Shakespeare makes life better.
I love stuff like this. Quick, which of the following words or phrases can be traced back to Shakespeare: handkerchief, nincompoop, tchotchke, or gild the lily?
Answer, courtesy Times Argus: Vermont News & Information
I actually have a whole book of Shakespeare’s invented words kicking around someplace, I’ll have to go dig it out of the attic.
I would never have known about this series of books if not for the friend who gave it to me as a gift. Lost in a Good Book, by Jasper Fforde, is probably the first science fiction / historical literature crossover I’ve ever encountered. Imagine a world where not only is it possible to travel through time, but also to jump directly into the pages of classic literature. Imagine a world where Richard III is performed Rocky Horror style where the audience dresses up like their favorite characters and shouts out the lines. Thursday Next is a “literary detective” in this world, typically following up on misdemeanors such as over-zealous performances of the Fool in King Lear. But when Archeron Hades, super villain, starts stealing and killing characters from works of literature, she’s put on the case.
There are several books in the series, I’ve read the first two — The Eyre Affair, and Lost in a Good Book. While neither is Shakespeare specific, the Shakespeare references abound. Listening to the audio book in the car I almost had to pull over out of traffic when she got to the bit about the “Baconians”, going door to door with their literature trying to convince people who really authored the plays. The existence of lost work “Cardenio” also plays a major role in Lost in a Good Book.
If you’re in the mood for something different, and especially if you’re a geek who hates having to bridge the gap of choosing either something literary or something science-fictiony, I seriously suggest you go check these out. They’re heavier on the lit than the science, I’ll admit – all the time travel stuff is pretty slushy – but the entire concept is just so downright silly and fun at the same time that they’re great.
Or, actually, Juliet and Juliet. This is only semi-Shakespeare related, but it’s funny. The big news in Boston today is that our famous swan couple “Romeo and Juliet” is actually two females. Given that Massachusetts was the first (and still only?) state in the nation to legalize same sex marriage, the jokes are flying that much faster. (People have already begun debating over whether or not the state should invest in a real “Romeo”, or whether or not the pair serve as a symbol for Massachusetts’ stance on same sex couples.)
I’ve got another one for you. If I’m ever asked which play is my favorite, I have a hard time answering. My answer goes somthing like, “Hamlet. Well, it depends, Lear and Macbeth have some cool bits as well…and Iago’s a great villain…” and then I realize that I’m naming all the great tragedies and add, “But for the comedies, Taming of the Shrew is very funny…” and before I know it I’ve named a dozen plays :).
So, here’s my question. Which play is the most *entertaining* to you? Not which one you feel is the best literature, and no special limitations on the question (best plot, best tragedy, etc…). You’ve got a chance to sit in the audience for the performance of one of Shakespeare’s plays. Which one do you pick?
I think I may go with Romeo and Juliet. Something of a populist choice. I think it’s got a good blend of comedy (hello, Nurse), supporting characters (Mercutio!), action, plot, and tragedy. I may love Hamlet to death, but as I mentioned somewhere else, there are parts that make me want to fall asleep. I love Macbeth mostly for the ending, I get confused by much of what goes on. And so on.
Who’s next?
Did Shakespeare ever write anything bad? I realize it’s strictly an opinion question, but one I think is interesting. Several times recently I’ve run into people with this idea of reading everything Shakespeare wrote. Having done it once upon a time, it never really dawned on me that this is not a common thing. But, having done it, I still find myself gravitating toward the more well known plays. Give me Macbeth over Timon of Athens any day, King Lear over Pericles Prince of Tyre.
How about you? Have you already read them all? Do you plan to? Do you think that some are just not nearly good enough to even worry about? Or has Shakespeare attained such godlike status that, even if you don’t like it or understand it, you’ll still find yourself digging for the beauty that must be there and is just temporarily eluding you?
There’s something to be said for reading them all, just for the experience. You may, after all, find some particular gem in The Two Noble Kinsmen that personally works for you. More power to you. I encourage you to give it a shot, and I’ll at least attempt to discuss them with you if you want. I freely admit that even thought I’ve read them all I’m not intimately familiar with most.
I expect that you are reading them for pleasure, not for profit. I’m worried for people walking into the complete works thinking “They are all as good as Hamlet, and if I don’t ‘get’ one, it must be my fault.” Not necessarily true, and don’t let yourself be turned off or confused by Shakespeare by thinking that.