SCRIPTORIUM
SHAKESPEAREAN
QUICK SUMMARIES
Hamlet
Hamlet portrays the turmoil of Prince Hamlet of Denmark after his father's sudden demise. His uncle whom he speculates murdered his father, King Claudius, takes over the throne. As his turmoil grows, he causes deaths that reshape the royal court and bring him to his demise.
The Tempest
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The exiled Duke of Milan, Prospero, uses magic to torment and control survivors on a shipwreck including Alonso, the king of Naples, and Prospero's brother, Antonio. After Prospero forgives his enemies on the island, all leave except his spirit-servant, Ariel, and his slave, Caliban.
Othello
The Moorish general Othello is manipulated by his ensign Iago into believing his wife, Desdemona, has been unfaithful with him. With his conspirator Roderigo, Iago creates lies that Desdemona is having an affair with Michael Cassio, leading to Othello's descent from jealousy.
King Lear
An aging king divides his kingdom among his daughters, Cordelia, Goneril, and Regan based on their professions of love. The illegitimate son Edmund schemes against his father Gloucester and brother Edgar.
Julius Caesar
Fearful that Caesar will become king and destroy the Roman Republic, a group of senators led by Cassius and Marcus Brutus assassinate him on the Ides of March. After the assassination, Mark Antony incites the Roman people, leading to a war that ends with the conspirators' defeat and suicides.