In this book Bradley approaches the major tragedies of Shakespeare through an extended study of the characters, who were presented as personalities independent of their place in the plays. Though his approach has been questioned since the 1930s, the work is considered a classical masterpiece and is still widely read. The book studies in detail four tragedies of Shakespeare, namely, Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth. But much that is said on the main preliminary subjects holds good, within certain limits, of other dramas of Shakespeare. Of course, it will apply to these other works only in part, and to some of them more fully than to others.

Table of Contents:
INTRODUCTION Lecture I. THE SUBSTANCE OF SHAKESPEAREAN TRAGEDY Lecture II. CONSTRUCTION IN SHAKESPEARE'S TRAGEDIES Lecture III. SHAKESPEARE'S TRAGIC PERIOD—HAMLET Lecture IV. HAMLET Lecture V. OTHELLO Lecture VI. OTHELLO Lecture VII. KING LEAR Lecture VIII. KING LEAR Lecture IX. MACBETH Lecture X. MACBETH NOTE A. Events before the opening of the action in Hamlet NOTE B. Where was Hamlet at the time of his father’s death? NOTE C. Hamlet’s age NOTE D. ‘My tables—meet it is I set it down’ NOTE E. The Ghost in the cellarage NOTE F. The Player’s speech in Hamlet NOTE G. Hamlet’s apology to Laertes NOTE H. The exchange of rapiers NOTE I. The duration of the action in Othello - NOTE J. The ‘additions’ in the Folio text of Othello. The Pontic sea Note K. Othello’s courtship Note L. Othello in the Temptation scene NOTE M. Questions as to Othello, iv. i. NOTE N. TWO passages in the last scene of Othello Note O. Othello on Desdemona’s last words NOTE P. Did Emilia suspect Iago? Note Q. Iago’s suspicion regarding Cassio and Emilia Note R. Reminiscences of Othello in King Lear Note S. King Lear and Timon of Athens NOTE T. Did Shakespeare shorten King Lear? NOTE U. Movements of the dramatis persona in King Lear, II NOTE V. Suspected interpolations in King Lear NOTE W. The staging of the scene of Lear’s reunion with Cordelia NOTE X. The Battle in King Lear NOTE Y. Some difficult passages in King Lear NOTE Z. Suspected interpolations in Macbeth Note AA. Has Macbeth been abridged? Note BB. The date of Macbeth. Metrical Tests Note CC. When was the murder of Duncan first plotted? NOTE DD. Did Lady Macbeth really faint? NOTE EE. Duration of the action in Macbeth. Macbeth’s age. ‘He has no children’ Note FF. The Ghost of Banquo INDEX