Shakespearean Tragedy: Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth

"Shakespearean Tragedy: Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth" by A.C. Bradley is a study that takes apart some of William Shakespeare's best tragedies, from probably the 1900s. The book looks at what makes a tragedy a tragedy, going deep into four well-known stories from Shakespeare. The author looks into the main ideas of these plays, like what the characters are like, what is right and wrong morally, and the hard times the main characters go through. The book begins by explaining that the author wants to study what makes Shakespearean tragedy what it is, avoiding details about Shakespeare's life or where he fits in history. Instead, someone wanting to read should really focus on the story. Bradley explains that his talks will shed light on pieces like "Hamlet," "Othello," "King Lear," and "Macbeth," but also help everyone understand why the main people do what they do.