Four Comedies : The Taming of the Shrew; A Midsummer Night's Dream; As You Like It; Twelfth Night

by Shakespeare, William; Hibbard, G. R.; Wells, Stanley

• ISBN13: 9780140434545
• ISBN10: 0140434542
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1995-04-01
• Publisher: Penguin Classics
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Summary

Shakespearean comedy has as much to do with the structure and movement of the drama as with the wit of its dialogue or the humour of its characters. In these four comedies there is a near-tragic crisis at which disaster or happiness may ensue, but the overriding force of goodwill and the power of understanding, love and generosity brings us through to a joyful conclusion. In comedy, 'sweet are the uses of adversity', so that the most bitter circumstances - exile, oppression, unrequited love - can give rise to higher feelings of friendship, respect, sympathy and acceptance. In this collection of Shakespeare's four most spirited comedies, each text comes complete with notes and an introduction, making this edition of particular value to students, scholars and theatre-goers.

Table of Contents

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
Introduction	5	(34)
Further Reading	39	(4)
An Account of the Text	43	(12)
The Taming of the Shrew	55	(147)
The Sly Scenes in `A Shrew'	202	(5)
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
Introduction	207	(27)
Further Reading	234	(2)
An Account of the Text	236	(9)
A Midsummer Night's Dream	245	(104)
AS YOU LIKE IT
Introduction	349	(32)
Further Reading	381	(3)
An Account of the Text	384	(7)
The Songs	391	(6)
As You Like It	397	(120)
TWELFTH NIGHT
Introduction	517	(29)
Further Reading	546	(3)
An Account of the Text	549	(7)
The Songs	556	(9)
Twelfth Night	565