Four Tragedies (1994)

The great Shakespearean tragedies centre on the fall from grace of a great man because of a flaw in his nature. The ruthless ambition of Macbeth, the folly of Lear, the irresolution of Hamlet and the suspicion of Othello unleash calamities far greater than the causes behind them, even when that cause is the murder of a king. Despite his flaws, each tragic hero possesses a nobility that emphasises the greatness of humanity. Through this paradox, audiences gain a deeper understanding of and sympathy for suffering. The four tragedies in this collection are accompanied by notes and an introduction to each text, making the edition particularly useful to students and theatre-goers.