Shakespeare must be studied in order to be understood: explication precedes appreciation. This incisive study of Shakespeare's greatest plays concentrates on those strategies of design and closure that serve Shakespeare's intention and meaning. The examination of recapitulation, the quintessential feature of Shakespeare's art, reveals Shakespeare's dramatic thought in all its complexity. The ultimate value of this study is that it enables us to appreciate, not just the individual plays, but the shape and significance of the Shakespeare canon.