William
Shakespeare!
Playwright!
Poet! Literary Giant!
William
Shakespeare!
A name that
strikes fear in the hearts of most high school students.
The complaints are
always the same:
"It doesn't make
sense."
"It's too
complicated."
"It's boring!"
"Why didn't he
write so people could understand it?"
The answers to
this carping are:
Yes, it does. No, it isn't. Are you kidding? and He did!
The problem is
that Shakespeare's plays were never meant to be read.
They were meant to be PERFORMED!
The way that most
people are introduced to Will Shakespeare is one of the worst ways
possible. They are forced to READ them.
These words are
supposed to be EXPERIENCED, not dissected.
Once you are in
the center of a Shakespearean performance, you will find that it is
as relevant, passionate and meaningful as anything modern
entertainment can provide.
Romeo and
Juliet
Young love, a
powerful force in any age (Shakespeare's or today's).
This early play of
Shakespeare's personifies the strength of this passion that, even
under the most overwhelming circumstances can, and, often does,
prevail.
Henry IV
Who doesn't like a
good party? The booze, the laughter, the good company, the booze.
Nowhere will you find a more willing and experienced party animal
than Sir John Falstaff from Henry IV. Falstaff's main ambition is
to endear himself to Prince Hal, Henry IV's son and heir. With
Prince Hal in his pocket, Sir John looks forward to a prosperous
retirement if he can only convince Hal (and us) of the wisdom of his
philosophy.
Small clue; He is a classic bad example.
The Merchant of Venice
How far would you
go for a friend? Would you lend him money?
Would you stand beside him if he were in trouble? Would you
risk your life for
him? These are a few of the questions raised in The Merchant of
Venice. In order to help his friend, Bassanio, Antonio has contacted
a deal with his bitterest enemy. The deal is only struck when
Antonio agrees to forfeit a pound of his own flesh if he defaults.
Of course, the worst happens and, he does. He is brought into court
and stands condemned. All the legal proof is against him so his
lawyer must appeal
to a higher nature.
Just as in most of
the courtroom shows we see on TV today, the lawyer always comes up
with a fine, legal device to save the day.
Henry V
War, Struggle,
Honor, Sacrifice.
These are all
elements of Henry V. England's Warrior King must inspire and lead
his army against almost impossible odds with only his eloquence and
example. He and his men face an enemy who greatly outnumber them.
Henry must rally his troops to achieve Triumph from the overwhelming
prospect of Disaster.
MacBeth
In the midst of
great, world-changing events, it is often easy to overlook the
personal, the intimate. Yet, we all experience it and it is more
meaningful than all the great deeds that may surround it. Even a
character like MacBeth, driven by his ambition and evil, must
confront his grief at the height of his last battle.
Hamlet
Shakespeare's most
famous soliloquy presents an eternal dilemma that faces us all.
Action vs. Inaction. The deed vs. the word. The Truth vs. the
Untruth. The answer is elusive.
Tempest
The theme of all
of Will Shakespeare's works was Life.
He asked the
eternal questions, but he also asked the personal questions as well.
He helps us look at our lives and evaluate their worth and their
meaning. He helps us face our mortality and it's significance. He
gives us perspective and faith in the Universality of Humanity.