Since it’s still the month of love, I thought I’d rank Shakespearean couples and see if the allegation is true that Shakespeare has no good married couples. Naturally, this is my opinion, but I will try to back my opinions up with quotations and moments from the plots. Let me know what you think!

S Tier- the Super Couples

My criteria for the best couples in Shakespeare are this:

1. Trust
2. Mutual respect and affection
3. Devotion, or as Shakespeare puts it “Love is not love, which alters when it alteration finds.”

A Tier- the ones who Passed the Test

Couples in this tier all tried and failed at first- Orsino spent years mooning over Olivia not able to see how wonderful Viola is. Lysander drops Hermia for Helena, (but to be fair, that was Puck’s fault, not his). At the end though, all these lovers reconcile and are better people for their trials and tribulations.

B Tier- Affection, but no devotion

Couples in B-tier are passionate and willing to break rules, laws, and sometimes necks for their loves. However, as Friar Laurence says “These violent delights have violent ends.” Every couple in B-tier ultimately fails to create a lasting relationship.

C Tier- The ones hanging by a thread

All the C-couples have some very toxic traits. Claudius hates Gertrude’s son and murdered his own brother, so his relationship with his wife/ sister-in-law is ultimately doomed. Hamlet has little to no respect for Ophelia and flies into mysygenistic rage at the slightest provocation. Even Demetrius, who is magically compelled to love Helena forever, has a history of loving women, and then abandoning them. Who’s to say he won’t get hit by the arrow again, and throw Helena off?

D Tier- Actively ABusive/ A Relationship Based on lies

I truly despise Taming Of the Shrew, or as I like to call it, Stockholm Syndrome: The Play. The men in D-tier (and Phoebe in the case of As You Like It) are controlling, abusive, cruel, and pathological liars. They don’t want a partner, so much as a toy to beat around when they feel like it.

Special Mention- Cordelia and the King of France from “King Lear”

These guys might be low key the best couple in Shakespeare. The King of France marries Cordelia and comes to her defense after her father disowns her and humiliates him. Based on this, you can tell he doesn’t care about her title or her dowry (“Thy truth then be thy dower. Thou hast her France, let her be thine, for we have no such daughter.”

Not only that, France goes with Cordelia and lends her an army to recapture England for Lear! Clearly this guy loves Cordelia and is ride or die on making her happy.

Special Mention- Antony and Cleopatra

I know they are an iconic couple, but I think Antony and Cleopatra are a very toxic pair. When I first read the play, I hated Cleopatra for leading Antony on and mocking and teasing him every chance she got. Now I hate Antony for his selfishness. Cleopatra is trying to save her sons, her kingdom, and her family’s legacy and he is throwing away everything just to appease his own ego. He also shames Cleopatra for her promiscuity, which is extremely hypocritical coming from him. This couple is clearly in need of MASSIVE counseling, and I pity poor Enobarbus and Charmian for getting caught in their drama.

I hope you enjoyed this tier list. One pattern I noticed in all these plays is that every couple in Shakespeare is tested, whether through magic, deceit, long journeys, or just jealousy. Shakespeare does a good job of showing how young love is beautiful and exciting, but real love is based on respect and the will to choose your partner in spite of obstacles.