Considered to be Plautus's greatest play, «Menaechmi; Or, The Twin-Brothers» is the story of two twin brothers, Menaechmus and Sosicles, who are separated at age seven when their father takes Menaechmus on a business trip. This classic play, which provided the inspiration for Shakespeare's «Comedy of Errors», draws heavily on the theme of mistaken identity. ...
Though little is known for certain of his early life, Euripides was probably born around 460 b.c.e. to the farmer Mnesarchus and his wife Clito, and his studious nature quickly led him to a literary life in Athens. Euripides turned to playwriting at a young age, achieving his first victory in the dramatic competitions of the Athenian City Dionysia in 441 b.c.e. He would be awarded this honor three more times in his life, and once more posthumous ...
Though little is known for certain of his early life, Euripides was probably born around 460 b.c.e. to the farmer Mnesarchus and his wife Clito, and his studious nature quickly led him to a literary life in Athens. He turned to playwriting at a young age, achieving his first of five victories in the dramatic competitions of the Athenian City Dionysia in 441 b.c.e. His plays are often ironic, pessimistic, and display radical rejection of classica ...
Often regarded as one of the more difficult of Shakespeare's plays to categorize, «Timon of Athens» eclectically contains elements of comedy in its satire as well as components of tragedy in Timon's allegorical downfall and death. The play depicts Timon as an enormously wealthy man who gives away his possessions to a large number of false friends. When he himself is in need, all of them turn their backs on him, and the result is Timon& ...
Surrounded by historical myth and intrigue, Shakespeare's «Cymbeline» weaves an elaborate tale of palatial envy and power. Cymbeline, King of Britain, commands the wedlock of his lovely daughter Imogen to Cloten, the son of the Queen by a former husband. With her passionate eyes set upon the poor yet heroic Posthumus, Imogen refuses. Disgusted at the prospect of his daughter marrying a lower class citizen, Cymbeline banishes Posthumus from ...
William Shakespeare's «Julius Caesar» is the first of three Roman history plays that Shakespeare would write. Closely based on actual events as chronicled in Plutarch's «Lives», it is the story of the tragic downfall of Julius Caesar and of those who conspire against him. At the beginning of the play it is feared that Julius Caesar wishes to make himself the King and thus dictator of Rome. From this fear a plan to kill him is hatched. ...
"King John", a historical play by William Shakespeare, recounts the events of King John's reign of England during the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries. The play opens at the English court of King John. Richard I is killed by a man named Austria. Richard I's widow, Constance, projects that Arthur, Richard I's son should inherit the throne. When the king of France, Phillip becomes involved with appointments to the cr ...
One of the most famous poets from classical antiquity, Sophocles was one of three important ancient Greek tragedians, the others being Aeschylus and Euripides. Writing during the 5th century BC, Sophocles created some one hundred and twenty three plays during his lifetime, of which only seven have survived in their entirety. In this edition are included the three so-called Theban plays, as translated by Francis Storr, which are widely considered ...
This comprehensive compilation of Aristophanes' texts, «The Complete Plays of Aristophanes» contains eleven unique stories all penned by the famously witty Greek playwright. His works are also important because they are some of the last remaining forms of Old Comedy in existence. The plays are filled with all kinds of satire, ranging from politics and sex to the humorous portrayals of popular Greek figures. «The Clouds» depicts the philosop ...
