The late William Ringler, Jr. and James Ogden examine the theatrical tradition from Shakespeare's time to the nineteenth century. The history of literary criticism to Bradley and beyond is sketched in the introduction, and recent criticism is described in more detail by Richard Levin. Carol Rutter's essay on the women characters in the play is inspired partly by feminist criticism and partly by recent productions.

The productions of the last thirty years are covered by theater critic Benedict Nightingale, and the major film versions by Anthony Davies and Stephen Phillips. Finally, Stuart Sillars presents a "visual history," an account of artistic responses that suggests further possibilities for both research and teaching.