binding chain of cause and
some of the stock
brother of Dromio of Antipholus of Syracuse (and Antipholus' slave effect that ties the characters
characters such as
Ephesus. Dromio) is also visiting Ephesus--where up in fear, deception, distress
the comic courtesan.
Antipholus' missing twin, known as Antipholus of and jealousy, and banishes
In Menaechmi one of
Dromio of Ephesus - Ephesus, is a prosperous citizen of the city. love, forgiveness, and
the twins is from
The bumbling, comical Adriana, Antipholus of Ephesus' wife, mistakes friendship.
Epidamnus;
slave of Antipholus of Antipholus of Syracuse for her husband and
Shakespeare
Ephesus. He is the drags him home for dinner, leaving Dromio of
changes this to
Syracusan Dromio's twin Syracuse to stand guard at the door and admit Love and marriage
Ephesus and
brother. no one. Shortly thereafter, Antipholus of This theme is explored in the
includes many
Ephesus (with his slave Dromio of Ephesus) relationship between Adriana
allusions to St Paul's
Adriana - The wife of returns home and is refused entry to his own and her husband, Antipholus
Epistle to the
Antipholus of Ephesus, house. Meanwhile, Antipholus of Syracuse has E., and in the debate on
Ephesians.
she is a fierce, jealous fallen in love with Luciana, Adriana's sister, who marriage between Adriana
woman. is appalled at the behavior of the man she thinks and Luciana.
From Amphitruo he is her brother-in-law.
borrows the twin Luciana - Adriana's
servants with the Gender issues
unmarried sister and the The confusion increases when a gold chain
same name, plus the The theme of gender
object of Antipholus of ordered by the Ephesian Antipholus is given to
 Syracuse's affections.
scene in Act 3 where
a husband is shut Solinus - The Duke of
out of his house Ephesus; a just but
while his wife merciful ruler.
mistakenly dines
with a look-alike. Egeon - A Syracusan
merchant, husband of the
Abbess (Emilia), and the
The frame story of
father of the two Antipholi
Egeon and Emilia
derives from
Abbess - Emilia, the
Apollonius of Tyre,
long-lost wife of Egeon
also a source for
and the mother of the two
Twelfth Night and
Antipholi.
Pericles, Prince of
Tyre.
Balthasar - A merchant
in Syracuse.
Angelo - A goldsmith in
Syracuse and a friend to
Antipholus of Ephesus.
Merchant - An
Ephesian friend of
Antipholus of Syracuse.
Antipholus of Syracuse. Antipholus of Ephesus overlaps with the theme of
refuses to pay for the chain (unsurprisingly, love and marriage. Critical
since he never received it) and is arrested for debate of this issue centers
debt. His wife, seeing his strange behavior, around Adriana and Luciana,
decides he has gone mad and orders him bound in terms of their respective
and held in a cellar room. Meanwhile, attitudes to marriage and
Antipholus of Syracuse and his slave decide to men.
flee the city, which they believe to be
enchanted, as soon as possible--only to be
menaced by Adriana and the debt officer. They
seek refuge in a nearby abbey.
Adriana now begs the Duke to intervene and
remove her "husband" from the abbey into her
custody. Her real husband, meanwhile, has
broken loose and now comes to the Duke and
levels charges against his wife. The situation is
finally resolved by the Abbess, Emilia, who
brings out the set of twins and reveals herself to
be Egeon's long-lost wife. Antipholus of
Ephesus reconciles with Adriana; Egeon is
pardoned by the Duke and reunited with his
spouse; Antipholus of Syracuse resumes his
romantic pursuit of Luciana, and all ends happily
with the two Dromios embracing.

Second Merchant - A
tradesman to whom
Angelo is in debt.

Doctor Pinch - A
schoolteacher, conjurer,
and would-be exorcist.

Luce - Also called Nell.

Antipholus of Ephesus'
prodigiously fat maid and
Dromio of Ephesus' wife.

Courtesan - An
expensive prostitute and
friend of Antipholus of

CYMBELINE The
Cymbeline
The plot of Ancient
Cymbeline is loosely Wales and Rome.
based on a tale by
Geoffrey of
Monmouth about the
real-life British
monarch
Cunobelinus.
Shakespeare,
however, freely
adapts the legend to
a large extent and
adds entirely original
sub-plots. Iachimo's
wager and
subsequent hiding-
place within a chest
in order to gather
details of Imogen's
room derive from
story II.9 of Giovanni
Boccaccio's
Decameron.
Ephesus.
Imogen - Cymbeline's Imogen, the daughter of the British king Appearance versus reality
settings for daughter, the British Cymbeline, goes against her father's wishes and In Cymbeline, nothing is as it
are princess. She is wise, marries a lowborn gentleman, Posthumus, seems. Outward appearance
England, beautiful, and resourceful. instead of his oafish stepson, Cloten. Cloten is does not fit inward reality.
the son of Cymbeline's new Queen, a villainous
Posthumus - An woman who has made the king her puppet. Youth and age
orphaned gentleman, he Cymbeline sends Posthumus into exile in Italy, Cymbeline and, by extension,
is adopted and raised by where he encounters a smooth-tongued Italian his court and the kingdom,
Cymbeline, and he named Iachimo. Iachimo argues that all women has lost touch with youth and
marries Imogen in secret, are naturally unchaste, and he makes a wager all that goes with it-love,
against her father's will. with Posthumus that he will be able to seduce fertility, and renewal. This is
Imogen. He goes to the British court and, failing shown in the loss of his two
Cymbeline - The king of in his initial attempt to convince the princess to sons, in his wedding a cruel
Britain and Imogen's sleep with him, resorts to trickery: He hides in a Queen, and in his harsh
father. A wise and large chest and has it sent to her room; that imprisonment of Imogen.
gracious monarch, he is night he slips out, observes her sleeping, and
led astray by the steals a bracelet that Posthumus once gave to Restorative power of nature
machinations of his her. Cymbeline is one of several
wicked Queen. plays in which Shakespeare
Cloten, meanwhile, continues to pursue Imogen, contrasts the corrupt and
Queen - Cymbeline's but she rebuffs him harshly. He becomes furious decaying court with the purity
wife and Imogen's and vows revenge, while she worries over the and truth of the natural world.
stepmother. loss of her bracelet. In the meantime, Iachimo
has returned to Italy, and, displaying the stolen Forgiveness and
Cloten - The Queen's bracelet and an intimate knowledge of the reconciliation
son, he was betrothed to details of Imogen's bedchamber, convinces The final scene is
Imogen before her secret Posthumus that he won the bet. Posthumus, characterized by forgiveness
wedding to Posthumus. furious at being betrayed by his wife, sends a and reconciliation.
letter to Britain ordering his servant, Pisanio, to Posthumus learns that
Iachimo - A clever and murder Imogen. But Pisanio believes in Imogen was innocent and
dishonest Italian Imogen's innocence, and he convinces her to expresses repentance.
gentleman. disguise herself as a boy and go search for her Imogen forgives Posthumus.
husband, while he reports to Posthumus that he Cymbeline is reunited with
Pisanio - Posthumus's has killed her. Imogen and with his lost
loyal servant sons, forgives Belarius, and is
Imogen, however, soon becomes lost in the reconciled with the enemy he
Belarius - A British wilds of Wales, and she comes upon a cave vanquished.
nobleman, unjustly where Belarius, an unjustly banished nobleman,
banished by Cymbeline lives with his two sons, Guiderius and Arviragus.
In fact, the two young men are not his sons but
Guiderius - Cymbeline's Cymbeline's; Belarius has kidnapped them to
eldest son and Imogen's avenge his banishment, though they themselves
brother are ignorant of their true parentage. They
welcome Imogen, who is still dressed as a boy.
Arviragus - Cymbeline's Meanwhile, Cloten appears, having come in
younger son and pursuit of Imogen; he fights a duel with
Imogen's brother Guiderius, who kills him. Imogen, feeling ill,
drinks a potion the queen has given her.
Philario - An Italian Although the queen told her it was medicinal,
gentleman. Posthumus the queen herself believed it to be a poison.
stays at his home during However, the draught merely induces a deep
his exile from Britain. sleep that resembles death. Belarius and his
adoptive sons come upon Imogen and, heart-
Caius Lucius - The broken, lay her body beside that of the slain
Roman ambassador to Cloten. Awaking after they have left the scene,
Britain and, later, the she mistakes the body of Cloten for that of
general of the Roman Posthumus, and she sinks into despair. A
invasion force. Roman army has invaded Britain, seeking the
restoration of a certain tribute Britain has
Cornelius - A doctor at ceased to pay. (A "tribute" here is a payment
the court of Cymbeline given to one nation by another in return for a
promise of non-aggression.) The disguised
Soothsayer - A seer, in Imogen hires herself out to them as a page.
the service of Caius
Lucius Posthumus and Iachimo are traveling with the
Roman army, but Posthumus switches to the
Jupiter - The thunder- garb of a British peasant and fights valiantly for
god and king of Olympus Britain. Indeed, in his combat he actively seeks
in Roman myth death: He believes his servant to have carried
out his orders and killed Imogen, and he regrets
his actions. The Romans are defeated, thanks
to the intervention of Belarius, Guiderius, and
Arviragus, and Posthumus, still trying to punish
himself, switches back to Roman garb and
allows himself to be taken prisoner. That night,
the god Jupiter promises the spirits of
Posthumus's dead ancestors that he will care for
their descendant. The next day, Cymbeline calls
the prisoners before him, and the confusion is
sorted out. Posthumus and Imogen are reunited,
and they forgive a contrite Iachimo, who
confesses his deception. The identity of
Guiderius and Arviragus is revealed, Belarius is
forgiven, and the Queen dies, leaving the king

LOVE’S LABOUR
LOST The action takes place
in Navarre (Spanish,
Navarra), originally a
Love's Labour's Lost region in northern
is, along with The Spain and southern
Tempest, a play France (département of
without any obvious Basses-Pyrénées). At
sources. Cymbeline one time, Navarre was
falls into this a kingdom. In 1515,
category to some Spain annexed most of
extent, although that Navarre; in 1589,
play draws strands France annexed the
of its narrative from rest of the kingdom.
some texts agreed The capital of present-
on by modern day Navarre is
scholars. Some Pamplona, on the Arga
possible influences River, founded by the
can be found in the ancient Roman general
early plays of John Pompey the Great. The
Lyly, Robert Wilson's area was later occupied
The Cobbler's by Visigoths and
Prophecy (c.1590) Moors. Pamplona is
and Pierre de la famous for the Festival
Primaudaye's of St. Fermin (July 6-
L'Academie 14), in which a chief
française (1577). attraction is encierro–
the running of bulls
each morning through
the streets of the city.
Ferdinand, King of
Navarre - While the
play's dramatis personae
lists the King as
Ferdinand, throughout the
play he is referred to only
as "King." He is a scholar
and has sworn an oath to
uphold his scholarship at
the expense of earthly
pleasures, the most
important of which will
turn out to be receiving
women at his court.
Berowne, Longaville,
Dumaine - Three lords
who have joined the King
in his oath of scholarship.
Princess of France
- She pays a visit to the
King of Navarre and,
along with some of her
attendants, plays a game
of wits with the King and
his lords.
Rosaline, Maria,
Katherine - Three
ladies attending the
Princess who catch the
fancy of the King's lords.
Boyet - A lord attending
on the Princess, he
serves as a messenger to
the King's court and
exchanges jokes with the
free of her evil influence. As a final gesture,
Cymbeline frees the Roman prisoners and even
agrees to resume paying the tribute.
The King of Navarre and his three lords,
Berowne, Longaville, and Dumaine, swear an
oath to scholarship, which includes fasting and
avoiding contact with women for three years.
They receive a letter from Don Armado, a
Spaniard visiting the King's court, telling them
that he has caught Costard, a fool, and
Jaquenetta, a country wench, consorting in the
park. The King announces Costard's sentence,
and he and the lords go off to begin their oath.
Don Armado confesses to Moth, his page, that
he has fallen in love with Jaquenetta. He writes
her a letter that he asks Costard to deliver.
Meanwhile, the Princess of France has arrived
to visit the King. Because of his oath, however,
the King cannot receive the Princess and her
party at his court; he and his lords must visit
them at their camp outside the castle. The three
lords fall in love with the three ladies, as does
the King with the Princess. Berowne gives
Costard a letter to deliver to Rosaline, but
Costard accidentally switches it with the letter
from Don Armado to Jaquenetta. When he gives
Berowne's letter to Jaquenetta, she brings it to
the learned Holofernes and Sir Nathaniel to read
for her. They tell her that the letter was meant
for someone else and to deliver it to the King.
Berowne watches the King from a hiding spot as
he reads about his love for the Princess.
Longaville enters, and the King hides as well; he
and Berowne observe Longaville reading of his
love for Maria. Dumaine enters, Longaville
hides, and all three see Dumaine reading an
ode he has written to Katherine. Longaville
advances and tells Dumaine that he is not alone
in love. The King then advances and scolds the
Love's Labor's Lost is
Shakespeare's attempt at
showing his characters do not
always achieve their ends.
The play focuses on its
character's flaws instead of
their virtues. First, the men of
the play try to make sacrifices
in order to better their minds
and their studies.
In the play, the only
knowledge that the
characters gain is that in
taking away life's natural
distractions, they focus on
what they cannot have.
Love's Labor's Lost also
shows the audience the
values of keeping an oath.
The women of the play, in
attempts to show the men
what fools they have been,
teach them this lesson.
The "Lost" in the title
accurately describes the fact
that the men gained nothing
through their oath both to
their king, and to the women
to whom they professed their
love. It shows that no matter
how hard one tries, keeping
promises is often more
important and more respect
gaining than expressions of
love.
 lords. two men for breaking their oath. Berowne
advances and reveals that the King is in love as
Don Armado - well. Jaquenetta arrives and gives Berowne the
Described in the list of letter, which he rips up. However, Dumaine
characters as "a picks up a piece of the letter with Berowne's
fantastical Spaniard." name on it, and Berowne confesses that he is in
love as well. The four men decide to court their
Mote - Don Armado's women.
page.
The King and his lords arrive at the Princess's
Costard - He is pavilion dressed as Muscovites. The women
described as "a clown" heed Boyet's prior warnings and decide to
switch favors, so that the men will mistake them
Jaquenetta - A country for each other. After the men leave and
wench caught with reappear as themselves, the women reveal their
Costard by Don Armado. prank. They all watch a show of the Nine
Worthies, performed by Don Armado, Sir
Sir Nathaniel, Nathaniel, and Holofernes. A messenger arrives
Holofernes - A curate to tell the Princess that her father has died, and
and schoolmaster she prepares to return to France. The women
tell their suitors to seek them again in a year,
Dull - A constable, and the play ends with their departure.
usually appearing with Sir
Nathaniel and
Holofernes. He provides
a dull contrast to their
scholarship.

Mercadé - Another lord

attending on the
Princess.

Antony - A once fierce MARK ANTONY, ONE OF THE THREE RULERS of the Blind passion mutes the
ANTONY AND and feared soldier who Roman Empire, spends his time in Egypt, living voice of reason and leads
CLEOPATRA The action takes place rules the Roman Empire a life of decadence and conducting an affair with to the death of two mighty
in Africa, Europe, and along with Octavius the country’s beautiful queen, Cleopatra. When leaders. Antony and
the Middle East Caesar and Lepidus. a message arrives informing him that his wife, Cleopatra both pay with their
The principal source between 40 and 30 Fulvia, is dead and that Pompey is raising an lives for their scandalous, all-
for the story is B.C. The grand, far- Cleopatra - The queen army to rebel against the triumvirate, Antony consuming love affair.
Plutarch's "Life of flung, macrocosmic of Egypt and Antony’s decides to return to Rome. In Antony’s absence,
Mark Antony" from scope of the settings lover. A highly attractive Octavius Caesar and Lepidus, his fellow Beware of young men of
helps to underscore the woman who once triumvirs, worry about Pompey’s increasing ambition. Excessive ambition
 immensity of the
Lives of the Noble political and emotional
Grecians and drives and impulses at
Romans Compared work in the play.The
Together, in the settings also serve to
translation made by demonstrate the
Sir Thomas North in pronounced differences
1579. A large between sober,
number of phrases straitlaced Rome and
within hedonistic, decadent
Shakespeare's play Egypt. The settings
are taken directly include the following:
from North's prose, Cleopatra's palace in
including Alexandria, Egypt; the
Enobarbus's famous house of Octavius
description of Caesar in Rome, Italy;
Cleopatra's barge, the house of Sextus
beginning "The Pompeius in Messina,
barge she sat in, like Italy; the house of
a burnished Lepidus in Rome; a
throne/Burned on street in Rome; a
the water." However meeting place near
Shakespeare also Misenum, Italy; the
adds scenes, galley of Sextus
including many of Pompeius off Misenum;
the ones portraying a plain in Syria; Mark
Cleopatra's domestic Antony's residence in
life, and the role of Athens, Greece; Mark
Enobarbus is greatly Antony's camp near
developed. Historical Actium, Greece; a plain
facts are also near Actium; Octavius
sometimes changed: Caesar's camp in
in Plutarch Antony's Egypt; Mark Antony's
final defeat was camp at Alexandria;
many weeks after Egyptian field of battle;
the battle of Actium, the walls at Alexandria;
and Octavia lived a monument at
with mark for several Alexandria.
years and bore him
two children.
seduced Julius Caesar,
Cleopatra delights in the
thought that she has
caught Antony like a fish.
Octavius Caesar - The
nephew and adopted son
of Julius Caesar.
Octavius rules the Roman
Empire with Antony and
Lepidus.
Enobarbus - Antony’s
most loyal supporter.
Worldly and cynical,
Enobarbus is friendly with
the subordinates of both
Pompey and Caesar, yet
stays faithful to his
master even after Antony
makes grave political and
military missteps.
Marcus Aemilius
Lepidus - The third
member of the triumvirate
and the weakest, both
politically and personally.
Pompey - The son of a
great general who was
one of Julius Caesar’s
partners in power.
Pompey is young and
popular with the Roman
people, and he
possesses enough
military might to stand as
a legitimate threat to the
triumvirs.
Octavia - Octavius
Caesar’s sister.
strength. Caesar condemns Antony for is a flaw that destroys the
neglecting his duties as a statesman and people that it infects.
military officer in order to live a decadent life by
Cleopatra’s side. Headstrong, selfish acts
can alienate and victimize
The news of his wife’s death and imminent even the best of friends.
battle pricks Antony’s sense of duty, and he Antony's behavior ruptures
feels compelled to return to Rome. Upon his his friendship with
arrival, he and Caesar quarrel, while Lepidus Enobarbus, his most devoted
ineffectually tries to make peace. Realizing that friend, who dies of a broken
an alliance is necessary to defeat Pompey, heart.
Antony and Caesar agree that Antony will marry
Caesar’s sister, Octavia, who will solidify their Only the fittest survive. In
loyalty to one another. Enobarbus, Antony’s Antony and Cleopatra,
closest friend, predicts to Caesar’s men that, Lepidus is unfit because he is
despite the marriage, Antony will surely return to weak, tending to pacify his
Cleopatra. rivals and seek compromise
rather than sally forth with a
In Egypt, Cleopatra learns of Antony’s marriage closed fist. Consequently, the
and flies into a jealous rage. However, when a ambitious Octavius easily
messenger delivers word that Octavia is plain pushes him aside.
and unimpressive, Cleopatra becomes confident
that she will win Antony back. The triumvirs Deception ends in disaster.
meet Pompey and settle their differences To win Antony's sympathy,
without going to battle. Pompey agrees to keep Cleopatra sends word to him
peace in exchange for rule over Sicily and that she has died. Antony
Sardinia. That evening, the four men drink to then falls on his sword,
celebrate their truce. One of Pompey’s soldiers mortally wounding himself.
discloses to him a plan to assassinate the
triumvirs, thereby delivering world power into The greater the civilization,
Pompey’s hands, but Pompey dismisses the the greater its problems.
scheme as an affront to his honor. Meanwhile, Rome was the greatest
one of Antony’s -generals wins a victory over civilization of its time. But
the kingdom of Parthia. because of its size and
complexity and because of
Antony and Octavia depart for Athens. Once the size and complexity of the
they are gone, Caesar breaks his truce, wages egos that controlled it, it was
war against Pompey, and defeats him. After also a troubled civilization.
using Lepidus’s army to secure a victory, he
accuses Lepidus of treason, imprisons him, and Overweening pride leads to
confiscates his land and possessions. This a downfall. Ostensibly,
news angers Antony, as do the rumors that Cleopatra commits suicide
Caesar has been speaking out against him in because she cannot endure
 public. Octavia pleads with Antony to maintain a life without Antony. She is a
Charmian and Iras - peaceful relationship with her brother. Should complex woman. Love for
Cleopatra’s faithful Antony and Caesar fight, she says, her Antony burns in her breast, to
attendants. affections would be painfully divided. Antony be sure, but so do other
dispatches her to Rome on a peace mission, emotions. One of them is
The Soothsayer - An and quickly returns to Egypt and Cleopatra. great pride that renders her
Egyptian fortune-teller There, he raises a large army to fight Caesar, incapable of undergoing
who follows Antony to and Caesar, incensed over Antony’s treatment ridicule.
Rome and predicts that of his sister, responds in kind. Caesar
his fortune will always commands his army and navy to Egypt. Ignoring
pale in comparison to all advice to the contrary, Antony elects to fight The Struggle Between
Caesar’s. him at sea, allowing Cleopatra to command a Reason and
ship despite Enobarbus’s strong objections. Emotion. The play
Dolabella - One of Antony’s forces lose the battle when Cleopatra’s offers us a
Octavius Caesar’s men. ship flees and Antony’s follows, leaving the rest worldview in which
of the fleet vulnerable. one sensibility
Agrippa - One of cannot easily
Octavius Caesar’s Antony despairs, condemning Cleopatra for dominate another.
officers. leading him into infamy but quickly forgiving her. Reason cannot ever
He and Cleopatra send requests to their fully conquer the
Camidius - A general in conqueror: Antony asks to be allowed to live in passions, nor can
Antony’s army. Egypt, while Cleopatra asks that her kingdom be passion wholly
passed down to her rightful heirs. Caesar undo reason.
Ventidius - A Roman dismisses Antony’s request, but he promises
soldier under Antony’s Cleopatra a fair hearing if she betrays her lover. The Clash of East and
command. Cleopatra seems to be giving thought to West. Antony and
Caesar’s message when Antony barges in, Cleopatra details
Scarus - A brave young curses her for her treachery, and orders the the conflict between
soldier serving under innocent messenger whipped. When, moments Rome and Egypt,
Antony. later, Antony forgives Cleopatra, Enobarbus giving us an idea of
decides that his master is finished and defects the Elizabethan
Proculeius - One of to Caesar’s camp. perceptions of the
Caesar’s soldiers, who difference between
proves untrustworthy. Antony meets Caesar’s troops in battle and Western and
scores an unexpected victory. When he learns Eastern cultures.
Diomedes - Cleopatra’s of Enobarbus’s desertion, Antony laments his The Western and
servant. own bad fortune, which he believes has Eastern poles of the
corrupted an honorable man. He sends his world are
Eros - An attendant friend’s possessions to Caesar’s camp and characterized by
serving Antony returns to Cleopatra to celebrate his victory. those who inhabit
Enobarbus, undone by shame at his own them.
Menas - An ambitious disloyalty, bows under the weight of his guilt and
young soldier under dies. Another day brings another battle, and
Pompey once again Antony meets Caesar at sea. As
before, the Egyptian fleet proves treacherous; it The Definition of Honor.
Seleucus - Cleopatra’s abandons the fight and leaves Antony to suffer The notion of honor
treasurer, who betrays his defeat. Convinced that his lover has betrayed to that of death
master. him, Antony vows to kill Cleopatra. In order to suggests the latter
protect herself, she quarters herself in her as a surefire means
Clown - An Egyptian monument and sends word that she has of achieving the
who brings a basket of committed suicide. Antony, racked with grief, former. In Antony
figs containing poisonous determines to join his queen in the afterlife. He and Cleopatra,
snakes to Cleopatra. commands one of his attendants to fulfill his honor seems less a
promise of unquestioned service and kill him. function of Western
Decretas - One of The attendant kills himself instead. Antony then or Eastern culture
Antony’s soldiers. falls on his own sword, but the wound is not than of the
immediately fatal. He is carried to Cleopatra’s characters’
monument, where the lovers are reunited briefly determination to
before Antony’s death. Caesar takes the queen define themselves
prisoner, planning to display her in Rome as a on their own terms.
testament to the might of his empire, but she Both Antony and
learns of his plan and kills herself with the help Cleopatra secure
of several poisonous snakes. Caesar has her honorable deaths
buried beside Antony. by refusing to
compromise their
identities.

Motifs
Extravagant Declarations of
Love
Public Displays of Affection
Female Sexuality

Symbols

Shape-Changing Clouds.
Act IV, scene xv,
Antony likens his
shifting sense of
self to a cloud that
changes shape as it
tumbles across the
sky. Just as the
cloud turns from “a
bear or lion, / A
 towered citadel, a
pendent rock,”
Antony seems to
change from the
reputed conqueror
into a debased
victim (IV.xv.3–4).
As he says to Eros,
his uncharacteristic
defeat, both on the
battlefield and in
matters of love,
makes it difficult for
him to “hold this
visible shape”
(IV.xv.14).

Cleopatra’s Fleeing Ships.

The ships remind
us of Cleopatra’s
inconstancy and of
the inconstancy of
human character in
the play.

The Asps. One of the most

memorable symbols
in the play comes in
its final moments,
as Cleopatra
applies deadly
snakes to her skin.
The asps are a prop
in the queen’s final
and most
magnificent
performance.
King Richard II - The Richard II, written around 1595, is the first play Is kingly authority
RICHARD II The action in the play King of England when the in Shakespeare's second "history tetralogy," a inviolable? The central
takes place in England play begins, Richard is a series of four plays that chronicles the rise of the theme of the play is whether
Shakespeare's and Wales, beginning young man who has not house of Lancaster to the British throne. (Its the subjects of a king have a
primary source for in 1398. (Richard II matured much since his sequel plays are Henry IV, Parts 1 & 2, and right to overthrow and replace
 reigned between 1377 adolescence. Stately and
Richard II, as for and 1399.) Locales poetic, he enjoys the
most of his chronicle include London, trappings of kingship and
histories, was Coventry, the wilds of has an extraordinary flair
Raphael Holinshed's Gloucestershire, and for poetic language.
Chronicles; the Bristol.
publication of the Henry Bolingbroke
second edition in Duke of Herford
1589 provides a - Bolingbroke is King
terminus post quem Richard's cousin and the
for the play. Edward son of Richard's uncle,
Hall's The Union of John of Gaunt.
the Two Illustrious
Families of John of Gaunt Duke of
Lancaster and York Lancaster - Called
appears also to have either "Gaunt" or
been consulted, and "Lancaster." An important
scholars have also nobleman, John of Gaunt
supposed is Richard's uncle and the
Shakespeare father of Richard's
familiar with Samuel banished cousin
Daniel's poem on Bolingbroke, who
the civil wars. eventually usurps the
throne.
Edmund of Langley
Duke of York - Called
"York." Richard's uncle,
and a brother of John of
Gaunt and of the late
Thomas of Gloucester.
The Duke of Aumerle -
Also called "Rutland" late
in the play, since he is the
Earl of Rutland. He is the
son of Edmund, Duke of
York, and thus a cousin
to both King Richard II
and Henry Bolingbroke.
Thomas Mowbray Duke
of Norfolk - Mowbray,
Henry V.) Richard II, set around the year 1398, him if he is weak, unwise, or
traces the fall from power of the last king of the unduly harsh.
house of Plantagenet, Richard II, and his
replacement by the first Lancaster king, Henry Prodigality arouses the
IV (Henry Bolingbroke). Richard II, who wrath of the people. Richard
ascended to the throne as a young man, is a II spends lavishly and bleeds
regal and stately figure, but he is wasteful in his his subjects to fill his coffers.
spending habits, unwise in his choice of Richard fails to realize an old
counselors, and detached from his country and political truth: When pockets
its common people. He spends too much of his lack jingle, the people
time pursuing the latest Italian fashions, retaliate.
spending money on his close friends, and
raising taxes to fund his pet wars in Ireland and True patriots remain
elsewhere. When he begins to "rent out" parcels steadfast and loyal. Old
of English land to certain wealthy noblemen in John of Gaunt (Duke of
order to raise funds for one of his wars, and Lancaster) remains
seizes the lands and money of a recently steadfastly loyal to his
deceased and much respected uncle to help fill country through the turmoil
his coffers, both the commoners and the king's unfolding around him. Gaunt
noblemen decide that Richard has gone too far. dies with dignity. Today, the
words Shakespeare gave him
Richard has a cousin, named Henry continue to live in England on
Bolingbroke, who is a great favorite among the the tongues of every
English commoners. Early in the play, Richard schoolchild who values his
exiles him from England for six years due to an heritage.
unresolved dispute over an earlier political
murder. The dead uncle whose lands Richard Blood is thinner than water,
seizes was the father of Bolingbroke; when or familiarity breeds
Bolingbroke learns that Richard has stolen what contempt. The main enemies
should have been his inheritance, it is the straw in Richard II are relatives.
that breaks the camel's back. When Richard John of Gaunt is Richard II’s
unwisely departs to pursue a war in Ireland, uncle. When Gaunt dies,
Bolingbroke assembles an army and invades Richard seizes his property.
the north coast of England in his absence. The Henry Bolingbroke is the son
commoners, fond of Bolingbroke and angry at of Gaunt and Richard’s
Richard's mismanagement of the country, cousin. He deposes Richard
welcome his invasion and join his forces. One and seizes his throne.
by one, Richard's allies in the nobility desert him
and defect to Bolingbroke's side as Bolingbroke
marches through England. By the time Richard
returns from Ireland, he has already lost his
grasp on his country.
sometimes called There is never an actual battle; instead,
"Norfolk," is a nobleman Bolingbroke peacefully takes Richard prisoner in
whom Henry Bolingbroke Wales and brings him back to London, where
accuses of treason. Bolingbroke is crowned King Henry IV. Richard
is imprisoned in the remote castle of Pomfret in
Bushy, Bagot, and the north of England, where he is left to
Green (also called ruminate upon his downfall. There, an assassin,
Greene) - Richard's who both is and is not acting upon King Henry's
friends and loyal backers ambivalent wishes for Richard's expedient
in the court. death, murders the former king. King Henry
hypocritically repudiates the murderer and vows
Henry Percy Earl of to journey to Jerusalem to cleanse himself of his
Northumberland; Lord part in Richard's death. As the play concludes,
Ross; and Lord we see that the reign of the new King Henry IV
Willoughby - Noblemen has started off inauspiciously.
who join Bolingbroke's
rebel army early to fight
against King Richard.

Duchess of York - The

wife of the Duke of York
and mother of the Duke
of Aumerle.

Duchess of
Gloucester - The aged
widow of the late Thomas
of Gloucester, and the
sister-in-law of John of
Gaunt and the Duke of
York.

Queen Isabel - King

Richard's wife.

Thomas Percy, Earl of

Worcester - The Lord
Steward of the king's
household, he is also the
brother of Henry Percy,
Earl of Northumberland,
and thus the uncle of
young Harry Percy.
Lord Berkeley - The
ruler of Berkeley Castle in
Gloucestershire, where
York's army meets
Bolingbroke's army in Act
II, scene iii. He is loyal to
King Richard.

Lord Salisbury - A lord

loyal to King Richard.

Bishop of Carlisle - A
clergyman loyal to
Richard.

Sir Stephen Scroope -

A nobleman loyal to
Richard.

Abbot of Westminster -
A clergyman loyal to
Richard.

Sir Piers Exton - A

nobleman who
assassinates the former
King Richard in Pomfret
Castle in Act V, scene v,
believing he is acting
under King Henry's
orders

Lord Fitzwater - A minor

lord who throws down a
gage sometime during
Act IV, scene i, and also
throws his weight around
in Act V, scene vi .
 The action takes place Richard - Also called the
RICHARD III in England in the duke of Gloucester, and
following locales: eventually crowned King
London (including Richard III. Deformed in
Shakespeare's castles and the royal body and twisted in mind,
primary source for palace), Salisbury, a Richard is both the
Richard III, as with camp near Tamworth, central character and the
most of his history and Bosworth Field villain of the play. He is
plays, was Raphael (about 12 miles west of evil, corrupt, sadistic, and
Holinshed's Leicester in the East manipulative, and he will
Chronicles; the Midlands). stop at nothing to become
publication date of king. His intelligence,
the second edition, political brilliance, and
1587, being the dazzling use of language
terminus post quem keep the audience
for the play. It is also fascinated—and his
likely that subjects and rivals under
Shakespeare his thumb.
consulted Edward
Hall's The Union of Buckingham - Richard’s
the Two Illustrious right-hand man in his
Families of schemes to gain power.
Lancaster and York The duke of Buckingham
(second edition, is almost as amoral and
1548). ambitious as Richard
himself.
King Edward IV - The
older brother of Richard
and Clarence, and the
king of England at the
start of the play.
Clarence - The gentle,
trusting brother born
between Edward and
Richard in the York
family.
Queen Elizabeth - The
wife of King Edward IV
and the mother of the two
young princes (the heirs
to the throne) and their
AFTER A LONG CIVIL WAR between the royal family of All-consuming ambition
York and the royal family of Lancaster, England leads to all-consuming evil.
enjoys a period of peace under King Edward IV Richard III, in his thirst for
and the victorious Yorks. But Edward’s younger power, is willing to commit
brother, Richard, resents Edward’s power and any atrocity to win the throne.
the happiness of those around him. Malicious, He is Macbeth raised to the
power-hungry, and bitter about his physical second power–or third. After
deformity, Richard begins to aspire secretly to an assassin murders the late
the throne—and decides to kill anyone he has to king's sons, Richard says to
in order to become king. him, "Thou shalt tell the
process of their death" (4. 3.
Using his intelligence and his skills of deception 38).
and political manipulation, Richard begins his
campaign for the throne. He manipulates a All things are not as they
noblewoman, Lady Anne, into marrying him— seem. During most of the
even though she knows that he murdered her play, Richard wears a mask
first husband. He has his own older brother, of innocence. He is always
Clarence, executed, and shifts the burden of pretending, always deceiving.
guilt onto his sick older brother King Edward in Eventually, his adversaries
order to accelerate Edward’s illness and death. see through the mask.
After King Edward dies, Richard becomes lord
protector of England—the figure in charge until Where there is pure evil,
the elder of Edward’s two sons grows up. there is no conscience.
Richard never expresses
Next Richard kills the court noblemen who are regret or remorse. He is bad
loyal to the princes, most notably Lord Hastings, to the bone, and proud of it.
the lord chamberlain of England. He then has Modern psychologists would
the boys’ relatives on their mother’s side—the probably label him a
powerful kinsmen of Edward’s wife, Queen psychopath or sociopath.
Elizabeth—arrested and executed. With
Elizabeth and the princes now unprotected, I am what I am. Richard
Richard has his political allies, particularly his acknowledges at the
right-hand man, Lord Buckingham, campaign to beginning of the play that he
have Richard crowned king. Richard then is an ugly, misshapen lump of
imprisons the young princes in the Tower and, flesh–a monster. Then,
in his bloodiest move yet, sends hired accepting himself as he is, he
murderers to kill both children. announces that he will live up
to his physical image by
By this time, Richard’s reign of terror has performing ugly deeds.
caused the common people of England to fear
and loathe him, and he has alienated nearly all
the noblemen of the court—even the power- The Allure of Evil. Richard
hungry Buckingham. When rumors begin to
older sister, young circulate about a challenger to the throne who is
Elizabeth. gathering forces in France, noblemen defect in III does not explore
droves to join his forces. The challenger is the the cause of evil in
Dorset, Rivers, and earl of Richmond, a descendant of a secondary the human mind so
Gray - The kinsmen and arm of the Lancaster family, and England is much as it explores
allies of Elizabeth, and ready to welcome him. its operation,
members of the depicting the
Woodeville and Gray Richard, in the meantime, tries to consolidate workings of
families. his power. He has his wife, Queen Anne, Richard’s mind and
murdered, so that he can marry young the methods he
Anne - The young widow Elizabeth, the daughter of the former Queen uses to manipulate,
of Prince Edward, who Elizabeth and the dead King Edward. Though control, and injure
was the son of the former young Elizabeth is his niece, the alliance would others for his own
king, Henry VI. secure his claim to the throne. Nevertheless, gain. Central to this
Richard has begun to lose control of events, and aspect of the play is
Duchess of York - Queen Elizabeth manages to forestall him. the idea that
Widowed mother of Meanwhile, she secretly promises to marry Richard’s victims
Richard, Clarence, and young Elizabeth to Richmond. are complicit in their
King Edward IV. own destruction.
Richmond finally invades England. The night
Margaret - Widow of the before the battle that will decide everything, The Connection between
dead King Henry VI, and Richard has a terrible dream in which the ghosts Ruler and State.
mother of the slain Prince of all the people he has murdered appear and The moral
Edward. curse him, telling him that he will die the next righteousness of a
day. In the battle on the following morning, political ruler has a
The princes - The two Richard is killed, and Richmond is crowned King direct bearing on
young sons of King Henry VII. Promising a new era of peace for the health of the
Edward IV and his wife, England, the new king is betrothed to young state. A state with a
Elizabeth, their names Elizabeth in order to unite the warring houses of good ruler will tend
are actually Prince Lancaster and York. to flourish (as
Edward and the young Denmark does
duke of York, but they are under King Hamlet),
often referred to while a state with a
collectively. bad ruler will tend to
suffer (as Scotland
Young Elizabeth - The does under
former Queen Elizabeth’s Macbeth).
daughter.

Ratcliffe, Catesby - Two The Power of Language. An

of Richard’s flunkies interesting
among the nobility. secondary theme of
Richard III is the
Tyrrell - A murderer
whom Richard hires to kill power of language,
his young cousins, the or the importance of
princes in the Tower of language in
London. achieving political
power. Language
Richmond - A member may not always be
of a branch of the a necessary
Lancaster royal family. instrument of
power, but for
Hastings - A lord who Richard, it is a
maintains his integrity, crucial weapon.
remaining loyal to the
family of King Edward IV. Motifs
Stanley - The stepfather The Supernatural. These
of Richmond. supernatural elements serve
to create an atmosphere of
Lord Mayor of London - intense dread and gloom that
A gullible and suggestible matches the malice and evil
fellow whom Richard and of Richard’s inner self, and
Buckingham use as a also serve to heighten the
pawn in their ploy to sense that Richard’s reign is
make Richard king. innately evil, transforming
England into a kind of Gothic
Vaughan - A friend of netherworld.
Elizabeth, Dorset, Rivers,
and Gray who is Dreams. The motif of
executed by Richard prophetic dreams is part of
along with Rivers and the play’s larger
Grey. preoccupation with the
supernatural, but the idea of
dreams emerges as its own
separate motif after Stanley’s
dream about Hastings’s
death.

Symbol

The Boar. The boar is

Richard’s heraldic symbol,
and is used several times
 throughout the play to
represent him, most notably
in Stanley’s dream about
Hastings’s death. The idea of
the boar is also played on in
describing Richard’s
deformity, and Richard is
cursed by the duchess as an
“abortive, rooting hog”
(I.iii.225). The boar was one
of the most dangerous
animals that people hunted in
the Middle Ages and
Renaissance, and
Shakespeare’s audience
would have associated it with
untamed aggression and
uncontrollable violence.

Jonille C. Cantuba
AB English 3A