Need to get a quick overview of one of Shakespeare’s plays? Read – or listen – to one of our five minute Shakespeare play summaries to understand the main characters, plots and stories of each play.
Summaries of Shakespeare’s most popular plays:
Macbeth Summary
King Duncan’s generals, Macbeth and Banquo, encounter three strange women on a bleak Scottish moorland on their way home from quelling a rebellion. The women prophesy that Macbeth will be given the title of Thane of Cawdor and then become King of Scotland, while Banquo’s heirs shall be kings…. read full Macbeth summary
Othello Summary
In the opening scene, Iago complains to Roderigo that Othello, his Commander, has passed him over to promote the handsome young Cassio to be his Lieutenant. He vows to get revenge. Iago first asks Roderigo to tell Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, that his daughter has left to marry Othello, a marriage Brabantio opposes because Othello is a Moor…. read full Othello summary
Romeo & Juliet Summary
On a hot morning fighting by young servants of the Capulet and Montague families is stopped by the Prince, who tells them that the next person who breaks the peace will be punished with death. Capulet plans a feast to introduce his daughter, Juliet, who is almost fourteen, to the Count Paris who would like to marry her… read full Romeo & Juliet summary
The Merchant of Venice Summary
A young Venetian, Bassanio, needs a loan of three thousand ducats so that he can woo Portia, a wealthy Venetian heiress. He approaches his friend Antonio, a merchant. Antonio is short of money because all his wealth is invested in his fleet, which is currently at sea. He goes to a Jewish money lender, Shylock… read full The Merchant of Venice summary
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