Shakespeare, world-weary I presume

Yes, but Shakespeare's plot devices were probably never meant to be better than 'formal' affairs, as opposed to a naturalistic device that could pass for something in real life. … Shakespeare used these devices in order to set up the action - and it is upon the action, the language, the emotional interaction between the characters, and the use of plot/sub-plot parallels that gives Shakespearian drama so much of its power….

Oh, hang on…. http://wordsmith.org/board/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=miscellany&Number=7622

Mainly I dug up this thread because some of the newer folks might enjoy stuff like Jo’s tips from Wollogong Pig Breeders' Gazette