My Opinion of Shakespeare

   Scythrop Glowry on Mar 5 07:36:54

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If you want to hear Shakespeare praised, open a volume of his works or look up an analysis of them online. If you want to hear him called worthless trash, there are likely several individuals around you willing to oblige. You will get neither view from me. You will find my outlook on Shakespeare almost as balanced as my outlook on Jane Austen (though I find Jane Austen much more entertaining).

I find Shakespeare quite easy to read...I almost said that I found it often dull, but that's not quite true. I didn't find it dull, I just didn't find it exciting either. Someone once called Shakespeare timeless...that's absurd, prejudiced poppycock. I will give Shakespeare this much: he must have put a great deal of real work into meter. But that's just not enough to make it entertaining.

Of the three Shakespear plays I've read, MacBeth was the least entertaining...though it wasn't quite dull.

As You Like It was not how I like it. It had some slightly funny moments but it made no sense...not the language, but the plot. Can you possibly imagine why a girl would pretend to be someone else pretending to be herself in order to make the man she wishes to marry (and does marry) come to hate the idea of marrying her? He was in love with her, she was in love with him, they were languishing for each other, they were safe...why wouldn't she throw off her first disguise and marry the man, instead of teaching him not to be in love?

Julius Caesar had a little power to it. I enjoyed it at first, but it got old.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is the one I liked. It wasn't great, but I enjoyed it.

My opinion of Shakespeare is that he is overrated, but has some merit. I recommend A Midsummer Night's Dream for those who like humor, and Julius Ceasar for those who like great speaches. Keep your expectations low. You might find something to quote. Whether or not you do, you are likely to find satisfaction in knowing the background for various references in literature and television.

#1

Carl Milsted, Jr on Mar 5, 2023 9:57 AM
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Cassius has a lean and hungry look.
I trust not that man.
Give me fat men with sleek heads
Such that sleep at nights.

I had to use the code tag to set the lines -- which are probably incorrect. I am working from memory. Should probably ad a poem tag...

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#2

Sue Obermeit on Mar 26, 2023 9:37 AM
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I agree about A Midsummer Night's Dream. I saw a college drama production of it and enjoyed it immensely.

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#3

Stephen J. Douglass on Mar 27, 2023 9:14 PM
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Carl and I have an online friend who has written a really amazing book about Old English. I think I'm going to send it to the Milsted house to see what Lorien thinks of it. The Peregrine and the Rune

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#4

Scythrop Glowry on Jun 18, 2023 1:57 PM
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There are two places where, to my delight since I had read the play, I saw As You Like It referenced. One was in the wonderful anime My Daddy Long-legs , when they were putting on a play of it, and one was just today reading Silverlock .

It proved to me that it was worth it to read As You Like It even if the play itself wasn't great.

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