I agree! I first skim a Shakespeare play ("pre-reading"), then I watch a Shakespeare play, and then I read the play in full. That's a great way to experience Shakespeare. And one can start almost anywhere (e.g. Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear). 😊
I grew up in a non English speaking country in the days when not only the internet but also video tapes had not been invented. But my English literature teacher made sure that we each had an audio tape of a recorded performance of Antony and Cleopatra when we were studying it. To this day I can begin reciting the play using the same tone of voice those actors used back then. It made all the difference. And I will never stop being grateful to that teacher for gifting me with a lifelong love for Shakespeare's words.
However I do understand about his work being ruined for students because they were introduced to it before they were ready. This has happened to me with a certain Greek author. I was forced to read his novel of rather grim subject matter and difficult language at the age of 14 when I was completely unprepared to appreciate him. And the result was that I promised myself not to read another word of Greek literature unless I had to. I kept that promise for more than twenty years before sense prevailed although I'm afraid it was too late to develop a real love for it.
You are speaking my language Steve. What a wonderful mountain to climb!! People often look at my strangely when I say that I read Shakespeare for fun. But his works are really something special and should be treasured. ((Shakespeare nut))
Great advice Steve. You nailed the heart of the problem, the association of Shakespeare with some school drudgery like algebra or science class. He's exposed to young people at an age when they're completely unprepared to understand this, and many of them become totally turned off for life, which is a terrible self-immolation. This MUST be addressed and overcome before anybody can begin to appreciate Shakespeare properly. The only thing I disagreed with was watching the plays before reading them. Many of his words are incomprehensible without footnotes; his scene transitions are often abrupt and confusing; the role and purpose of certain characters can leave the audience dumbfounded. All these frustrations evaporate if you read the play (and the introduction and the footnotes) first, then watch the play second. If watching on video, seek out versions that have the captions on the screen.
I absolutely agree that watching a performance of Shakespeare's plays help. I was one of those students who didn't care for Shakespeare's plays in high school. To this day, I am convinced that I was not taught them in the right way. I can't tell Macbeth from Hamlet. I've forgotten their respective plots. Perhaps, I was too young. But most recently I watched a Masterpiece Theater production of Richard III. It was incredible! That is what convinced me to try Shakespeare's histories. I figured I may like his histories more. Of course, in the next few weeks I will be reading all his plays. But the Masterpiece production inspired me to read Julius Caesar for booktubeathon. I enjoy reading plays, but Shakespeare needs the stage. LibriVox is an amazing free resource. So many excellent audiobooks are available for free.
Thank you for spelling LibriVox for me. I'm still terrible with new names after more than eleven years of listening to audiobooks and watching TV-shows in English.
I've read several Shakespeare plays and have actually enjoyed them, particularly Macbeth. I haven't seen it performed, but watching it on TH-cam sounds like a great idea. Thanks for the video as usual, Steve.
Absolutely spot on. There are so many admirers and upholders of Shakespeare’s work but so few who really understand it and the way it needs to be perceived. A similar thing happened in my case with Dickens as well.
Love the “Groundhog Day” reference 😬. The first step is a doozy alright. I appreciate the pep talk and great advice. When I lived in San Francisco, my friend introduced me to Shakespeare by asking me to join her family to a trip to Ashland; Oregon to participate in the Shakespeare Festival. Beautiful experience. Made a difference. You are absolutely right. Love Frida 💖. Love your content. Thank you.
I fell in love with Shakespeare when my grandfather took me to watch an outdoor performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream" in the grassy moat of Exeter's Rougemont Castle. It was a balmy, velvety summer evening, and the trees and Castle lit by spot lamps was a a magical experience. That evening I was hooked and grandad leant me a one volume Shakespeare, and when I was still reading it he bought me my own. I will always be grateful.
I love Shakespeare but I think it’s essential to have an edition that has a modern translation side by side. This helped me understand what he is saying plus it made me realize his genius with words.
I was the assistant manager at a movie theater in town back when Zeffirelli's production of Romeo and Juliet came out. One afternoon classes of high school students came to watch the film. In the beginning where Romeo makes his appearance in tights, I heard the boys in the audience laughing. When the movie ended, I positioned myself so I could watch them as they left. Many of the girls were crying and the boys were completely quiet with their heads tucked down. Hiding tears? The stories may be old but they still work. I have to admit, Steve, a couple of years ago I picked up Hamlet to read. The language was so impenetrable, I gave up on it. Of the fifteen plays mentioned that some BookTubers will be reading, I've seen productions of ten of the plays. I loved each of them. But, I do not know if I were to read the texts of them if I would understand the language. It's not impossible but it's ain't easy either!
I discovered Shakespeare at age 13 when watching on TV the Franco Zeffirelli movie of Romeo and Juliet. It changed my whole outlook on life. I read several plays, but the most influential experience of my life was seeing the first broadcast of Laurence Olivier's King Lear ate age 19. I remember asking God that more than anything- a great romantic relationship with a man, fame, wealth, power, long life- more than anything, I wanted to write like Shakespeare. My way of going through the plays was to check out the Caedmon version of the Shakespeare plays made in the 1960s with the creme de la creme of British stage actors- I would check out a play from the library, listen to the LPs, then read the entire play- including footnotes- in the Louis Wright and Virginia Lamar Folger Shakespeare series. Then I would listen to the entire play again. Then go on to the next Shakespeare play. All the plays weren't available in the library, and I ended up buying many on LPs at a decent price in used bookstores. I have read every Shakespeare play and the Sonnets- some many times. To end, I would say the three greatest men who ever lived were 1) St.Paul 2) William Shakespeare 3) Abraham Lincoln. Thanks for your video!
I have to read ALL of Shakespeare? If only there was some sort of Booktube event that could help me get started. Some kind of Speare-Tube or, Shake-Along.
A Shake-along sounds rather fun. I adore Shakespeare, the fellow could really swish them through the hoops. If ever you start a shakeathon give me a nudge, I will happily join in.😀❤🎩
I always enjoyed Shakespeare in school, and I thank any and all higher powers that my 10th grade English teacher didn't have him on her curriculum. That woman ruined so many classic authors for me. I still cringe at the titles of some of the books we read in her class because of her method of "teaching" them. However, one of my favorite field trips in school was to see A Midsummer Night's Dream on stage. It was so much fun, and I got completely sucked into the drama on stage.
oh yes sweating through a three hour exam, with Shakespeare being the main subject, and knowing that this exam result will determine University Entrance - or not. *shudder* On to the positive, 15 years later in Auckland NZ for the past two summers we have had the 'Pop-Up Globe'. Constructed out of scaffolding but in the exact dimensions of the first open air Globe they put on a 'season' of various Shakespeare plays. They have been the highlight of my summer. The seats, three tiers high, are so close and they have 'groundling' tickets for $10 that you buy on the day of that lets you stand in front of the stage and watch and the actors will come down into the standing crowd and perform some of the scenes. It's amazing!!
I've been trying to decide on a complete works of Shakespeare, but I can't decide on an edition. Is there one you recommend? What is the edition you have?
I hated Shakespeare at school. I then saw Hamlet at the RSC when I was 16 and became a Shakey fan girl. The live theatre broadcasts into cinemas worldwide are worth seeing. I was surprised at how you do feel like you are there.
Agree to disagree! I found the best way was to get the Oxford complete works (less distractions than a signet), read the play, and then either watch a movie, or the BBC version if there is no movie. At the same time, I would read the chapter of Isaac Asimovs book ( never heard this mentioned, but it's a good intro).
I have always found Shakespeare to be rather uneven. Many of his plays are indeed among the finest works of literature in English, but then there is Cymbeline.
A lot of the later ones are fairly middling. Cymbeline, Pericles, Timon of Athens, etc. Some great lines but nowhere near as accomplished as his early-to-middle period.
Whatho. Hope you don't mind my chipping in like this. You may already have chosen your way into Shakespeare by now, but in case someone else reads your comment I thought I might give some recommendations. Romeo and Juliet may sound obvious, but it is one of the plays which are good to start with. However, often overlooked are his histories. Richard III and Henry V are marvellous plays with beautiful speeches and gloriously inspiring language. Also, one can look up the history separately and know what is going on. Macbeth is good too. Just don't rush yourself. As your ear becomes attuned to the 17th century speech, Shakespeare becomes much easier. Wishing you all the best.😀🎩❤
@@tristanandtheclassics6538 Thank you) Romeo and Juliet is my favorite so far. I think not to rush yourself is a good advice. Every September during Shaketube event I try to read everything all the hosts are reading and I'm running out of fuel at the end, not enjoying the plays I was looking forward to reading.
@@elenamakridina8196 It isn't hard to see why Romeo and Juliet is so famous is it? Totally understand the fatigue trying to read everything the hosts are reading. That is a small negative side effect of readalong tags. I like to think of Shakespeare is like Michelin food, it is to be read to be enjoyed and savoured. Often, when doing a video on Shakespeare, I only look at a single speech. Appreciating just a snippet of the bard can be more than reading a whole book. I beg your pardon, I am beginning to go on a bit. Do you have a favourite genre or author?😀🎩❤
@@tristanandtheclassics6538 Oh, unfortunately, I'm not very sophisticated)) It's detective stories. Right now SPQR by John Maddox Roberts is my favourite mystery series.
@@elenamakridina8196 That doesn't make you unsophisticated at all. Im certainly not sophisticated, just ask my wife and kids😂 Detective stories are the best. I remember reading And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie in the early hours, during a gale. Every noise convinced me and my wife that someone was coming to murder us in our bed🤣🤣🤣 Harlen Coben is an author i enjoy. I haven't read SPQR but hear it is quite the read from friends.
I was taught a play every year by the British education system from the age of 11 (starting with Macbeth? seems an odd choice) and was truly bored by him until later returned with autonomy. That being said I think there is value in teaching him so thoroughly in schools because even as a kid I never had the idea I ''couldn't understand'' the language and was never intimidated by the volume/prestige after having it drip fed.
I really would learn to love Shakespeare but the language is just so hard to decipher what he means and whats going on that it puts me off before Ive gone 5 pages.
Hello Zoe, I just read your comment here. I hope that you found get to learn Shakespeare. He is very worth it. May I encourage you, if you haven't already, to simply start with some of his speeches. Don't worry about the whole play. Coming to grips with one speech is a wonder that will lift your whole being. His lyricism is majestic but as you say, it is archaic at times. Start with some famous speeches. You will be glad you did.😀🎩❤
Hi Steve,Please don't keep us in suspense! At marker 2:39 you state that "...who, for all his faults, may very well be the most gifted single author in the history of the world."What are these faults? Please, please.
Reading Shakespeare is sometimes so blah. But watching Shakespeare (with the original dialogue intact) with actors talented enough to know what they're doing is the best. Shakes is supposed to be heard, not read imo.
Steve, I love watching the plays, I've even acted out a couple of plays but I have such a hard time reading him! 10th grade English teacher completely ruined Macbeth for me 😩😩 but I will give him another chance.... in the future... for your sake
Just stumbled upon this series via Adam's video at Memento Mori. I have gone through your playlist and hope I am not missing any. Is this the 7th in this series? And how many do you anticipate being in the series? I have a few of the books you have been mentioning, some by the translator of your choice and some that I struggled with but will now purchase in the translation of your choice. Thank you.
Being forced to watch Shakespeare plays as a child made me dislike live theater. Actors standing there semi frozen while another actor recites long dense passages from memory seemed quite bizarre. I did some professional acting as child and was taught that "All acting is reacting" -- but what I saw in Shakespeare plays was actors who had to extend a reaction for as long as a soliloquy goes on. The convoluted sentence structure, the ancient references don't connect with a live audience. Some masochist performed the entire 5+ hour Macbeth text! Most live performances edit the text and speak fast. Making a 9 year-old listen for hours to stuff like, for example: "He [Antonio] being thus lorded, not only with what my revenue yielded but what my power might else exact, like one who, having into truth by telling of it, made such a sinner of his memory to credit his own lie, he did believe he was indeed the duke, out o’ th’ substitution and executing th’ outward face of royalty, with all prerogative." is child abuse. As an adult I have read Shakespeare and it reads well if you don't mind overly long sentences with multiple tangents set off by commas like legal contracts. Clearly many of the texts from the folio editions were not what was performed on stage. They are way too long for performance. We know that live theater, performed just outside the walls of London, was limited to about 2 hours, about 2,000 lines of text. I also see more clearly that the snobbery of many of the plays would not have been popular with "groundlings" as is frequently asserted. Shakespeare characters who most closely align with groundlings are the butt of many of the jokes and are given disparaging names. Shakespeare as we have it, was written to be read by elitists; not to be performed live for children of modest means.
![[FULL EP.16] เซียนพาลุย "เผือก-ฟรอยด์" กรี๊ดลั่น จนปูหนี | เฮ็ดอย่างเซียนหรั่ง | One Playground](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/FsqUvwS3b-Y/mqdefault.jpg)
I agree! I first skim a Shakespeare play ("pre-reading"), then I watch a Shakespeare play, and then I read the play in full. That's a great way to experience Shakespeare. And one can start almost anywhere (e.g. Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear). 😊
I grew up in a non English speaking country in the days when not only the internet but also video tapes had not been invented. But my English literature teacher made sure that we each had an audio tape of a recorded performance of Antony and Cleopatra when we were studying it. To this day I can begin reciting the play using the same tone of voice those actors used back then. It made all the difference. And I will never stop being grateful to that teacher for gifting me with a lifelong love for Shakespeare's words.
However I do understand about his work being ruined for students because they were introduced to it before they were ready. This has happened to me with a certain Greek author. I was forced to read his novel of rather grim subject matter and difficult language at the age of 14 when I was completely unprepared to appreciate him. And the result was that I promised myself not to read another word of Greek literature unless I had to. I kept that promise for more than twenty years before sense prevailed although I'm afraid it was too late to develop a real love for it.
You are speaking my language Steve. What a wonderful mountain to climb!!
People often look at my strangely when I say that I read Shakespeare for fun. But his works are really something special and should be treasured. ((Shakespeare nut))
"So how many penguin classics do you own?"
Steve: Yes!
Great advice Steve. You nailed the heart of the problem, the association of Shakespeare with some school drudgery like algebra or science class. He's exposed to young people at an age when they're completely unprepared to understand this, and many of them become totally turned off for life, which is a terrible self-immolation. This MUST be addressed and overcome before anybody can begin to appreciate Shakespeare properly. The only thing I disagreed with was watching the plays before reading them. Many of his words are incomprehensible without footnotes; his scene transitions are often abrupt and confusing; the role and purpose of certain characters can leave the audience dumbfounded. All these frustrations evaporate if you read the play (and the introduction and the footnotes) first, then watch the play second. If watching on video, seek out versions that have the captions on the screen.
I absolutely agree that watching a performance of Shakespeare's plays help. I was one of those students who didn't care for Shakespeare's plays in high school. To this day, I am convinced that I was not taught them in the right way. I can't tell Macbeth from Hamlet. I've forgotten their respective plots. Perhaps, I was too young. But most recently I watched a Masterpiece Theater production of Richard III. It was incredible! That is what convinced me to try Shakespeare's histories. I figured I may like his histories more. Of course, in the next few weeks I will be reading all his plays. But the Masterpiece production inspired me to read Julius Caesar for booktubeathon. I enjoy reading plays, but Shakespeare needs the stage. LibriVox is an amazing free resource. So many excellent audiobooks are available for free.
Thank you for spelling LibriVox for me. I'm still terrible with new names after more than eleven years of listening to audiobooks and watching TV-shows in English.
I've read several Shakespeare plays and have actually enjoyed them, particularly Macbeth. I haven't seen it performed, but watching it on TH-cam sounds like a great idea. Thanks for the video as usual, Steve.
Absolutely spot on. There are so many admirers and upholders of Shakespeare’s work but so few who really understand it and the way it needs to be perceived. A similar thing happened in my case with Dickens as well.
Love the “Groundhog Day” reference 😬. The first step is a doozy alright. I appreciate the pep talk and great advice. When I lived in San Francisco, my friend introduced me to Shakespeare by asking me to join her family to a trip to Ashland; Oregon to participate in the Shakespeare Festival. Beautiful experience. Made a difference. You are absolutely right. Love Frida 💖. Love your content. Thank you.
I fell in love with Shakespeare when my grandfather took me to watch an outdoor performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream" in the grassy moat of Exeter's Rougemont Castle. It was a balmy, velvety summer evening, and the trees and Castle lit by spot lamps was a a magical experience. That evening I was hooked and grandad leant me a one volume Shakespeare, and when I was still reading it he bought me my own. I will always be grateful.
I love Shakespeare but I think it’s essential to have an edition that has a modern translation side by side. This helped me understand what he is saying plus it made me realize his genius with words.
I was the assistant manager at a movie theater in town back when Zeffirelli's production of Romeo and Juliet came out. One afternoon classes of high school students came to watch the film. In the beginning where Romeo makes his appearance in tights, I heard the boys in the audience laughing. When the movie ended, I positioned myself so I could watch them as they left. Many of the girls were crying and the boys were completely quiet with their heads tucked down. Hiding tears? The stories may be old but they still work.
I have to admit, Steve, a couple of years ago I picked up Hamlet to read. The language was so impenetrable, I gave up on it. Of the fifteen plays mentioned that some BookTubers will be reading, I've seen productions of ten of the plays. I loved each of them. But, I do not know if I were to read the texts of them if I would understand the language. It's not impossible but it's ain't easy either!
Get study guide versions or better yet annotated versions. Pretty much translates the text for you as you go.
Good suggestion!
I discovered Shakespeare at age 13 when watching on TV the Franco Zeffirelli movie of Romeo and Juliet. It changed my whole outlook on life. I read several plays, but the most influential experience of my life was seeing the first broadcast of Laurence Olivier's King Lear ate age 19. I remember asking God that more than anything- a great romantic relationship with a man, fame, wealth, power, long life- more than anything, I wanted to write like Shakespeare. My way of going through the plays was to check out the Caedmon version of the Shakespeare plays made in the 1960s with the creme de la creme of British stage actors- I would check out a play from the library, listen to the LPs, then read the entire play- including footnotes- in the Louis Wright and Virginia Lamar Folger Shakespeare series. Then I would listen to the entire play again. Then go on to the next Shakespeare play. All the plays weren't available in the library, and I ended up buying many on LPs at a decent price in used bookstores. I have read every Shakespeare play and the Sonnets- some many times. To end, I would say the three greatest men who ever lived were 1) St.Paul 2) William Shakespeare 3) Abraham Lincoln. Thanks for your video!
On Librivox, they also perform the songs, which was so unexpected and wonderful!
I have to read ALL of Shakespeare? If only there was some sort of Booktube event that could help me get started. Some kind of Speare-Tube or, Shake-Along.
A Shake-along sounds rather fun. I adore Shakespeare, the fellow could really swish them through the hoops. If ever you start a shakeathon give me a nudge, I will happily join in.😀❤🎩
I always enjoyed Shakespeare in school, and I thank any and all higher powers that my 10th grade English teacher didn't have him on her curriculum. That woman ruined so many classic authors for me. I still cringe at the titles of some of the books we read in her class because of her method of "teaching" them. However, one of my favorite field trips in school was to see A Midsummer Night's Dream on stage. It was so much fun, and I got completely sucked into the drama on stage.
oh yes sweating through a three hour exam, with Shakespeare being the main subject, and knowing that this exam result will determine University Entrance - or not. *shudder*
On to the positive, 15 years later in Auckland NZ for the past two summers we have had the 'Pop-Up Globe'. Constructed out of scaffolding but in the exact dimensions of the first open air Globe they put on a 'season' of various Shakespeare plays. They have been the highlight of my summer. The seats, three tiers high, are so close and they have 'groundling' tickets for $10 that you buy on the day of that lets you stand in front of the stage and watch and the actors will come down into the standing crowd and perform some of the scenes. It's amazing!!
Yes, that whole exam thing does take the Polish off ones enjoyment, doesn't it?😂😀🎩
I've been trying to decide on a complete works of Shakespeare, but I can't decide on an edition. Is there one you recommend? What is the edition you have?
This is all just History Steve.
I hated Shakespeare at school. I then saw Hamlet at the RSC when I was 16 and became a Shakey fan girl. The live theatre broadcasts into cinemas worldwide are worth seeing. I was surprised at how you do feel like you are there.
Tis a too often repeated story. The School syllabus has a lot to answer for. Pleased you became a Shakey fan girl.😂
Agree to disagree! I found the best way was to get the Oxford complete works (less distractions than a signet), read the play, and then either watch a movie, or the BBC version if there is no movie.
At the same time, I would read the chapter of Isaac Asimovs book ( never heard this mentioned, but it's a good intro).
Awesome idea. Thx
I have always found Shakespeare to be rather uneven. Many of his plays are indeed among the finest works of literature in English, but then there is Cymbeline.
A lot of the later ones are fairly middling. Cymbeline, Pericles, Timon of Athens, etc. Some great lines but nowhere near as accomplished as his early-to-middle period.
You know, I am 3 hours away from the Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City. You just gave me to push to go.
Could you tell what your most favourite works of Shakespeare are. Thank you for introducing me to LibriVox.
Whatho. Hope you don't mind my chipping in like this. You may already have chosen your way into Shakespeare by now, but in case someone else reads your comment I thought I might give some recommendations.
Romeo and Juliet may sound obvious, but it is one of the plays which are good to start with. However, often overlooked are his histories. Richard III and Henry V are marvellous plays with beautiful speeches and gloriously inspiring language. Also, one can look up the history separately and know what is going on. Macbeth is good too. Just don't rush yourself. As your ear becomes attuned to the 17th century speech, Shakespeare becomes much easier. Wishing you all the best.😀🎩❤
@@tristanandtheclassics6538 Thank you) Romeo and Juliet is my favorite so far. I think not to rush yourself is a good advice. Every September during Shaketube event I try to read everything all the hosts are reading and I'm running out of fuel at the end, not enjoying the plays I was looking forward to reading.
@@elenamakridina8196 It isn't hard to see why Romeo and Juliet is so famous is it?
Totally understand the fatigue trying to read everything the hosts are reading. That is a small negative side effect of readalong tags. I like to think of Shakespeare is like Michelin food, it is to be read to be enjoyed and savoured.
Often, when doing a video on Shakespeare, I only look at a single speech. Appreciating just a snippet of the bard can be more than reading a whole book.
I beg your pardon, I am beginning to go on a bit. Do you have a favourite genre or author?😀🎩❤
@@tristanandtheclassics6538 Oh, unfortunately, I'm not very sophisticated)) It's detective stories. Right now SPQR by John Maddox Roberts is my favourite mystery series.
@@elenamakridina8196 That doesn't make you unsophisticated at all. Im certainly not sophisticated, just ask my wife and kids😂
Detective stories are the best. I remember reading And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie in the early hours, during a gale. Every noise convinced me and my wife that someone was coming to murder us in our bed🤣🤣🤣 Harlen Coben is an author i enjoy.
I haven't read SPQR but hear it is quite the read from friends.
I was taught a play every year by the British education system from the age of 11 (starting with Macbeth? seems an odd choice) and was truly bored by him until later returned with autonomy. That being said I think there is value in teaching him so thoroughly in schools because even as a kid I never had the idea I ''couldn't understand'' the language and was never intimidated by the volume/prestige after having it drip fed.
I really would learn to love Shakespeare but the language is just so hard to decipher what he means and whats going on that it puts me off before Ive gone 5 pages.
Hello Zoe, I just read your comment here. I hope that you found get to learn Shakespeare. He is very worth it. May I encourage you, if you haven't already, to simply start with some of his speeches. Don't worry about the whole play. Coming to grips with one speech is a wonder that will lift your whole being. His lyricism is majestic but as you say, it is archaic at times. Start with some famous speeches. You will be glad you did.😀🎩❤
Hi Steve,Please don't keep us in suspense! At marker 2:39 you state that "...who, for all his faults, may very well be the most gifted single author in the history of the world."What are these faults? Please, please.
What's your opinion on reading the modern translation versions of his plays?
Reading Shakespeare is sometimes so blah. But watching Shakespeare (with the original dialogue intact) with actors talented enough to know what they're doing is the best. Shakes is supposed to be heard, not read imo.
Watch the GB production of Twelfth Night with Richard Bryers... It's the best
Steve, I love watching the plays, I've even acted out a couple of plays but I have such a hard time reading him! 10th grade English teacher completely ruined Macbeth for me 😩😩 but I will give him another chance.... in the future... for your sake
Just stumbled upon this series via Adam's video at Memento Mori. I have gone through your playlist and hope I am not missing any. Is this the 7th in this series? And how many do you anticipate being in the series? I have a few of the books you have been mentioning, some by the translator of your choice and some that I struggled with but will now purchase in the translation of your choice. Thank you.
What's shulls and keys about n ghost empire will u part with them
Being forced to watch Shakespeare plays as a child made me dislike live theater. Actors standing there semi frozen while another actor recites long dense passages from memory seemed quite bizarre. I did some professional acting as child and was taught that "All acting is reacting" -- but what I saw in Shakespeare plays was actors who had to extend a reaction for as long as a soliloquy goes on. The convoluted sentence structure, the ancient references don't connect with a live audience. Some masochist performed the entire 5+ hour Macbeth text! Most live performances edit the text and speak fast. Making a 9 year-old listen for hours to stuff like, for example: "He [Antonio] being thus lorded, not only with what my revenue yielded but what my power might else exact, like one who, having into truth by telling of it, made such a sinner of his memory to credit his own lie, he did believe he was indeed the duke, out o’ th’ substitution and executing th’ outward face of royalty, with all prerogative." is child abuse.
As an adult I have read Shakespeare and it reads well if you don't mind overly long sentences with multiple tangents set off by commas like legal contracts. Clearly many of the texts from the folio editions were not what was performed on stage. They are way too long for performance. We know that live theater, performed just outside the walls of London, was limited to about 2 hours, about 2,000 lines of text. I also see more clearly that the snobbery of many of the plays would not have been popular with "groundlings" as is frequently asserted. Shakespeare characters who most closely align with groundlings are the butt of many of the jokes and are given disparaging names.
Shakespeare as we have it, was written to be read by elitists; not to be performed live for children of modest means.
God I hated Romeo and Juliet in High School....