Inviting the student reader to put themselves in the shoes of the Renaissance theatre-goer, the impact of plays such as Hamlet, Othello and Dr Faustus on contemporary audiences forms the basis of this volume. Discussions of Shakespeare`s classic plays are accompanied by examinations of the work of lesser known playwrights and commentators, while chapters including Madness and Subjectivity; Rhetoric and Performance and Nation-Building provide a variety of critical perspectives essential for students of Renaissance drama.