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Hi guys! I’ve been re-reading Hamlet recently, and of course when I read one play, I start thinking of all the others I’ve read and those I want to read. So, are there any other Shakespeare fans on this website? I’d love to know which plays you’ve read and what you think of them!
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"
https://silverpenstrokes.wordpress.comHi Emily,
I studied Shakespeare in college and in graduate school. I’ve read many of the bard’s plays.
One of the cruelest villains in all Shakspearean literature is Iago in Othello.
Hamlet is a favorite. Oddly of the movie adaptations of Hamlet, I particularly liked the Mel Gibson version (1990).
Is there a particular film adaptation of a Shakespeare play that you like?Brian Stansell (aka O'Brian of the Surface World)
I was born in war.
Fighting from my first breath.Hello Brian!
I have likely seen/read less than you. I believe I’ve only read 6.
Do you remember what the first play you read was? Oddly enough, the first one I finished was Othello… I agree, Iago is a brute.
I’m glad Hamlet is a favorite of yours! It certainly is mine. I like the Lawrence Olivier version, but I’ve never seen another movie version of it, because I don’t care to see any Oedipus Complex acted out, and it’s very subtle in the Olivier version. Do you prefer tragedies, comedies, histories, or romances?
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"
https://silverpenstrokes.wordpress.comI think it was either Romeo and Juliet or Macbeth. Not sure which was first, but it was probably R&J since it was in high school. Macbeth was very bloody, though not as bloody as Titus Andronicus. Julius Caesar was probably the third one I read.
I don’t remember much about The Tempest and Mid Summer Night’s Dream because I only read those once.
I liked Henry V because it deals with complex issues of leadership and inspiration. Next to Hamlet, Henry V is my favorite. The St. Crispin’s Day speech is inspiring. I can’t help but think of the Kenneth Brannagh of that one. It also deals with the complexity of standing for virtue as a king over court friendship and favoritism. Henry V has to hang one of his own friends for thievery. The fealty of being a good king means making tough decisions for the good of the kingdom, rather than personal benefit.I guess then my favorites would be the histories. I think we have had enough of tragedy lately, so I have little stomach for it. Much Ado About Nothing was a good comedy and the reparte between Benedict and Beatrice is very good. I also like the bumbling ridiculousness of Dogberry. Michael Keaton plays that character particularly well in the film adaptation of Much Ado… (1993). I have made it a point to read the play of every film adaptation I dare to watch.
What about you? Which others are your favorites of the six you’ve read? Which genre do you prefer: Histories, Comedies, Tragedies or Romances?
Brian Stansell (aka O'Brian of the Surface World)
I was born in war.
Fighting from my first breath.Yes, Macbeth is pretty disturbing. I saw an interactive play version of it, and was rather startled (impressed, too) at how realistic the props could be. I assumed blood was mainly something you found in movies. I guess not.
The plays I’ve read are: Othello, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, the Tempest, and Much Ado About Nothing. (That’s 7, not 6. I counted it yesterday, and discovered that I was missing one–as usual).
I’ve also seen a number of them that I haven’t read, such as The Winter’s Tale, The Taming of the Shrew, The Comedy of Errors, Henry V, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Twelfth Night. (I may as well have read that one, for how many times I’ve seen it).
Of the one’s I’ve read I think my favorites would be Hamlet, Julius Caesar, and Much Ado About Nothing–I agree that the battle of wits is well worth it, and Dogberry’s mistakes are hilarious. I used to think that Beatrice and Benedick had a lukewarm relationship, mostly brought about by their friends’ cunning, but on a closer look I was pleased to discover that love was there all along, just waiting for a spark to kindle it.
I think I may like the Tragedies the best. That’s at least mainly what I’ve read. The Romances…seem a little lackluster to me, though I’ve only read one and seen one.
Have you seen movie renditions of Julius Caesar? And if so, which one(s) did you like? I must admit, I was very fascinated by the whole play and the movie’s different interpretations.
I think I will allow myself to be tempted away from the tragedies long enough to read a comedy or two. Perhaps the Comedy of Errors or Twelfth Night. But I should rather like to read Antony and Cleopatra–I’d like to see if the character of Antony is at all similar to that in Julius Caesar. And then, I suppose, I ought to try the histories. You’re the second person I’ve met who finds them simply marvelous, and I did certainly like Henry V when I saw it.
Do you generally like to read a play first, or watch a movie/play of it and then read it?
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"
https://silverpenstrokes.wordpress.comI would rather read it first, before subjecting myself to the disappointment of the movie. 😉
Brian Stansell (aka O'Brian of the Surface World)
I was born in war.
Fighting from my first breath.I just finished Hamlet! It’s my favorite Shakespeare play so far. The others ones I’ve read are A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Julius Caesar. I liked both of them. I’ll be reading Macbeth and The Tempest soon.
I haven’t seen any adaptations of the plays yet, but I noticed the Lawrence Olivier Hamlet is on YouTube, so I’ll be getting to it in the near future.
Have you read The Wednesday Wars? It’s a middle-grade book about a kid who has to read Shakespeare and how he learns that the Bard is actually applicable to his life. It definitely made me more interested in reading Shakespeare outside of school, although I haven’t done that yet XD
"Can't have dirty garbage."
@sparrowhawke thanks for stopping in!
Oh, good! Another Hamlet lover! Do you have anything specific you can pinpoint as a reason why you like it so much? I would say for me it’s the man Hamlet (he’s such a great guy!) as well as the marvelous writing and compelling story-line.
Yes, the Lawrence Olivier version is good, though very much shortened. I think part of my love for the play is due to that movie.
I really liked Julius Caesar, I’m glad you liked it.
No, I haven’t read The Wednesday Wars, but in my opinion, anything that encourages people to read Shakespeare is worth-while!
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"
https://silverpenstrokes.wordpress.comI think I loved Hamlet for the same reasons. It is excellently written–I need to memorize Hamlet’s “to be” speech sometime. I certainly don’t understand the whole thing, but I love that I’ll be able to reread it throughout my life and get something new out of it each time.
I do think Hamlet is a good character. Some people seem to think he’s vengeful, but I think he’s just trying to maintain justice.
"Can't have dirty garbage."
Just as an aside, Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” soliloquy is an internal debate with himself over the merits of dying to avoid the pain that is inevitable in life, or the need to live through the pain so that a more noble death may be made in attempting to combat the evil that is done in life.
Hamlet suspects the treachery of his uncle in murdering his father so that the uncle could get both his father’s crown and his father’s wife. He is stricken with grief mourning his father. Trying to live with such a secret suspicion is driving him mad with the need to put up a pretense until it is proven one way or the other. It causes Hamlet to suspect everyone. He feels he can’t even trust his own mother or his friends and at times cannot even trust himself.
He essentially says, what if death brings unending nightmares to the one going to their eternal sleep, if so, how could death be a release from pain? Ah, but it is the spectre of what might be that gives one pause in seeking to end their own life. And if death does not provide a release, how might living and fighting be any worse? At least by living one might avenge and resist the wrongs done among the living that they cannot once they have surrendered to death.
To be…is to live, even under the weight of misfortune. (suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of troubles)
Not to be…is to die surrendering into the unknown that may very well turn out to be an eternal nightmare. (to die, to sleep perchance to dream, aye there’s the rub! For in that sleep of death what dreams may come when we have shuffled off this mortal coil must give us pause?)
Hamlet poses some very profound questions and is dealing with such emotional weight under injustices, he cannot help but seek ways to steady himself. To make sure he is not just behaving rashly, but must feign deference and wear the mask of lies he hates until he has confirmed what he fears to be true, and can take action against it. Even his friends as used as pawns against him.Brian Stansell (aka O'Brian of the Surface World)
I was born in war.
Fighting from my first breath.I think Mel Gibson’s portrayal of the scene helps with its understanding, as it puts him in a setting conducive to life and death questions far better than Laurence Olivier’s setting on a turret and sea cliff, or Kenneth Branaugh’s talking to his mirrored reflection. What do you think of this portrayal?
Brian Stansell (aka O'Brian of the Surface World)
I was born in war.
Fighting from my first breath.That is precisely why I loved Hamlet’s speech. It also reminded me of the lyrics/message of one of my favorite bands. I love the way his speech is used in Brave New World, which I had actually read before Hamlet.
"Can't have dirty garbage."
Emily and Bethany,
What is your favorite Shakespeare quote and from what play? And what makes it meaningful to you?
Brian Stansell (aka O'Brian of the Surface World)
I was born in war.
Fighting from my first breath.I really love this one, from the end of Julius Caesar:
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mixed in him that Nature might stand up
80And say to all the world, “This was a man.”Why? partly because it’s a praise of Brutus, whom I liked, but mostly because I think it a very high compliment; not that he was rich, well liked, well gifted, even, though that is part of it, but that he was a man. (Reminds me of the line from Hamlet, incidentally: “He was a man. Take him for all in all.
I shall not look upon his like again.”)I would like something to similar effect said of me when I die.
And then there are so many lines in Hamlet that I couldn’t count them all.
What are some of your favorites?
I really liked the Mel Gibson version you had above. It launched my sister and me (both avid Hamlet fans) into a fourth soliloquy search. We ended up watching like 9 of them. 🙂 I especially liked the first half of the speech–the acting was great, and he said the lines like he meant them (unlike some others, Kenneth Branaugh included). The camera work and lighting was really good, too.
YES! The “To Be or Not to Be” soliloquy is worth memorizing! I also would like to memorize his first soliloquy. I agree with you: most do see Hamlet as a story of revenge, and even go so far as to be more sympathetic toward the king than toward Hamlet…which will get my heated faster than just about anything. I, too, see it as more of a justice thing (“the law’s delay”)–he is the only one able to hold the king accountable for his murder.
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"
https://silverpenstrokes.wordpress.comWith all the desire to portray Hamlet in a new and interesting light which (I assume) runs rampant through the minds of actors and critics alike, do you know why most, if not every, “get thee to a nunnery” scene is portrayed with violence?
I should like to see it differently done.
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"
https://silverpenstrokes.wordpress.com
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