Roma Gill Ordine dei libri (cronologico)

Per poter corteggiare degnamente Porzia il nobile Bassanio deve chiedere un prestito al mercante di Venezia Antonio. Antonio deve a sua volta farsi prestare il denaro dall'usuraio ebreo Shylock che, come pegno per la restituzione pone la possibilità di prelevare una libbra di carne sul corpo di Antonio, se il denaro non gli sarà reso il giorno fissato. Bassanio sposa Porzia, ma le navi di Antonio hanno fatto naufragio e Shylock pretende la libbra di carne. Porzia, travestita da avvocato, perora la causa di Antonio davanti al doge che grazia Shylock, ne confisca i beni e li divide tra Antonio e lo stato veneziano. Antonio rinuncia alla sua parte purché Shylock si faccia cristiano. Intanto alcune navi di Antonio compaiono salve in porto.

An edition of Shakespeare's tragedy, including discussion of its plot, themes, characters, language, production, and author.

Henry V established Kenneth Branagh as one of the most gifted and versatile film artists of our time. Branagh wrote the screenplay, starred in, and directed the film to astounding critical and popular acclaim. With a marvelous cast, including himself as Henry V, Emma Thompson as Katherine, Derek Jacobi as the Chorus, Ian Holm as Fluellen, Paul Scofield as the King of France, Judi Dench as Mistress Quickly, and Robbie Coltrane as Falstaff, Branagh brings the play into contemporary times, adding a darker and harsher sensibility. Included here are Branagh's screenplay and introduction, and dramatic stills from the film.

The book explores themes of ambition, power, and guilt through the tragic story of Macbeth. It begins with three witches who prophesy that Macbeth will become king, igniting his dark desires. Struggling with his murderous thoughts, he is ultimately spurred on by his wife, Lady Macbeth, leading him to kill King Duncan in his sleep. As Macbeth ascends to the throne, he becomes increasingly paranoid about losing his power, prompting him to murder Banquo, whose ghost haunts him during a banquet. In a desperate search for reassurance, Macbeth consults the witches again, who mislead him into a false sense of security with their cryptic prophecies. However, his downfall is sealed when Macduff, who was born by caesarean section, confronts him. The weight of his actions drives both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to madness and death, leaving a powerful commentary on the consequences of unchecked ambition and moral decay.