ROMEO AND JULIET
- - - - - - - - - Observe that such rare and true sentiments have blessed two young people of fine character. Romeo, although brave and skillful in handling a rapier, has a pacific and generous nature. Juliet, although a mere girl in age and outward experience, has pluck, devotion and wisdom beyond her years. Love has rightly entered their good hearts. - - - - - - - - - Julius Caesar The procession halts and a Soothsayer comes near Caesar to warn, “Beware the ides of March.” (March 15th) Caesar has the man brought before him to look into his face. “Beware the ides of March,” the soothsayer says again. Caesar dismisses him as “a dreamer”. The procession continues. Marcus Brutus, well reputed for his moral integrity, is a friend of Caesar. Yet Brutus, a patrician devoted to republican principles, finds himself deeply troubled by the imminence of monarchical dictatorship. Brutus’ close friend and brother-in-law, Cassius, has a passionate love of equality and liberty. After the ceremonies, Caesar says about Cassius to his loyal, talented lieutenant Mark Antony:
- - - - - - - - - Hamlet Perhaps the finest tragic hero in all Literature, Hamlet dominates this Viking tragedy of murder and revenge. Prince Hamlet is at the center of this single greatest controversy in all Literature: why he psychologically cannot do what he must do. That is the Mystery of Hamlet. - - - - - - - - - Othello I believe this tragedy to be the most chilling horror story ever told. Othello and Desdemona share a true love of the heart, not of the eye. They wonderfully transcend differences of racial and social background. It is this splendid couple which Iago, the most cunning and realistically evil man in Literature, sets out to destroy. - - - - - - - - - King Lear The heath again, before the hovel during a continuing storm. An amazing scene takes place as Poor Tom emerges from the hovel. Possibly the strangest conversation you have ever heard transpires between the grimy, practically naked Poor Tom who pretends to be mad (“The foul fiend follows me!”), the now genuinely insane King Lear (“Has his daughters brought him to this pass?”), Kent (“He hath no daughters, sir.”), and the Fool (“This night will turn us all to fools and madmen.”). - - - - - - - - - Antony and Cleopatra As Shakespeare
immortalized young romantic lovers Romeo and Juliet, so he immortalizes
earthy, experienced lovers Antony and Cleopatra. The tension which permeates
this play derives from their relationship and centers on a question:
Can Mark Antony achieve sufficient indepen-dence from the woman who
fascinates him to save his empire and his own life? There is much ribaldry in the tragedy, of which Cleopatra is the focus. The Queen of Egypt and her ladies-in-attendance, Charmian and Iras, jest about sex, cuckoldry, eunuchs. Cleopatra has a policy, which Charmian thinks dangerous, of treating Antony in an unpredictable manner – by turns catering, ignoring, haunting, infuriating, teasing her lover. - - - - - - - - - Macbeth This is a great tragedy of Ambition and Conscience, portents of evil, Murder, and Conscience, an atmosphere of darkness and blood, Tyranny and Retribution. It is a great tragedy dominated by two unforgettable criminals, man and wife – Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. - - - - - - - - - The Taming of the Shrew The comedy is a riot, and you ladies out there must pardon Mr. Shakespeare his major theme. From everything else he ever wrote, one knows that the dramatist himself did not share Petruchio’s sentiments. For medicinal purposes, read The Merry Wives of Windsor which will totally counteract the atrociously delightful Taming of the Shrew. - - - - - - - - - The Comedy of Errors This fine farce revolves around two sets of mistaken identities caused by two sets of identical twins. - - - - - - - - - The Two Gentlemen of Verona Early Shakespeare,
light romance on the subject of Love and Friendship, The Two Gentlemen
of Verona has been ill-received by professional critics perhaps
primarily because of deceptive elements in the final Act. Clarify that
confusion and you will gain enjoyment denied sniping critics. Proteus recognizes Valentine who sears his old friend for treachery. Proteus admits his “shame and guilt”, upon which the forgiving Valentine enunciates the line which has pulverized Shakespeareans, the Bard’s most abject apologists reeling speechless from it:
Julia swoons (she’s not alone). Does Valentine mean it? Will he really hand over the woman he loves, and who loves him so dearly, will he really hand over Silvia to her would-be rapist, his vile false contemptible treacherous friend and devoted enemy? Sure. Does Shakespeare mean it? No, of course not. This is parody, more spoof, like the chivalrous Eglamour in full speedy flight. - - - - - - - - - The Merchant of Venice This famous, controversial play centers on a Jewish usurer, Shylock, and his bond with Antonio (the merchant of Venice) to exact a pound of Antonio’s flesh if he does not repay borrowed money in time. - - - - - - - - - The Merry Wives of Windsor Tradition credits Queen Elizabeth with initiating the composition of this play. Out of her great fondness for Falstaff, the Queen told Shakespeare she would like to see Falstaff in love. Falstaff in love and farce is what she got. This very Englishy comedy sees Falstaff pull the pursestrings on his followers, setting out to feather his own nest by seducing two respectable wives of well-to-do husbands. Cronies Pistol and Nym, angry at the fat rogue’s miserly treatment of them, contrive to inform Masters Ford and Page of Falstaff’s designs on their spouses. - - - - - - -
- - This is a fairy-tale comedy of love and madness, mischievous but benevolent fairies, and droll simpletons. - - - - - - - - - Much Ado About Nothing Enter two gauche heroes to save the day: two bumbling and malapropping constables – the marvellous Dogberry and his sidekick Verges. The Watch overheard Borachio tell fellow henchman Conrade of his skulduggery, and just before the wedding took place. Dogberry could have prevented the debacle itself if he had explained clearly to Governor Leonato that they had apprehended two suspicious men – instead of having “comprehended two aspicious persons”. - - - - - - - - - Twelfth Night Shakespeare again dresses up a comely heroine in man’s clothing. Viola, who doubles as the page Cesario, finds herself compelled to woo a woman on behalf of the man she loves (Duke Orsino), and that woman (Countess Olivia) falls in love with her (with the page “Cesario“). Olivia’s drunken uncle and a rich drunken suitor are elements in this slick, sometimes tough, always enjoyable and great play. - - - - - - - - - As You Like It This play ranks at or near the top of Shakespeare’s comedies with readers, theatregoers and literary critics alike. It stars Rosalind, Shakespeare’s queen of comedy heroines, and the enchanted forest of Arden where live the banished Duke and his merry men (save the melancholy Jaques). - - - - - - - - - Pericles Pericles’ flight lands him eventually in Pentapolis where he weds a princess. They have a daughter during a sea voyage; his wife apparently dies giving birth to the child; he leaves the infant Marina in the care of the Governor of Tharsus and his wicked wife; the child grows up replete with the usual princessy graces and virtues, is tormented by her foster-mother and mercifully captured by pirates who sell her to a brothel. The next really good scene takes place there. - - - - - - - - - The Winter’s Tale I am partial to this tragicomedy of jealousy and violent emotion, living death, penitence and forgiveness. An evocation of ancient Greek culture, this is a tale of Court against Cottage, of machination and despotism versus the beauty and naturalness of Arcadia with its pastoral decencies and delights. Shakespeare blends themes of conflict and injustice together with spontaneity and good will in one of his final plays, the wonderful Winter’s Tale. - - - - - - - - - Henry VI, Parts I, II, III How close Shakespeare came to real trouble is unknown, but he managed to get off unscathed. - - - - - - - - - Richard III Richard III not only achieves status as Shakespeare’s first great comic character, but deserves mention as Literature and the World’s most amusing serial murderer. - - - - - - - - - Henry IV, Part I Who is Falstaff? He is probably the greatest comic figure in all Literature. One can recognize from a distance his extraordinary girth. The faintest familiarity identifies him as drinker and glutton, whoremonger and all-around dissipator, irreverent joker and artful dodger. All of this while he’s pushing 60. |
All that was
mine in Silvia I give thee.