It is useful to be aware of the intrinsic differences between all the critical writings, each having been researched and produced with a certain public and purpose in mind, and consciously or unconsciously incorporating certain theoretical presuppositions or even value judgements and ideological positions. The main objective of the present essay, then, is to sketch a bird’s eye view of the whole field which gives as much attention to such differences at the descriptive level as to the variety which characterises the historical practices of Shakespeare translators.