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The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 8 of 9]

by William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

  • Free to read
  • 15 hours to read
  • 78 chapters
  • Reading level: 5th grade

"The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 8 of 9]" by Shakespeare is a historical and literary collection of theatrical works written in the early 17th century. This volume specifically includes iconic plays such as "Hamlet," "King Lear," and "Othello," among others. The works explore themes of ambition, power struggles, love, and betrayal, with complex characters that resonate across time, such as the troubled Hamlet and the tragic King Lear. At the start of the volume, the section from "Hamlet" unfolds with a dark, atmospheric setting in Elsinore, where guards, including Francisco and Bernardo, encounter a ghost resembling the deceased King Hamlet. The tension builds as they summon Horatio to witness the spectral figure. The scene sets a tone of unease and raises questions about fate and the supernatural, laying the groundwork for the epic tragedy that follows as Hamlet grapples with the implications of his father's death and the unrest within Denmark. The opening introduces a political and emotional conflict that will drive the narrative forward, immersing readers in a world steeped in mystery and existential inquiry.

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  • English drama

Read the opening

Scene I: Elsinore. A platform before the castle: FRANCISCO at his post. Enter to him BERNARDO.[1]

Ber. Who's there?[2][3]

Fran. Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself.[3]

Ber. Long live the king![3]

Fran. Bernardo?[3][4]

Ber. He.[3] 5

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Contents

Show all 78 chapters
  1. Preface
  2. Scene I: Elsinore. A platform before the castle: FRANCISCO at his post. Enter to him BERNARDO.[1]
  3. Scene II: A room of state in the castle
  4. Scene III: A room in Polonius's house: Enter LAERTES and OPHELIA.[268]
  5. Scene IV: The platform.[352]: Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus
  6. Scene V: Another Part of the platform: Enter Ghost and HAMLET.[417]
  7. Scene I: A room in Polonius's house: Enter Polonius and Reynaldo.[560]
  8. Scene II: A room in the castle
  9. Scene II.] Pope
  10. Scene I: A room in the castle
  11. Scene II: A hall in the castle: Enter HAMLET and Players.[1127]
  12. Scene III: A room in the castle: Enter King, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern.[1379]
  13. Scene IV: The Queen's closet: Enter QUEEN and POLONIUS.[1438]
  14. Scene I: A room in the castle: Enter King, Queen, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern.[1571]
  15. Scene II: Another room in the castle: Enter HAMLET.[1596]
  16. Scene III: Another room in the castle: Enter KING, attended.[1608]
  17. Scene IV: A plain in Denmark: Enter FORTINBRAS, a Captain and Soldiers, marching.[1638]
  18. Scene V: Elsinore. A room in the castle: Enter QUEEN, HORATIO, and a Gentleman.[1665]
  19. Scene VI: Another room in the castle: Enter HORATIO and a Servant.[1815]
  20. Scene VII: Another room in the castle.[1835]: Enter KING and LAERTES
  21. Scene VII: Pope: Danes. [Within] Capell. See note (XXVI)
  22. Scene I: A churchyard: Enter two Clowns, with spades, &c.[1962]
  23. Scene II: A hall in the castle.[2137]: Enter HAMLET and HORATIO
  24. Act I: Scene I. In this play the Acts and Scenes are marked in the: Folios only as far as the second Scene of the second Act, and not at all in the Quartos
  25. Scene I: King Lear's palace: Enter Kent, Gloucester, and Edmund.[2424]
  26. Scene II: The Earl of Gloucester's castle: Enter EDMUND, with a Letter.[2670]
  27. Scene III: The Duke of Albany's palace: Enter GONERIL and OSWALD, her steward.[2770]
  28. Scene IV: A hall in the same: Enter KENT, disguised.[2791]
  29. Scene V: Court before the same: Enter LEAR, KENT, and Fool.[3029]
  30. Scene I: The Earl of Gloucester's castle: Enter EDMUND and CURAN, meeting.[3061]
  31. Scene II: Before Gloucester's castle: Enter KENT and OSWALD, severally.[3164]
  32. Scene III: A wood: Enter EDGAR.[3299]
  33. Scene IV: Before Gloucester's castle. Kent in the stocks: Enter LEAR, Fool, and Gentleman.[3313]
  34. Scene XII: Pope. Scene xiii. Warburton
  35. Scene I: A heath: Storm still. Enter KENT and a Gentleman, meeting.[3541]
  36. Scene II: Another Part of the heath. Storm still.[3578]
  37. Scene III: Gloucester's castle: Enter Gloucester and Edmund.[3650]
  38. Scene IV: The heath. Before a hovel.[3667]: Enter LEAR, KENT, and FOOL
  39. Scene V: Gloucester's castle: Enter CORNWALL and EDMUND.[3807]
  40. Scene VI: A chamber in a farmhouse adjoining the castle: Enter Gloucester, Lear, Kent, Fool, and Edgar.[3817]
  41. Scene VII: Gloucester's castle: Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, GONERIL, EDMUND, and Servants.[3904]
  42. Scene I: The heath.[3996]: Enter EDGAR
  43. Scene II: Before the Duke of Albany's palace: Enter GONERIL and EDMUND.[4059]
  44. Scene III: The French camp near Dover.[4140]
  45. Scene IV: The same. A tent
  46. Scene V: Gloucester's castle: Enter REGAN and OSWALD.[4204]
  47. Scene VI: Fields near Dover: Enter GLOUCESTER, and EDGAR dressed like a peasant.[4233]
  48. Scene VII: A tent in the French camp. LEAR on a bed asleep, soft: music playing; Gentleman, and others attending
  49. Scene IX: Pope
  50. Scene I: The British camp near Dover
  51. Scene II: A field between the two camps
  52. Scene III: The British camp near Dover
  53. Act I: Scene 1. The acts and scenes are marked throughout in the: Folios, but not in the Quartos
  54. Scene I: Venice. A street: Enter RODERIGO and IAGO.[4877]
  55. Scene II: Another street: Enter OTHELLO, IAGO, and Attendants with torches.[5006]
  56. Scene III: A council-chamber
  57. Scene I: A sea-port in Cyprus. An open place near the quay: Enter MONTANO and two Gentlemen.[5314]
  58. Scene II: A street: Enter a Herald with a proclamation; People following.[5522]
  59. Scene III: A hall in the castle: Enter OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and Attendants.[5532]
  60. Scene IV: Pope
  61. Scene V: Pope: [5380] on shore] ashore Q₁
  62. Scene VI: Pope
  63. Scene XII: Pope. Scene XIII. Hanmer
  64. Scene I: Before the castle: Enter CASSIO and some Musicians.[5749]
  65. Scene II: A room in the castle.[5788]
  66. Scene III: The garden of the castle.[5793]: Enter Desdemona, Cassio, and Emilia
  67. Scene IV: Before the castle: Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, and Clown.[6090]
  68. Scene X: Pope
  69. Scene XIII: Pope. Scene changes to the Street before the Palace: Theobald
  70. Scene I: Cyprus. Before the castle: Enter OTHELLO and IAGO.[6212]
  71. Scene II: A room in the castle.[6389]: Enter OTHELLO and EMILIA
  72. Scene III: Another room in the castle: Enter OTHELLO, LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, EMILIA, and Attendants.[6541]
  73. Scene X: Pope
  74. Scene I: Cyprus. A street.[6611]: Enter IAGO and RODERIGO
  75. Scene II: A bedchamber in the castle: DESDEMONA in bed asleep; a: light burning.[6698]
  76. Scene VII: Pope
  77. Scene IX: Pope: [6856] What ... willow.] Omitted in Q₁
  78. Scene XI

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About this edition

This free edition of The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 8 of 9] by William Shakespeare comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #49008, released 2015-05-21. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Plays/Films/Dramas, Classics of Literature, British Literature.

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