Alcohol, feasting and revelry play a major part in most of Shakespeare’s works. The utilisation and consumption of wine merits special focus as a signifier in Shakespeare’s work. Much has been written on the role of wine in his comedies, less so regarding Shakespearean tragedies. This discussion will focus on the significance of wine in three seminal works that were crafted at the end of the Elizabethan era, namely Hamlet, Macbeth and Othello. Beginning with an overview of the role and significance of wine to the plot of each of the plays, the analysis will then move to examine the wider connotations and considerations linked to wine consumption in early modern England
