Four Great Tragedies (Signet Classics)

Four Great Tragedies

The greatest tragic plays of William Shakespeare—including Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth.

What is tragedy? The Elizabethans defined it as a “lofty” play showing “personages of great state” caught up in a “lamentable” action that “beginneth prosperously and endeth unfortunately.” Whether judged by this or any other standard, the plays selected for this collection are considered to be the four central works of Shakespearean tragedy and must be included in any list of the world’s finest tragic literature. And to make these plays more accessible for the modern reader, this edition includes the following special features:

· Reliable texts by noted Shakespeare scholars
· Texts printed in the clearest, most readable type
· Names of each speaker given in full
· Detailed footnotes at the bottom of each page keyed to the numbered lines of the text
· Textual notes
· Updated bibliography


About author(s)
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was a poet, playwright, and actor who is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers in the history of the English language. Often referred to as the Bard of Avon, Shakespeare’s vast body of work includes comedic, tragic, and historical plays; poems; and 154 sonnets. His dramatic works have been translated into every major language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.

Alternative names:

• ISBN Four Great Tragedies