{"id":80,"date":"2024-04-13T11:47:48","date_gmt":"2024-04-13T18:47:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/?page_id=71"},"modified":"2026-02-27T17:59:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T01:59:43","slug":"shakespeare-commentaries","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/shakespeare-commentaries\/","title":{"rendered":"Shakespeare Commentaries"},"content":{"rendered":"Shakespeare Commentaries by Alfred J. Drake<\/title><meta name= \"description\" content= \"Detailed commentaries on Shakespeare's dramatic works: comedies, tragedies, history plays, and romance plays. Addresses practical criticism and literary theory.\"><\/head><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-buttons uagb-buttons__outer-wrap uagb-btn__default-btn uagb-btn-tablet__default-btn uagb-btn-mobile__default-btn uagb-block-4f6cdd05 uag-hide-mob\"><div class=\"uagb-buttons__wrap uagb-buttons-layout-wrap \">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-buttons-child uagb-buttons__outer-wrap uagb-block-dcba7b2a wp-block-button\"><div class=\"uagb-button__wrapper\"><a class=\"uagb-buttons-repeater wp-block-button__link\" aria-label=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/\" rel=\"follow noopener\" target=\"_self\" role=\"button\"><div class=\"uagb-button__link\">HOME<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-buttons-child uagb-buttons__outer-wrap uagb-block-9ae5aeea wp-block-button\"><div class=\"uagb-button__wrapper\"><a class=\"uagb-buttons-repeater wp-block-button__link\" aria-label=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/my-olli-courses-at-unlv\/\" rel=\"follow noopener\" target=\"_self\" role=\"button\"><div class=\"uagb-button__link\">OLLI<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-buttons-child uagb-buttons__outer-wrap uagb-block-2368e1c6 wp-block-button\"><div class=\"uagb-button__wrapper\"><a class=\"uagb-buttons-repeater wp-block-button__link\" aria-label=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/shakespeare-questions\/\" rel=\"follow noopener\" target=\"_self\" role=\"button\"><div class=\"uagb-button__link\">QUESTIONS<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-buttons-child uagb-buttons__outer-wrap uagb-block-040dd0bb wp-block-button\"><div class=\"uagb-button__wrapper\"><a class=\"uagb-buttons-repeater wp-block-button__link\" aria-label=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/shakespeare-commentaries\/\" rel=\"follow noopener\" target=\"_self\" role=\"button\"><div class=\"uagb-button__link\">COMMENTARIES<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-buttons-child uagb-buttons__outer-wrap uagb-block-57f86fdb wp-block-button\"><div class=\"uagb-button__wrapper\"><a class=\"uagb-buttons-repeater wp-block-button__link\" aria-label=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/shakespeare-audio\/\" rel=\"follow noopener\" target=\"_self\" role=\"button\"><div class=\"uagb-button__link\">AUDIO<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-buttons-child uagb-buttons__outer-wrap uagb-block-1b812369 wp-block-button\"><div class=\"uagb-button__wrapper\"><a class=\"uagb-buttons-repeater wp-block-button__link\" aria-label=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/shakespeare-guides\/\" rel=\"follow noopener\" target=\"_self\" role=\"button\"><div class=\"uagb-button__link\">GUIDES<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-buttons-child uagb-buttons__outer-wrap uagb-block-d5da63d7 wp-block-button\"><div class=\"uagb-button__wrapper\"><a class=\"uagb-buttons-repeater wp-block-button__link\" aria-label=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/shakespeare-links\/\" rel=\"follow noopener\" target=\"_self\" role=\"button\"><div class=\"uagb-button__link\">LINKS<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Main Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"line-height:2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/shakespeare-intro-life-and-times\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Intro to Shakespeare\u2019s Life & Times<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/shakespeare-intro-language-1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shakespeare\u2019s Language & Art Pt. 1<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/shakespeare-intro-language-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shakespeare\u2019s Language & Art Pt. 2<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/introduction-to-comedy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Intro to Shakespeare’s Comedies<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/introduction-to-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Intro to Shakespeare’s History Plays<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/english-monarchy-timeline\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">English Monarchy Timeline<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Comedies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"line-height:2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/alls-well-that-ends-well-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"207\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">All’s Well That Ends Well<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/as-you-like-it-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"198\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">As You Like It<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/the-comedy-of-errors-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"197\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Comedy of Errors<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/loves-labors-lost-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"213\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Love’s Labor’s Lost<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/measure-for-measure-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"205\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Measure for Measure<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/the-merchant-of-venice-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"203\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Merchant of Venice<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/the-merry-wives-of-windsor-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"214\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Merry Wives of Windsor<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/a-midsummer-nights-dream-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"209\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Midsummer Night’s Dream<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/much-ado-about-nothing-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"195\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Much Ado about Nothing<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/the-taming-of-the-shrew-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"221\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Taming of the Shrew<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/troilus-and-cressida-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"219\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Troilus and Cressida<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/twelfth-night-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"217\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Twelfth Night<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/the-two-gentlemen-of-verona-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"211\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Two Gentlemen of Verona<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tragedies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"line-height:2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/antony-and-cleopatra-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"239\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Antony and Cleopatra<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/arden-of-faversham-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"11045\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Arden of Faversham<\/a> \u2020 | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/coriolanus-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"237\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Coriolanus<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/hamlet-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"235\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hamlet<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/julius-caesar-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"199\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Julius Caesar<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/king-lear-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"233\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">King Lear<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/macbeth-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"231\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Macbeth<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/othello-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"229\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Othello<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/romeo-and-juliet-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"227\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Romeo and Juliet<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/timon-of-athens-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"225\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Timon of Athens<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/titus-andronicus-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"223\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Titus Andronicus<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Romances<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"line-height:2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/cymbeline-king-of-britain-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"147\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cymbeline<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/pericles-prince-of-tyre-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"149\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pericles, Prince of Tyre<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/the-tempest-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"55\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tempest<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/the-two-noble-kinsmen-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"151\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Two Noble Kinsmen<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/the-winters-tale-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"145\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Winter’s Tale<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Histories – Major Tetralogy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"line-height:2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/king-richard-ii-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"182\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Richard II<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/1-henry-iv-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"175\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1 Henry IV<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/2-henry-iv-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"177\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2 Henry IV<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/henry-v-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"185\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Henry V<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Histories – Minor Tetralogy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"line-height:2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/1-henry-vi-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"193\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1 Henry VI<\/a> \u2020 | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/2-henry-vi-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"302\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2 Henry VI<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/3-henry-vi-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"189\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">3 Henry VI<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/king-richard-iii-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"168\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Richard III<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Histories – Other<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/henry-viii-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"180\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Henry VIII<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/king-john-2\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"172\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">King John<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/edward-iii-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Edward III<\/a> \u2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Shakespeare’s Contemporaries<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Kyd, Thomas. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/spanish-tragedy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Spanish Tragedy<\/a><br>Marlowe, Christopher. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/doctor-faustus\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"8774\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Doctor Faustus<\/a><br>Jonson, Ben. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/volpone\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Volpone, or The Fox<\/a><br>Webster, John. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajdrake.com\/shakespeare\/duchess-of-malfi\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"8885\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Duchess of Malfi<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">\u2020 Material for this play will be posted as time permits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shakespeare Commentaries by Alfred J. Drake Main Guides Intro to Shakespeare\u2019s Life & Times | Shakespeare\u2019s Language & Art Pt. 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