Throughout Shakespeare's lifetime it is agreed by most scholars that he has written 37 plays. Although the exact date of several of these plays is uncertain, his remarkable career is generally divided into four periods. The third period, from 1600, includes many of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies and "problem" or "bitter" comedies. To many this period of Shakespeare's writing is considered to be his greatest. It is within this period that he wrote some of his best and most popular works. The four most famous tragedies written during this period are: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth.

First performed in 1603, Hamlet is probably the best known of Shakespeare's works. In the play, King Hamlet (Senior) is dead. His brother, Claudius, succeeds him to the throne (despite Hamlet having a living, sane son). Despite it seeming incest in that day and age Claudius cements his hold on the Danish throne by marrying his brother's widow, Gertrude. When Hamlet (Junior) arrives at Denmark nothing but chaos follows. His father's ghost informs him of his uncle's foul deeds (the murder of Hamlet's father) "Murder most foul, as in the best it is, But this most foul, strange, and unnatural (Hamlet: A

The heartache and the thousand natural shocks

"If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well

Macbeth goes on to kill many people who he is afraid will take over his throne. He even goes on to kill the wife and children of his enemy Macduff. Lady Macbeth is also overcome with guilt and eventually dies. Duncan then later kills Macbeth in battle, and Duncan's son Malcolm then becomes king of Scotland.

Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;

The subplot is woven into the main story. It is about Gloucester who makes the mistake of banishing his faithful son, Edgar, and trusting his evil son, Edmund. Edmund quickly betrays his father, who has become blind because of Regan's husband. His good son Edgar finds out his father has been blinded and tries to console him. Gloucester realizes his mistakes and then he dies.

When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,

With his surcease, success; that but this blow

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Approximate Word count = 1413
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)