Sixty second Shakespeare

A mini-guide to The Bard's key plays

Reacquaint yourself with eight of William Shakespeare's key plays with Stylist's (very) condensed guide.

1. ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA (1606)

Roman military leader Marc Antony falls for Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, and neglects Rome, angering Caesar. When Antony’s wife dies, he returns to Rome, marrying Caesar’s sister Octavia to make amends. Caesar declares war with Egypt. During a battle at sea, Antony fights on Cleopatra’s side – but she flees mid-battle, he follows, and they are defeated. Antony accuses Cleopatra of treachery. Furious, she sends a message that she’s dead; Antony tries to kill himself and dies in her arms. Cleopatra kills herself by clasping an asp to her chest.

In a quote:

"Eternity was in our lips and eyes / bliss in our brows bent” (Cleopatra 1:3)

2. HAMLET (1589-93)

The King of Denmark dies, and is succeeded by his brother, who marries his widowed Queen, Gertrude. The dead King’s son, Hamlet, is visited by a ghost revealing his father was murdered by the new King. Feigning madness to disguise his plan of revenge, he spurns his love Ophelia and stages a play re-enacting his father’s murder: the King’s shock betrays his guilt. Hamlet tries to confront his mother, but accidentally kills courtier Polonius, Ophelia’s father. Ophelia drowns herself. Her vengeful brother Laertes plots to duel with Hamlet using a poisoned sword. Hamlet is stabbed, but Laertes dies first. Gertrude dies after drinking from a poisoned cup intended for Hamlet. Hamlet manages to kill the King before dying.

In a quote:

“To be or not to be, that is the question” (Hamlet, 3:1)

3. ROMEO AND JULIET (1591-95)

The Capulets and the Montagues are families engaged in a long-running feud. Romeo Montague is lovesick until his friend Mercutio persuades him to gatecrash the annual Capulets’ ball. Romeo and Juliet fall in love instantly. A sympathetic Friar secretly marries them the next day. Romeo intervenes in a swordfight, inadvertently causing Mercutio to be killed by Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt. He avenges Mercutio, and is banished. Juliet feigns death rather than marry Count Paris, her father’s choice. All suppose her dead, including Romeo, who kills himself inside the tomb. Juliet awakes, plucks Romeo’s dagger and perishes beside Romeo.

In a quote:

“But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? / It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!” (Romeo, 2:2)

4. MACBETH (1606)

Fulfilling a prophecy made by three witches, victorious general Macbeth is made Thane of Cawdor by Duncan, the King. Macbeth’s wife persuades him to kill Duncan and his ally Banquo to secure the crown for himself. Banquo’s ghost haunts him. When Macbeth sees the witches again, they tell him to be wary of a nobleman called MacDuff. Macbeth is confident; but, in battle, hears that his wife is dead, and knows his own death awaits.

In a quote:

“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing” (Macbeth, 5:5)

5. THE TEMPEST (1611)

The Duke of Milan, Prospero, is exiled on a desert island with his daughter Miranda, a spirit called Ariel, and a ‘savage’ called Caliban. Prospero conjures a storm, and Sebastian, Alonso, Alonso’s son Ferdinand and the jester Trinculo are shipwrecked on the island. Ferdinand is separated from the group; Alonso goes to look for him. The others encounter Caliban who convinces them to kill Prospero so that they can rule the island. Miranda and Ferdinand fall in love. Prospero agrees to the marriage. He then meets his enemies, forgives them, and gives Ariel his freedom before he returns to Milan.

In a quote:

“We are such stuff / as dreams are made on; and our little life / is rounded with a sleep” (Prospero, 4:1)

6. AS YOU LIKE IT (1599)

Duke Senior has been exiled, and the court taken over by his brother Frederick. The Duke’s daughter Rosalind falls in love with the young aristocrat Orlando and plots with her cousin Celia to run away to the Forest of Arden, disguised as a boy. She calls herself Ganymede, and Celia becomes Aliena. Orlando discovers his brother Oliver is planning to kill him, so he also flees to the forest of Arden. Orlando saves Oliver from a lioness and Oliver turns over a new leaf, falling for Celia. Frederick becomes a hermit, and Ganymede transforms back into Rosalind, and marries Orlando.

In a quote:

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players” (Jaques, 2:7)

7. HENRY V (1599)

Newly crowned King Henry V goes to war with France. The English are victorious at Harfleur, but the army are becoming ill. Retreating through Normandy, they prepare to fight at Agincourt. The night before battle, Henry walks in disguise through the camp, hearing the truthful opinions of his demoralised soldiers. He feels the weight of responsibility keenly, and makes a rousing speech. The English win the battle, and Henry marries Katherine, the French King’s daughter, joining the countries in harmony.

In a quote:

“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers / for he today that sheds his blood with me / shall be my brother” (Henry, 4:3)

8. MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1598-99)

Delegates Benedick and Claudio visit Leonato, Duke of Messina. Leonato’s daughter Hero and Claudio fall in love, and plan to marry. Benedick and Leonato’s niece Beatrice cynically mock the lover’s language. The night before Hero and Claudio’s wedding, dastardly Don John shows Claudio that Hero is cheating on him, when in fact the culprit is a maid disguised as Hero. Claudio renounces Hero at the altar, she faints, and her father reports that she has died. Hero is actually alive, but a suspicious Friar wants to discover the truth. Leonato discovers Don John’s plan; Claudio apologises to Leonato and agrees to marry Hero’s cousin. During the ceremony, the ‘cousin’ is revealed to be Hero and even cynical Beatrice and Benedick get engaged.

In a quote:

“Friendship is constant in all other things / save in the office and affairs of love” (Claudio, 2: 1)