What is the best Shakespeare play to start with? Does anybody

3.1
The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1589–1591)
3.2
The Taming of the Shrew (1590–1591)
3.3
Henry VI, Part 2 (1591)
3.4
Henry VI, Part 3 (1591)
3.5
Henry VI, Part 1 (1591–1592)
3.6
Titus Andronicus (1591–1592)
3.7
Richard III (1592–1593)
3.8
Edward III (1592–1593)
3.9
The Comedy of Errors (1594)
3.10
Love's Labour's Lost (1594–1595)
3.11
Love's Labour's Won (1595–1596)
3.12
Richard II (1595)
3.13
Romeo and Juliet (1595)
3.14
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1595)
3.15
King John (1596)
3.16
The Merchant of Venice (1596–1597)
3.17
Henry IV, Part 1 (1596–1597)
3.18
The Merry Wives of Windsor (1597)
3.19
Henry IV, Part 2 (1597–1598)
3.20
Much Ado About Nothing (1598–1599)
3.21
Henry V (1599)
3.22
Julius Caesar (1599)
3.23
As You Like It (1599–1600)
3.24
Hamlet (1599–1601)
3.25
Twelfth Night (1601)
3.26
Troilus and Cressida (1600–1602)
3.27
Sir Thomas More (1592–1595; Shakespeare's involvement, 1603–1604)
3.28
Measure for Measure (1603–1604)
3.29
Othello (1603–1604)
3.30
All's Well That Ends Well (1604–1605)
3.31
King Lear (1605–1606)
3.32
Timon of Athens (1605–1606)
3.33
Macbeth (1606)
3.34
Antony and Cleopatra (1606)
3.35
Pericles, Prince of Tyre (1607–1608)
3.36
Coriolanus (1608)
3.37
The Winter's Tale (1609–1611)
3.38
Cymbeline (1610)
3.39
The Tempest (1610–1611)
3.40
Cardenio (1612–1613)
3.41
Henry VIII (1612–1613)
3.42
The Two Noble Kinsmen (1613–1614)

>>9444967
Julius Caesar is a good one. R&J, Richard III, and the Comedy of Errors/Midsummer Night's Dream are also good start points for your first Shakespeare.

I haven't read that particular edition of Julius Caesar but since it's Norton I figure it's very good.

>>9444967
Probably the best place to start IMO

>>9444967 >>9445140
Is it possible to read Richard III on its own? Do I miss too much if I jump right to it, leaving the three parts of Henry VI for later?

>>9445235
Yeah, sure. Richard of Gloucester pretty much explains the situation in his first monologue. Still, if you are worried of not catching all the plot references, just read through the wikipedia article or get an edition with a good introduction.

>>9445235
Having read almost all of Shakespeare's plays and just finishing Richard III, I would say save it for later. Reading the History plays in chronological order instead of order of performance (>>9445117) gives it a really neat rhythm and it's because they were all written at various times but there are sundry references throughout the plays to others. Everything that is set up in Richard III is done in KH6P3 (a play I really love) and so forth backward. And then you get the treat of MWW buttressing the non-tragic side of things in the Henriad. It's not to say you would ever be confused reading R3 for lack of an understanding of prior plot points, but having read all of them really does enrich it.

Julius Caesar is where I started and found it extremely digestible, quick, memorable--begin there. MacBeth is also fantastic and Shakespeare's shortest if you're looking for a quick dip. Or, alternatively, pick one of the comedies this anon suggested >>9445140

>>9444967
If you are a total beginner, I would recommend:
1. Macbeth
2. A Mid Summer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet
3. Much Ado About Nothing, Love’s Labour’s Lost, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Comedy of Errors, The Taming of the Shrew, The Merchant of Venice
4. King John
5. Edward III
6. Richard II
7. The Merry Wives of Windsor
8. Henry IV parts I & II
9. Henry V
10.Henry VI parts I, II, & III
11. Richard III
12. Titus Andronicus
13. Hamlet
14. Twelfth Night, As You Like It
15. Othello, King Lear
16. Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra
17. The Tempest, All’s Well That Ends Well, Measure For Measure
18. Henry VIII
19. Troilus and Cressida, The Two Noble Kinsmen, Timon of Athens, Pericles Prince of Tyre, Coriolanus, Cymbeline
20. The Winter’s Tale

>>9444967
If you don't plan on reading them all ( and considering your preference for JC), then I would recommend:
1. Macbeth
2. A Mid Summer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet
3. Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra
4. Much Ado About Nothing, The Comedy of Errors, The Taming of the Shrew, The Merchant of Venice
5. Hamlet
6. Twelfth Night, As You Like It
7. Othello, King Lear
8. Henry IV parts I & II
9. Henry V
10. Richard III
11. The Tempest, All’s Well That Ends Well, Measure For Measure
12. The Winter’s Tale

macbeth and measure for measure were co-written by thomas middleton

deal with it

>>9444967
Start with Peracles, bro

Why should I read shakespeare in any specific order

>>9446853
They are still great plays, because of that collaboration or in spite of it.