William Shakespeare is one of the most remarkable playwrights the world has ever known.
A.Name his four greatest tragedies.
B.What are the characteristics of the four tragedies in common?
C.Briefly summarize each hero's weakness of nature.
A.Shakespeare's four greatest tragedies are Hamlet, Othello. King Lear • and Macbeth.
B.Each portrays some noble hero, who faces the injustice of human life and is caught in a difficult situation and whose fate is closely connected with the fate of the whole nation.
C.Each hero has his weakness of nature: Hamlet, the melancholic scholar-prince, faces the dilemma between action and mind；Othello's inner weakness is made use of by the outside evil force；the old king Lear is unwilling to totally give up his power； and Macbeth s lust for power stirs up his ambition and leads him to incessant crimes. (p33)
