Departing from the tendency to dwell extensively on the symbolism in Shakespeare's plays and to see the works as metaphysical formulations, studies in this book focus on his work as "plays about people"--their reactions as real people to possible situations. Four plays are examined, scene by scene: (1) "King Lear" and the Just Gods; (2) "Antony and Cleopratra": Nobody is Perfect; (3) "Macbeth" and the Henpecked Hero; and (4) "The Winter's Tale": More Tragedy than Comedy, more Realism than Romance. Both what the characters say and their tones of voice are analyzed. (JMC)