Shakespeare's plays are difficult, not only because the vocabulary and style are unfamiliar, but because he went far beyond simply telling a story. He developed characters that are fully human and his plays express ideas about human nature, society and man's place in the universe that are as relevant today as they were when he wrote them. This book attempts to guide the reader through fifteen of the plays by gathering together and integrating the interpretations of some of the leading Shakespearean scholars into a coherent discussion. Each chapter progresses sequentially through a single play, focusing on passages that are either particularly beautiful or that are important in bringing out Shakespeare's meaning. The sequential approach makes it convenient for the reader to consider possible interpretations of the text as he or she reads it.