Character lists in manuscript

A character list (also known as a dramatis personae) is a paratext that names most or all of the characters in a play. Many early modern playbooks included printed character lists, but some surviving texts include manuscript lists or printed lists that have been annotated.

The Folger Shakespeare Library

Jonson, Ben. Every Man in his Humour. London: [By S. Stafford] for Walter Burre. 1601. Shelfmark STC 14766 Copy 1. A printed character list with annotations.

Massinger, Philip. The Fatal Dowry. London: John Norton for Francis Constable. 1632. Shelfmark STC 17646 Copy 3. A printed character list with annotations.

Shakespeare, William. The Merry Wives of Windsor. First Folio. 1623. Shelfmark STC 22273 Fo.1 no.57. A partial character list with descriptions written on the final page of the play.

The Boston Public Library

[Middleton, Thomas.] The Revenger's Tragedy. London: By G[eorge]. Eld. 1607. Call #: RARE BKS G.3977.37 A character list with several descriptions written on the title page verso.

The Morgan Library & Museum

Shakespeare, William. King Lear. London: Printed for Nathaniel Butter. 1608 [1619]. Call Number: W 08 C MS character list on the title page verso.

University of Pennsylvania Libraries

Shakespeare, William. King John, Coriolanus, and Macbeth. First Folio. 1623. Shelfmark Folio PR2751 .A1 Character lists for these three plays were written in and later washed off. See the Provenance Online Project for more information and digital images.