Clear Shakespeare

Bottom orders the fairies around

Oberon unenchants Titania

Theseus and Hippolyta wake the lovers

Bottom remembers his dream

Bottom saves the day!

The post Midsummer Part 5: Act 4, Scenes 1 and 2 appeared first on Clear Shakespeare.

Theseus and Hippolyta talk fairy tales

Philostrate lays out the newlyweds’ entertainment options

The mechanicals perform Pyramus and Thisbe

Puck returns to sweep the way

Oberon and Titania bless the house

Puck’s epilogue

The post Midsummer Part 6: Act 5, Scene 1 appeared first on Clear Shakespeare.

The texts, sources and performance history of Hamlet

Bernardo relieves Francisco

Marcellus brings in Horatio for a ghostly consultation

The ghost is here!

Horatio’s theory: it’s about Norway

The ghost is back!

They agree to tell Hamlet about the ghost

The post Hamlet Part 1: Introduction & Act 1, Scene 1 appeared first on Clear Shakespeare.

Claudius thanks everyone for going along with the marriage

Claudius sends Voltemand and Cornelius to deal with Norway

Polonius wants Claudius’ permission to go to France

Get over it, Hamlet / You’re not my real dad!

Gertrude convinces Hamlet not to go back to Wittenberg

Hamlet’s soliloquy about why he’s angry at Claudius and Gertrude

Horatio breaks the ghost news to Hamlet

Laertes has some unsolicited advice for Ophelia

Polonius has some unsolicited advice for Laertes

Polonius tells Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet

The post Hamlet Part 2: Act 1, Scenes 2 and 3 appeared first on Clear Shakespeare.

Hamlet hates the Danish reputation for drunkenness

Hamlet sees the ghost

Horatio and the guards try to keep Hamlet from going with the ghost

Catholics, Protestants and ghosts

The ghost tells Hamlet that Claudius killed him

Hamlet vows to remember the ghost’s command

Hamlet swears his friends to secrecy

Polonius sends Reynaldo to spy on Laertes

Ophelia tells Polonius about Hamlet’s strange behavior

The post Hamlet Part 3: Act 1, Scenes 4 and 5 & Act 2, Scene 1 appeared first on Clear Shakespeare.

Claudius and Gertrude assign Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to investigate Hamlet’s behavior

Voltemand and Cornelius announce that the Norwegian troubles are over

Polonius floats a theory about Hamlet’s madness

Polonius examines Hamlet

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern approach Hamlet

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern tell Hamlet about the actors

Hamlet welcomes the actors

The fall of Troy speech

Hamlet plans a play for Claudius

The post Hamlet Part 4: Act 2, Scene 2 appeared first on Clear Shakespeare.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern report back to Claudius and Gertrude

Polonius and Claudius set Ophelia as bait and hide

Hamlet wonders why he’s afraid to act

Ophelia returns Hamlet’s gifts

Hamlet goes off on Ophelia

Ophelia laments Hamlet’s transformation

Claudius is shaken

Hamlet gives the actors some acting advice

Hamlet and Horatio plan for the play

Hamlet entertains the royal party and teases Ophelia

The dumb show

The actors perform The Mousetrap

Claudius stops the play

Hamlet gives Rosencrantz and Guildenstern a piece of his mind

Polonius summons Hamlet to his mother

Hamlet resolves to not hurt his mother

The post Hamlet Part 5: Act 3, Scenes 1 and 2 appeared first on Clear Shakespeare.

Claudius tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to take Hamlet to England

Claudius confesses the murder but can’t repent

Hamlet sneaks up on Claudius but can’t go through with his revenge

Hamlet confronts Gertrude

Hamlet stabs Polonius through the arras

The ghost reappears

Hamlet begs Gertrude to stay away from Claudius

Gertrude reports Polonius’ death to Claudius

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern chase Hamlet

Hamlet messes with Claudius

Claudius tells Hamlet that he’s sending him to England

Claudius reveals that Hamlet will be killed in England

The post Hamlet Part 6: Act 3, Scenes 3 and 4 & Act 4, Scenes 1, 2 and 3 appeared first on Clear Shakespeare.

Hamlet meets the Norwegian army

Hamlet feels like a dope compared to Fortinbras

Ophelia goes crazy

Laertes is back from France and he’s angry

Claudius insists he’s innocent of Polonius’ death

Laertes sees what’s happened to Ophelia

Ophelia hands out flowers

Hamlet sends a sailor to summon Horatio 

Claudius explains that Hamlet killed Polonius

A cryptic letter arrives for Claudius from Hamlet

Claudius plans a fencing match for Laertes to kill Hamlet (and a backup poisoning)

Gertrude reports that Ophelia has drowned

The post Hamlet Part 7: Act 4, Scenes 4, 5, 6 and 7 appeared first on Clear Shakespeare.

The gravediggers dig and riddle

Hamlet thinks about what’s left after death

Hamlet and the gravedigger trade wits

Hamlet faces his old friend Yorick’s skull

Ophelia’s funeral procession arrives

Laertes wants the priest to give Ophelia full rites

Hamlet interrupts the funeral

Hamlet and Laertes fight in Ophelia’s grave

The post Hamlet Part 8: Act 5, Scene 1 appeared first on Clear Shakespeare.