Post by Doc Quantum on Jan 20, 2014 18:31:08 GMT -6
I've been obsessing over Shakespeare lately. This happens every few years, when I pull out my gigantic tome of the Complete Works of William Shakespeare, which my dad bought when he was at university in the 1950s/1960s, and which I now own.
There's just something about the Bard's plays that really speaks to me. I know a lot of the language is difficult, but part of the fun for me is carefully reading the plays and pulling apart its meaning. Reading Shakespeare definitely increases your vocabulary!
Of course, there's nothing like seeing Shakespeare performed, either on stage or in film. Many of the world's greatest actors have played roles in various Shakespeare plays. I recently learned that David Tennant and Patrick Stewart did a version of Hamlet in 2009 that I really want to check out sometime soon.
My wife and I are alike in most ways, but this is one of the things we differ on. She hates Shakespeare, saying it reminds her of how she was forced to study it in school. I think, if she'd had the English teachers/professors I'd had, she might have a different point of view on that. Or maybe not. I've always loved writing, and Shakespeare's plots, characterizations, and dialogue challenge me on that score. My wife doesn't write, so maybe she just hasn't found anything to identify with in the plays. She loves Harry Potter, though. If there is ever a Shakespeare play done in the style of Harry Potter, please let me know -- that would interest us both.
There's just something about the Bard's plays that really speaks to me. I know a lot of the language is difficult, but part of the fun for me is carefully reading the plays and pulling apart its meaning. Reading Shakespeare definitely increases your vocabulary!
Of course, there's nothing like seeing Shakespeare performed, either on stage or in film. Many of the world's greatest actors have played roles in various Shakespeare plays. I recently learned that David Tennant and Patrick Stewart did a version of Hamlet in 2009 that I really want to check out sometime soon.
My wife and I are alike in most ways, but this is one of the things we differ on. She hates Shakespeare, saying it reminds her of how she was forced to study it in school. I think, if she'd had the English teachers/professors I'd had, she might have a different point of view on that. Or maybe not. I've always loved writing, and Shakespeare's plots, characterizations, and dialogue challenge me on that score. My wife doesn't write, so maybe she just hasn't found anything to identify with in the plays. She loves Harry Potter, though. If there is ever a Shakespeare play done in the style of Harry Potter, please let me know -- that would interest us both.
were you a fan of any of the films based on shakespeare? i don't think i've liked any of them that much. i guess "a midsummer's nights dream" (with rupert Everett & allie mcbeal) was pretty good. i've always liked the idea that's incredibly bad luck to say "macbeth" in a theater. 
