Meet some of Shakespeare’s most popular female characters: girls and women who act as counterparts of Shakesperean heroes offering an alternative point of view on his masterpieces. Sweet, innocent teenagers, representing the stereotypical devoted wife or daughter, or more complex and unconventional women, who are strong and independent. Mature queens who are corrupted by power but also atypical heroines, witty and sarcastic, who refuse a husband or make their partner look ridiculous. Juliet, Ophelia, Portia, Beatrice, Lady Macbeth and Cleopatra will take you on a journey into Shakespeare’s world, hopefully inspiring you to find out more about the single plays in this collection and encouraging you to explore new ones.