Shakespeare's plays

Plot summaries, themes and famous lines from Shakespeare's plays, explained in plain language.

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• King Lear for Beginners: A Love Test, Two Broken Families and a Storm on the Heath

  King Lear is Shakespeare's tragedy of an old king who splits his realm by a test of flattery and loses everything. Plot, characters, themes and lines.

• Macbeth in Plain English: Witches, Ambition and the Bloody Path to the Scottish Crown

  Macbeth is Shakespeare's tragedy of a Scottish general who murders his way to the throne after a witches' prophecy. The plot, Lady Macbeth and famous lines.

• What Happens in The Merchant of Venice? Shylock, the Pound of Flesh and the Ending Explained

  Antonio pledges a pound of his flesh for a friend's loan from Shylock. The plot, how the trial ends, and why the play still divides audiences.

• What Is Hamlet About? Shakespeare's Tragedy of Revenge and Doubt Explained

  Hamlet is Shakespeare's tragedy about a Danish prince told to avenge his father's murder. Here is the plot, the big themes and the phrases it gave English.

• What Is Romeo and Juliet About? Shakespeare's Love Tragedy Explained Simply

  Romeo and Juliet is Shakespeare's tragedy about two young lovers from feuding families in Verona. Here is the plot, the famous lines and what it really says.

• Who Ends Up With Whom in A Midsummer Night's Dream? Lovers, Fairies and a Man With a Donkey's Head

  Hermia weds Lysander, Helena weds Demetrius and the fairy rulers make peace. A guide to Shakespeare's comedy: plot, Puck, Bottom, themes and lines.

• Why Does Iago Hate Othello? Jealousy, Race and a Lost Handkerchief in Shakespeare's Venice

  Iago gives too many reasons and never a true one. A guide to Othello: the plot, Iago's motives, Desdemona, race, jealousy and famous lines.

• Why Is Shakespeare Still So Important? The Glover's Son Who Became the World's Playwright

  A Stratford glover's son wrote about 39 plays and 154 sonnets that are still staged in over 80 languages. Who Shakespeare was and why he still matters.