William Shakespeare: Comedy

All's Well That Ends Well

Published: 1623

Play.

Young Count Bertram bids farewell to his mother, the Countess and Helena, as he leaves for the court of Paris at the French King's order. Bertram's father has recently died and Bertram is to be the King's ward and attendant. Helena, a young minor noblewoman and ward of the Countess, whose father has also died, laments her unrequitable love for Bertram, and losing him to Paris, which weighs on her though it seems to others that she mourns her father. 

Parolles, a cowardly military man and parasite on Bertram, trades wits with Helena, as they liken amorous love and the loss of virginity to military endeavors. Helena nearly admits her love of Bertram to Parolles before he leaves for Paris with Bertram and Lafew. Alone again, Helena convinces herself to strive for Bertram despite the odds, mentioning the King's illness alongside her decision. 

In Paris, the King and noble lords discuss the Tuscan wars. Bertram, Parolles and Larfew arrive, and the King praises Bertram's father as more truly honorable, humble and egalitarian than the lords of his day or Bertram's. He welcomes Bertram as he would his own son. 

In Rousillon, the Clown asks permission to marry which he and the Countess debate. The Steward explains the Countess that he has overhead Helena lamenting her love for Bertram despite their social difference. The Countess, seeing Helena as her own daughter, coaxes a confession out of her. Helena admits her love, but reserves her previously realized ambition. They agree that she should travel to Paris to attempt to cure the King.

In Paris, the King advises the Lords leaving for war, urging them to seek honor with amorous terms and warning them of the Italian women in warlike terms. Bertram, to young to go to war and in Paris to serve the King, is encouraged by Parolles and the Lords to steal away to the Tuscan war. He swears to the Lords that he will, but after they leave he admits to Parolles his intention to stay at the King's side. Lafew asks the King to speak with Helena who offers to cure his fatal disease with her father's most potent and safeguarded recipe. The King acknowledges her late father's renown as a doctor, but refuses to entertain false hope. 

Lafew tries to speak of the powers of heaven in a world of scientists, but Parolles interrupts him at every turn, trying to one-up him and claim Lafw

As You Like It

The Comedy of Errors

Cymbeline

Love's Labours Lost

Merry Wives of Windsor

Merchant of Venice

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Published: 1605

Play. 

Demetrius and Lysander both want Hermia but she only has eyes for Lysander. Bad news is, Hermia's father wants Demetrius for a son-in-law. On the outside is Helena, whose unreturned love burns hot for Demetrius. Hermia and Lysander plan to flee from the city under cover of darkness but are pursued by an enraged Demetrius. 

In the forest, unbeknownst of the mortals, Oberon and Titania are having a spat over a servant boy. 

Much Ado About Nothing

Published: 1612

Play.

Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon, has recently defeated his half-brother, the bastard Don John, in a military engagement. Apparently reconciled, they returned to the capital, Messina, as guests of the Governor, Leonato. There Count Claudio, a young nobleman serving in Don Pedro's army falls in love with Hero, Leonato's daughter, whom Don Pedro woos on his behalf. 

Pericles, Prince of Tyre

Taming of the Shrew

Published: 1590

Play. 

The tale of two men, the hopeful Lucentio and the worldly Petruchio, and the two sisters they meet in Padua. 

Lucentio falls in love with Bianca, the apparently ideal younger daughter of the wealthy Baptista Minola. But before they can marry Bianca's formidable elder sister, Katherine, must be wed. Petruchio, interested only in the huge dowry, arranges to marry Katherine against her will. 

Tempest

Published:

Play.

Prospero, a magician on an enchanted island, punished his enemies, brings happiness to his daughter, and comes to terms with human use of supernatural power. 

Troilus and Cressida

Twelfth Night

Published: 1602

Play. 

Set in a topsy-turvy world like a holiday revel, this comedy devises a romantic plot around separated twins, misplaced passions, and mistaken identity. 

Gentlemen of Verona

Published: 1623

Play

Valentine is preparing to leave Verona for Milan so as to broaden his horizons. He begs his best friend, Proteus, to come with him, but he is in love with Julia, and refuses to leave. Disappointed, Valentine bids Proteus farewell and goes on alone. 

Meanwhile, Julia is discussing Proteus with her maid, Lucetta, who tells Julia that she thinks Proteus is fond of her. Julia, acts coyly, embarrassed to admit that she likes him. Lucetta then produces a letter; she will not say who gave it to her, but teases Julia that it was Valentine's servant, Speed, who brought if from Proteus. 

Julia, still unwilling to reveal her love, tears up the letter angrily. She sends Lucetta away, but then, realizing her own rashness, picks up the fragments of the letter and kisses them, trying to piece them back together. 

Proteus' father has decided he should travel to Milan and join Valentine, ordering that Proteus must leave the next day, prompting a tearful farewell with Julia, to whom he swears eternal love. The two exchange rings and vows and Proteus promises to return as soon as he can. 

In Milan, Proteus finds Valentine in love with the Duke's daughter, Silvia. Despite Julia, Proteus falls instantly in love with Silvia and vows to win her. Unaware of Proteus' feelings, Valentine tells him the Duke wants Silvia to marry the foppish but walthy Thurio, against her wishes. Because the Duke suspects that Silvia and Valentine are in love, he locks her in a tower, to which he keeps the only key; however; Valentine tells Proteus that he plans to free her by means of a corded ladder, and together they will elope. Proteus immediately informs the Duke, to captures and banishes Valentine. 

In Verona, Julia decides to join her lover in Milan. She convinces Lucetta to dress her in boy's clothes and help her fix her hair so she will not be harmed on the journey. Once in Milan, Julia discovers Proteus' love for Silvia, watching him attempt to serenade her. She contrives to become Sebastian, his page boy, until she can decide upon a course of action. Proteus sends her to Silvia with a gift of the same ring that Julia gave to him but Julia learns that Silvia scorns Proteus' affections and is disgusted that he would forget about his love back home. Silvia mourns the loss of Valentine, who Proteus has told her is rumored to be dead. Silvia decided to flee the city. 

Winter's Tale

Published: 1623

Play

The play begins with the appearance of two: Leontes, King of Sicilia, and Polixenes, the King of Bohemia. Polixenes is visiting the kingdom of Sicilia, and is enjoying catching up with his old friend. However, after nine months, Polixenes yearns to return to his own kingdom to tend to affairs and see his son. 

Leontes desperately attempts to get Polixenes to stay longer, but is unsuccessful. Leontes then decides to send his wife, Queen Hermione, to try to convice Polixenes. Hermione agrees and with three short speeches is successful. Leontes is puzzled as to how Hermione convinced Polixenes so easily, and Leontes suddenly goes insane and suspects that his pregnant wife has been having an affair with Polixenes and that the child is a bastard. Leontes orders Camilo, a Sicilian Lord, to poison Polixenes. Camilo instead warns him and they both flee to Bohemia. 

Furious at their escape, Leontes now publicly accuses his wife of infidelity, and declares that the child she is bearing must be illegitimate. He throws her in prison, over the protests of his nobles, and sends two of his lords, Cleomenes and Dion, to the Oracle at Delphi for what he is sure will be confirmation of his suspicions. Meanwhile; the queen gives birth to a girl, and her loyal friend Paulina takes the baby to the king, hoping that the sight of the child will soften his heart. He grown angrier, however, and orders Paulina's husband, Lord Antigonus, to take the child and abandon it in a desolate place. 

Cleomenes and Dion return from Delphi with word from the Oracle and find Hermione publicly and humiliatingly put of a trial before the king. She asserts her innocence, and asks for the word of the Oracle to be read before the court. The Oracle states that Hermione and Polixenes are innocent, Camillo and honest man, and that Leontes will have no heir until his lost daughter is found. 

Leontes shuns the news, refusing to believe it as the truth. As this news is revealed, word comes that Leonete's son Mamillius, has died of a wasting sickness brought on by the accusations against his mother. Hermione falls in a swoon, and is carried away by Paulina, who subsequently reports the queen's death to her husband. Leontes vows to spend the rest of his days atoning for the loss of his son and his queen. 

Antigonus abandons the baby on the coast of Bohemia, reporting that Hermione appeared to him in a dream and bade him name the girl Perdita. He leaves a fardel by the baby containing gold and other trinkets which suggest that the baby is of noble blood. A violent storm suddenly appears, wrecking the ship on which Antigonus arrived. He wishes to take pity on the child, but is chased away.

In Sicilia, Leontes is still in mourning. Cleomenes and Dion plead with him to end his time of repentance because the kingdom needs an heir. Paulina convinces the kind to continue his penance until she alone finds him a wife. Florizel and Perdita arrive, effusively greeted by Leontes. Florizel pretends to be on a diplomatic mission from his father, but is cover in blown when Polixenes and Camillo arrive in Sicilia.