Romeo and Juliet
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Shakespeare: Why Do We Read It?
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Oh, that is such a great question Eliza! Why indeed? Well, I think it is because his topics still hold relevance for us. No matter who you are, you have experienced some aspect of a Shakespearian play. I have always been drawn to the Elizabethan/ Jacobian time period also.
Here are a couple of reasons:1. His influence on the English language. So many words, phrases, and quotes made their way into English from Shakespeare.
2. His influence on other authors. Understanding Shakespeare and allusions to his work is important to understanding other works.
3. His balanced and well-preserved canon. Tragedies, comedies, histories, and sonnets. We have a good depth of works that are mostly of consistently high quality. A recent Goodreads poll asked for members' favorite Shakespeare play. I noted that almost all his plays were mentioned by someone.
Thank you, Christine! :)Very true, both of you.
On another discussion, someone mentioned that people don't read Shakespeare for the plot or the characters, and I wondered why one would feel that way. Doesn't a reader look at the whole picture?
I'm currently on a project to read (of course, in some cases, re-read) all of Shakespeare's plays. I'm working off the Norton 4-part volumes, and have just the Comedies left.Why do I read Shakespeare? The number one reason is the language. His use of English is amazing. Speeches in Richard III or Julius Caesar will stop you in your tracks. They're just that good.
As a not-so-close second comes character development. Shakespeare's characters are sometimes well-developed and quite compelling. This is not always the case. Where he shines is in those plays where a historical figure or legend (Hamlet, The Scottish Play, the histories, Lear, and so on) is used as a foundation for examining the human condition.
Plot? Eh, who cares? He ripped off most of his plots anyways.
With the Bard, it's all in the telling.
I agree with all comments, especially with Mel's reply. Shakespeare travels across centuries because he succeeded where Guildenstern and Rosencrantz failed. He's a virtuoso of 'human nature' and plays it in all its nuances, fearless to plumb its marvellous depths. And humanity hopefully evolves but never changes.
... because it is sheer genious craft.
Because the language is a clever, sensuous dance independent of time and space
Shakespeare shows and tells us all aspects of what it is to be 'Human' - and in a wonderful language.
Eliza wrote: "Thank you, Christine! :)Very true, both of you.
On another discussion, someone mentioned that people don't read Shakespeare for the plot or the characters, and I wondered why one would feel that..."
We definitely care about the characters! (At least I do.) I care about the plot also. Language is great, but really, I do not think anyone would read something for language alone.
Christine wrote: "Eliza wrote: "Thank you, Christine! :)Very true, both of you.
On another discussion, someone mentioned that people don't read Shakespeare for the plot or the characters, and I wondered why one w..."
That's exactly what I thought! :)
Christine wrote: but really, I do not think anyone would read something for language alone. "..."Er, poetry?
Although it could be argued that nobody actually reads poetry, despite the legions of people who write it.
But doesn't every poem have a message? Or at least a story?But then there's William Carlos Williams writing about plums in the fridge. . .
For me, reading Shakespeare comes down to the understanding that has not changed in five centuries. He manages to write the bitterest things a person can feel and turn them into something beautiful. When I read Shakespeare, I feel less alone.
Mkfs wrote: "Christine wrote: but really, I do not think anyone would read something for language alone. "..."Er, poetry?
Although it could be argued that nobody actually reads poetry, despite the legions of..."
I read poetry! Yes, the language can be great in poetry, but also there should (must) be some kind of story/ message to keep it interesting. Poems of Shakespeare have story and message.
WCW and those plums in the fridge? Well, there is a meaning there (many meanings!!)
Mel wrote: "1. His influence on the English language. So many words, phrases, and quotes made their way into English from Shakespeare.2. His influence on other authors. Understanding Shakespeare and allusions to his work is important to understanding other works."
I was going to say these exact things. Additionally, he was a major influence on other renowned authors. There is so very much to be gleaned from reading and examining Shakespeare's plays and sonnets. To not appreciate the wide scope of his influence is an injustice, regardless of whether one personally likes or dislikes his work.
It is beautiful to read and the other thing that captivates me most are his characters. His characters are so human, that is, you can pretty much connect to almost all his characters on some level. You don't have to be a evil person to appreciate Lady Macbeth's ambition,know that feeling of being trapped in a situation like Hamlet; despise Iago for his jealousy because you know you or anyone can be just that manipulative and cruel if we wanted to. The language itself is exquisite, but there also so much more to his stories that make you think and reflect on his honest perception of human nature.
Christine wrote: "We definitely care about the characters! (At least I do.) I care about the plot also. Language is great, but really, I do not think anyone would read something for language alone."In fact, I cannot read them in English at all (I tried a few times, gave up frustrated and went back to my translation).
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What else draws us to Shakespeare's work? Why, all these years later, are we still reading?