Shakespearean Tragedy: Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Character, Conflict, and Moral Ambiguity in Shakespeare's Great TragediesBy A. C. Bradley
Length12h 58m
About this audiobook
Shakespearean Tragedy: Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth is a landmark work of literary criticism that examines Shakespeare's four great tragedies through close attention to character, moral conflict, dramatic structure, and poetic atmosphere. Written in a lucid, elevated lecture style, the book belongs to the great tradition of Victorian and Edwardian humanist criticism, treating Shakespeare's tragic heroes as psychologically complex beings whose inward struggles shape the action. Bradley's readings remain especially influential for their sensitivity to ambiguity, motive, suffering, and the tragic collision between character and circumstance. A. C. Bradley, an Oxford scholar and Professor of Poetry, brought to Shakespearean criticism the disciplined habits of classical education, philosophical reflection, and dramatic sympathy. His academic career, shaped by the intellectual seriousness of late nineteenth-century Britain, encouraged a mode of criticism that sought not merely to explain plot but to illuminate the ethical and imaginative life of drama. His lectures reflect both pedagogical clarity and profound reverence for Shakespeare's art. This book is strongly recommended to readers seeking a foundational, intellectually rich encounter with Shakespearean tragedy. Students, teachers, actors, and general lovers of literature will find in Bradley a guide whose insights continue to provoke admiration, debate, and renewed reading.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreLiterary Classics
Length12 hrs 58 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateDec 12, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
2Introduction
3Synopsis (Selection)
4Historical Context
5PREFACE
Show all chaptersShow less
6NOTE TO SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT IMPRESSIONS
7INTRODUCTION
8LECTURE I
9THE SUBSTANCE OF SHAKESPEAREAN TRAGEDY
10LECTURE II
11CONSTRUCTION IN SHAKESPEARE'S TRAGEDIES
12LECTURE III
13SHAKESPEARE'S TRAGIC PERIOD—HAMLET
14LECTURE IV
15HAMLET
16LECTURE V
17OTHELLO
18LECTURE VI
19OTHELLO
20LECTURE VII
21KING LEAR
22LECTURE VIII
23KING LEAR
24LECTURE IX
25MACBETH
26LECTURE X
27MACBETH
28NOTE A.
29EVENTS BEFORE THE OPENING OF THE ACTION IN HAMLET .
30NOTE B.
31WHERE WAS HAMLET AT THE TIME OF HIS FATHER'S DEATH?
32NOTE C.
33HAMLET'S AGE.
34NOTE D.
35'MY TABLES—MEET IT IS I SET IT DOWN.'
36NOTE E.
37THE GHOST IN THE CELLARAGE.
38NOTE F.
39THE PLAYER'S SPEECH IN HAMLET .
40NOTE G.
41HAMLET'S APOLOGY TO LAERTES.
42NOTE H.
43THE EXCHANGE OF RAPIERS.
44NOTE I.
45THE DURATION OF THE ACTION IN OTHELLO .
46NOTE J.
47THE 'ADDITIONS' TO OTHELLO IN THE FIRST FOLIO. THE PONTIC SEA.
48NOTE K.
49NOTE L.
50OTHELLO IN THE TEMPTATION SCENE.
More from A. C. Bradley
The Gulag Archipelago Volume 3Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn21h 56m$46 · $0.00
Sherlock Holmes: The Ultimate CollectionArthur Conan Doyle59h 49m$5 · $0.00
The Complete Works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky: Novels, Short Stories and Autobiographical WritingsFyodor Dostoyevsky270h 59m$2 · $0.00
The Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America (Annotated)Howard Irving Chapelle, Tappan Adney13h 10m$2 · $0.00
Charles Dickens: Complete Works (Annotated)Charles Dickens819h 4m$2 · $0.00
The Complete Novels of Jane Austen & Brontë Sisters (Annotated)Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, Emily Brontë, Anne Brontë203h 52m$2 · $0.00
The Complete Works: Charlotte, Emily, Anne, Patrick & Branwell BrontëCharlotte Brontë, Anne Brontë, Emily Brontë138h 12m$1 · $0.00
The Complete Works of Oscar Wilde (Annotated)Oscar Wilde126h 19m$2 · $0.00
L. M. Montgomery – Premium Collection: Novels, Short Stories, Poetry & MemoirsLucy Maud Montgomery155h 1m$2 · $0.00
The Complete Works of the Brontë Family Charlotte Brontë, Emily Brontë, Anne Brontë140h 13m$2 · $0.00
MARK TWAIN: 12 Novels, 195 Short Stories, Autobiography, 10 Travel Books, 160+ Essays & Speeches (Illustrated)Mark Twain415h 9m5.0 (2)$2 · $0.00
This Side of Paradise - The Original 1920 Edition (Annotated)F. Scott Fitzgerald11h 30m$2 · $0.00
The Great Gatsby: Original 1925 Edition (An F. Scott Fitzgerald Classic NovelFrancis Scott Fitzgerald4h 45m$18 · $0.00
Ivanhoe (Annotated)Walter Scott22h 52m$2 · $0.00
All NovelsGeorge Orwell53h 48m$10 · $0.00
The Complete Works of TolstoyLeo Tolstoy412h 44m$1 · $0.00
The Complete Works of Louisa May Alcott (Annotated)Louisa May Alcott226h 24m$2 · $0.00
Sherlock Holmes series - completeArthur Conan54h 8m$3.50 · $0.00
The Fire Next TimeJames Baldwin2h 25m$15
The Count of Monte Cristo (With Original Illustrations)Alexandre Dumas54h$1 · $0.00
You may also like
Shakespearean Tragedy: Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, MacbethA. C. Bradley13h 19m$1 · $0.00
The Complete Tragedies of William Shakespeare (Annotated)William Shakespeare35h 8m$2 · $0.00
The Complete Works of William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare108h 44m$1.80 · $0.00
HamletWilliam Shakespeare2h 49m$12
The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (Annotated)William Shakespeare11h 47m$2 · $0.00
HamletWilliam Shakespeare3h 25m$15
Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkWilliam Shakespeare59m$2 · $0.00
The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkWilliam Shakespeare8h 59m$2 · $0.00
HamletWilliam Shakespeare5h 15m$3 · $0.00
The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkWilliam Shakespeare4h 9m$14
Preface to ShakespeareSamuel Johnson3h 36m$1 · $0.00
Waterlogg Classic Literature PackJoe Bevilacqua5h 35m$17
King LearWilliam Shakespeare3h 45m$1.80 · $0.00
Hamlet’s FatherOrson Scott Card2h 46m$16 · $0.00
The Life of Herod the GreatZora Neale Hurston, Deborah G. Plant12h 8m$8 · $0.00
The Complete Dramatic Works of Samuel Taylor ColeridgeSamuel Taylor Coleridge22h 9m$2 · $0.00
The Tragedy of King LearWilliam Shakespeare3h 20m$2.30
The Complete Comedies of William Shakespeare (Annotated)William Shakespeare39h 41m$2 · $0.00
Unto CaesarBaroness Emmuska Orczy12h 8m$2.30
OthelloWilliam Shakespeare3h 51m$1.80 · $0.00