Shakespeare Meme

On this day... 445 years ago, William Shakespeare was born. Happy birthday to the bard.

And so, in honor of his birthday, I thought I'd post the following meme, which I found over at the blog: At Home With Books.

1. What was your first introduction to William Shakespeare? Was it love or hate?

My first introduction to Shakespeare was in late Jr. high/early high school when my sister and I read Romeo and Juliet together. I had heard so many people complain about reading Shakespeare's plays that I was expecting a boring and difficult read. Reading it aloud with my sister made the assignment fun and I found the story very exciting. I wouldn't say I was in love with his writing, but I certainly have enjoyed it.

2. Which Shakespeare plays have you been required to read?

I'm having trouble remembering, but I believe they were: Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth, and A Midsummer's Night Dream. But then I also read: Henry V,  Much 'Ado About Nothing, Hamlet, Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night, and Richard III... so any of those could have been assigned, or they could have been read just for fun. I don't remember.

3. Do you think Shakespeare is important? Do you feel you are a “better” person for having read the bard?
To echo Alyce I think reading Shakespeare and learning about Shakespeare is an important part of our literary history and heritage and thus key to a readers education. I don't consider myself a better person for having read Shakespeare, just a well-read person.

4. Do you have a favorite Shakespeare play?
Hard to say, but I think Much 'Ado About Nothing for a comedy, Romeo and Juliet for a tragedy, and Henry V for a history. But that is subject to change.

5. How do you feel about contemporary takes on Shakespeare? Adaptations of Shakespeare's works with a more modern feel? (For example, the new line of Manga Shakespeare graphic novels, or novels like Something Rotten, Something Wicked, Enter Three Witches, Ophelia, etc.) Do you have a favorite you'd recommend?
Again, to echo Alyce. If the contemporary takes are done well they can be effective. I think the modern adaptations, whether in period costume or not, can create new interest in the original plays. It was through Kenneth Branagh's adaptations that I became acquainted with Henry V and Much 'Ado About Nothing, which in turn sparked my interest in reading more of Shakespeare's plays. Some contemporary takes are a little out-there and honestly, I'm just not interested in reading the new line of Manga Shakespeare graphic novels, but that doesn't mean others don't find them fun reads.

In closing I will add: If you have never read a play by William Shakespeare then you must add one to your list to read in the next year to five years. I'd say at least one of his plays should be on the list of Top 100 books you should read before you die. While good to read alone, these plays were intended to be acted out, so read aloud they do fair better than when read silently. My solution in high school was to read aloud with one of my siblings.

The Life and Death of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

The first Shakespeare play I read was Romeo and Juliet with my older sister when I was 14. This sparked my interest and for the next several years I read a few more plays and watched many a Kenneth Branagh adaptation. When my sister graduated from high school I continued to read Shakespeare's plays after convincing my younger brother to read with me. Julius Caesar was one of the plays he and I read together. To this day on every March 15 my brother calls me up and greets me with "Beware the ides of March..." said in an eerie tone. And so, in honor of today being March 15 and in memory of all the fun we had reading together, I give you:
The Life and Death of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.

Act 1, Scene 2. A public place.

Flourish. Enter CAESAR; ANTONY, for the course; CALPURNIA, PORTIA, DECIUS BRUTUS, CICERO, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and CASCA; a great crowd following, among them a Soothsayer

CAESAR: Calpurnia!
CASCA: Peace, ho! Caesar speaks.
CAESAR: Calpurnia!
CALPURNIA: Here, my lord.
CAESAR: Stand you directly in Antonius' way,When he doth run his course. Antonius!
ANTONY: Caesar, my lord?
CAESAR: Forget not, in your speed, Antonius, To touch Calpurnia; for our elders say, The barren, touched in this holy chase, Shake off their sterile curse.
ANTONY: I shall remember: When Caesar says 'do this,' it is perform'd.
CAESAR: Set on; and leave no ceremony out.
Flourish
SOOTHSAYER: Caesar!
CAESAR: Ha! who calls?
CASCA: Bid every noise be still: peace yet again!
CAESAR: Who is it in the press that calls on me? I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music, Cry 'Caesar!' Speak; Caesar is turn'd to hear.
SOOTHSAYER: Beware the ides of March.
CAESAR: What man is that?
BRUTUS: A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
CAESAR: Set him before me; let me see his face.
CASSIUS: Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.
CAESAR: What say'st thou to me now? speak once again.
SOOTHSAYER: Beware the ides of March.
CAESAR: He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.

Sennet. Exeunt all except BRUTUS and CASSIUS

A Little About Shakespeare

As you might have noticed quite a few of William Shakespeare's plays have made their way to my Top 100 list of Book You Must Read.

I wouldn't call myself an aficionado of Shakespeare, but I have enjoyed many of his plays and own a complete set (40 books in hardback, including sonnets and a biogprahy), which I got for steal at a used book store years ago.

My first introduction to Shakespeare was in my early teen years when my sister and I read Romeo and Juliet together. Before reading it my only knowledge of Shakespeare was that people groaned when having to read a play, so I assumed they must be terribly hard to read and understand. But somehow, perhaps having read it aloud I found it nothing like I expected and from that moment on I became a reader of Shakespeare.

Not to say they weren't at times still difficult to understand, but in spite of this I really enjoyed reading them.

One thing that did help me in my readings was watching film adaptations of the plays before reading the play. English actor and director Kenneth Brannagh made several of the plays into films and they were excellent. I've not seen all of his work, but I did enjoy Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing, and Hamlet. Of course, not all of the adaptations were... shall we say, "family friendly" and might require a little editing (i.e. DVD scene skipping), but in most cases what is skipped is semi if not completely true to the play, which might be shocking to those who don't completely grasp all that Shakespeare writes.

Another method that proved helpful was reading the plays aloud with someone else, which in my opinion is the best way for them to be read. After all, they were written to be plays! For a few years I read with my older sister and after she moved away I read them with my younger brother. I can still remember the day we opened Hamlet and I suggested he read the title role. He readily agreed... until he turned the page and another page and saw that Hamlet didn't stop talking for three pages! This was his first introduction to a soliloquy... He wasn't too happy, but pressed on. His reading, particularly aloud greatly improved and he soon became a fan of the plays as I was.

To this day on March 15, my brother will call me up and quote me several lines from Julies Caesar. It amazes me he still remember them, but every year I look forward to that call and fondly remember our time together.

If asked which is my favorite play I'd have to say for history, Henry V. For comedy, Much Ado About Nothing, and for tragedy, Macbeth. Although Richard III is also good as are Taming of the Shrew and Hamlet...

With all the attention that Shakespeare has received in the last decade I am still a little surprised at how few people have actually read a play vs. just watching a movie. If you haven't included Shakespeare on your "To Read List" you should give him a chance. If you are concerned about understanding the writing here are a couple suggestions:

1. Read aloud with a friend or family member. The more, the merrier.

2. Find an addition with foot notes, end notes, or side pages of definitions, explanations and details. There are even some editions with a "cheat" page following the original text. What I mean is page 5 might be the original play text, but page 6 is the same text translated into modern English.

3. Start with a comedy or a tragedy, these for some reason are generally easier than a history, perhaps because of the entertainment level, but don't skip the history entirely, they are excellent too.

4. Find a play you are interested in and see if the film adaptation is available. Be warned, not all film adaptations are excellent, so you might want to stick to some of the more famous plays. The movies I mentioned above are pretty good.

Happy reading!