Shakespeare - to read or not to read - that is the question
Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.
~William Shakespeare
Late may be upon me, but too late is yet to come.
Today as I was driving home from my pesky workout,I had a thought that struck me, perhaps pure intelligence flowing through my bones...
I ought to read Shakespeare!
I think I heard an ad on the the radio about the Shakespearean Festival coming up, and I wondered why it was I haven't read Shakespeare.
I did sort of read Othello in high school. I remember more what my teacher said about it than I do of the words in the book. But I recall the life lessons and instructions that the teacher taught from the words in the book. Words, when combined with great thought, create wisdom for our souls. And Shakespeare had a way with words.
Or so I have been told as I have not read too many of his works.
So - late or not, I think it is time to open up a good book and glean from the experience of the so called master. To hear the fine tuned phrasing of an art that is long waning. To educate in the art of literature.
If nothing else, at least I can then say I read him. Can you?
Cheers,
Nathan
~William Shakespeare
Late may be upon me, but too late is yet to come.
Today as I was driving home from my pesky workout,I had a thought that struck me, perhaps pure intelligence flowing through my bones...
I ought to read Shakespeare!
I think I heard an ad on the the radio about the Shakespearean Festival coming up, and I wondered why it was I haven't read Shakespeare.
I did sort of read Othello in high school. I remember more what my teacher said about it than I do of the words in the book. But I recall the life lessons and instructions that the teacher taught from the words in the book. Words, when combined with great thought, create wisdom for our souls. And Shakespeare had a way with words.
Or so I have been told as I have not read too many of his works.
So - late or not, I think it is time to open up a good book and glean from the experience of the so called master. To hear the fine tuned phrasing of an art that is long waning. To educate in the art of literature.
If nothing else, at least I can then say I read him. Can you?
Cheers,
Nathan
I've read a few: Othello, Henry V, and The taming of the Shrew. Othello is definitely the easiest to understand in my opinion, but Henry V was my favorite.It's been years and like you I'm not sure I even remember what happens in each.
ReplyDeleteYep, and love it! In college I took two or three(?) Shakespeare courses, after falling in love with him in HS, and I remember we were reading aloud (a comedy- which one slips my mind), and I was the only one who laughed (outside of the instructor, of course) -- the only one who "got it." I couldn't understand why the rest of the class didn't see the humor. Too wrapped up in the wording??? And as I age (gracefully, of course) I realize he knew more about life and people that I ever thought possible while in those college courses.
ReplyDeleteKeep on reading, and go to the plays (or get them through Netflix - there are a couple of good ones out there - Much Ado About Nothing (1993 version) with Kenneth Branagh (who has made several Shakespeare movies, including Hamlet) Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington and many other well-knowns. Fun to watch & good intro for older kids too.)