Tips & more
Shakespearean tragedies visualized through character interactions

Take a look at the visual summaries of the eleven most famous tragedies by William Shakespeare.
Are the Shakespearean characters isolated or closely connected? Do the tragedies written by the world’s most famous playwright have the similar structure and density?
You’ll find the answers in a series of amazing network graphs created by a Lausanne-based data research analyst and designer, Martin Grandjean.
Eleven tragedies are analyzed, including Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, and King Lear. Each chart presents all characters from a specific tragedy. Each character is represented as a circle. The more important the character the bigger the circle.
The lines connect characters to other characters with whom they interact in the same scene. Another dimension that Martin Grandjean is using is network density. It measures how close the graph is to complete.
Hamlet is the longest tragedy but its character map is much simpler and less dense than, for instance, Anthony and Cleopatra. But its network density is twice as big – 39% versus 17%.
When you analyze the graphs, you’ll see that in some tragedies characters belong to clear groups. It’s obvious with Romeo and Juliet, where we have Montague and Capulet families.
Click or tap on the visual below to see it in full resolution. Visit the original post on Martin Grandjean’s website to read more details and get the visual as a high-resolution poster, 5460 × 4000 px.
If you want to further explore how books are seen through data visualization tools, check out our list of amazing book charts and visualizations.

Via Flowing Data.
More infographics and charts to explore:
Common literary devices – the ultimate infographic guide
– May 6, 2022
The most popular literary hotspots across America, by state and genre (infographics)
– April 29, 2022
Reading for pleasure declined since 2004 by almost one-third
– April 27, 2022
Book censorship in the 2021 by the numbers
– April 26, 2022
How to set up and organize a perfect home library (infographic)
– February 21, 2022
Recommendation box
Gifts for modern bookworms in 2023
Based on recommendations from top tech sites and customer reviews.
• • •
Vintage composition notebook iPhone case
This unique, intensive, pseudo-marbling composition notebook pattern with a preworn label is available on the latest iPhone cases in several colors, including green, brown, and purple.
Zazzle
• • •
Compact and innovative reading light
From a German brand Nachteule comes a clever book light that you attach not to a book but your reading glasses. It’s so light that you can also clip it to your earphones or hair accessories! The built-in battery will let you read 200 pages.
Amazon
• • •
Hands-free pillow stand – great for e-readers and print books
An improved version of a popular Lamicall tablet pillow comes now with a side pocket for a pen or small accessories. The grooves are deep enough to hold a print book. It’s made of durable materials and is available in five fashionable colors.
Amazon
More gifts for bookworms
Check out the updated bookworm gift-giving guide, with unique vintage clothes, home decor, innovative accessories, and surprising new products.
Gifts for bookworms
About Ola Kowalczyk
As a frequent visitor of her favorite local library, Ola is particularly interested in how books and libraries evolve in the digital age. Ebooks, print, audiobooks – for her, all books are equal.
Posts Twitter Facebook
• • •
Secure social sharing
We removed all social buttons, but if you wish to share this post on Twitter or Facebook, use the box below which will securely open the sharing panel in a new browser tab.
Shakespearean tragedies visualized through character interactions https://ebookfriendly.com/shakespearean-tragedies-character-interactions/ via @ebookfriendly
+ Twitter + Facebook
• • •
Featured
Vintage composition notebook iPhone case
This vintage composition notebook design features a unique marbled paper background and a preworn old-school label with a headline VNTG NTBK. Available in several colors for several iPhone models. Explore the collection.
Our score: 8.2/10
Zazzle $30.99
• • •
Before you go
Do you really have to buy a cover every time you get a new Kindle? These sleeves can be used with your current and future models: basic Kindle, Paperwhite, Oasis, or Scribe.
Kindle sleeves
• • •
Instead of comments
The Midnight Library
by Matt Haig
A Conversation About Rain
Nineteen years before she decided to die, Nora Seed sat in the warmth of the small library at Hazeldene School in the town of Bedford. She sat at a low table staring at a chess board.
‘Nora dear, it’s natural to worry about your future,’ said the librarian, Mrs Elm, her eyes twinkling.
Mrs Elm made her first move. A knight hopping over the neat row of white pawns. ‘Of course, you’re going to be worried about the exams. But you could be anything you want to be, Nora. Think of all that possibility. It’s exciting.’
‘Yes. I suppose it is.’
‘A whole life in front of you.’
‘A whole life.’
‘You could do anything, live anywhere. Somewhere a bit less cold and wet.’
Nora pushed a pawn forward two spaces.
It was hard not to compare Mrs Elm to her mother, who treated Nora like a mistake in need of correction. For instance, when she was a baby her mother had been so worried Nora’s left ear stuck out more than her right that she’d used sticky tape to address the situation, then disguised it beneath a woollen bonnet.
190 words read…
+ Kindle + Audible
Popular topics
Tips, news, deals, and geek stuff for Kindle users.
Explore
Gift ideas and round-ups for modern book lovers.
Explore
• • •
Devices are not dangerous for literature. People can be dangerous for literature. People, for example, who do not read.
– László Krasznahorkai –
• • •
Featured
Innovative pillow stand for hands-free use
From Lamicall comes a brand-new pillow stand with an “open jaw” design, a stylus holder, and a large pocket for your phone or charger. A perfect tablet or e-reader stand for hands-free use: reading, watching, or video calls.
Our score: 8.2/10
Amazon $29.99
We are here
Our recommendation hub with lists for tech and book lovers
Latest bookish and geekish artworks for office products, clothing, and accessories
Vintage-style, book and tech related designs for home decor and wall art
Minimalist and vintage designs for tech geeks and book lovers