Shakespeare Noob

[Storm]

Oh tell.

I've never read or seen an adaptation. One has to be careful with Shakespeare as the character of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice was often portrayed as a villainous Jew characterized by negative stereotypes. The latest film with Al Pacino playing Shylock shows the character in a much truer and the most sympathetic light.

I need to read more Shakespeare. I don't know why?

It's about a man marrying a woman against her will, then psychologically abusing her until she'll literally say day is night in an effort to keep him happy.

 

[gnomon]

It's about a man marrying a woman against her will, then psychologically abusing her until she'll literally say day is night in an effort to keep him happy.

Seems demented and misogynistic.

 

[Storm]

It is indeed. Though, I'm sure that in a culture that regulated the size of stick with which you could beat your wife, it was quite amusing.

 

[Quagmire]

It is indeed. Though, I'm sure that in a culture that regulated the size of stick with which you could beat your wife, it was quite amusing.

Exactly; you have to take into account the atmosphere these were written in. In that light, Shakespeare is actually something of a feminist himself; he often portrays women as smarter, stronger, and more sensible than his male characters.

 

[Storm]

Yeah, but I still don't find it funny.

 

[Quagmire]

Yeah, but I still don't find it funny.

Oh come on; Katherine's got every male in the Kingdom quaking in fear through most of the play. That part should be worth a smirk at least.

 

[Storm]

Eh....

 

[Quagmire]

*decides not to tell Storm he played Petruchio in his college production of the play *

 

[Storm]

I forgive you.

 

[Phasmid]

So I have a confession to make.

The only Shakespeare I have ever read was an excerpt from Macbeth. I have a feeling I will not like Shakespeare, but I am also ashamed at my uninitiated status.

Which play should I slog through first? Is it as bad as I am guessing?

I read Macbeth. It was pretty confusing, but there are some parts which are so well written they made me grin with a sense of, "Wow, he used such beautiful language to explain something so simple". Simple, and ugly in this case, as the line I'm refering to is (if memory serves me), "Away and mock the time with fairest show, false face must hide what the false heart doth know". Which in conext means (I think), "Distract the guards while I kill the king".

 

[Quagmire]

I forgive you.

That's only because you've never had to sit through any of my acting.

 

[Valjean]

It might be a good idea to read some Cliffs notes or online synopses of whatever play you're contemplating seeing.
Shakespere's English is archaic. It's often difficult to sort through the rhetoric. There is a lot of humour, jokes, puns, word-play, allusions, historical and contemporary references, that we moderns are likely to miss completely. There are lots of expressions we no longer use, and words that have changed meanings.
If you really want to appreciate Shakespere's genius, you have to watch through the eyes of a 16th century Englishman.

 

[Falvlun]

Thank you all for your many suggestions! When I get the bug up my butt, I will go and rent one or two of the movies you guys have suggested. It really is against my nature though... I hate seeing the movie before I read it. But it makes sense since the books aren't really supposed to be books, but plays.

What started the whole thing was I got a copy of A Midsummers Night's Dream, and I've only read the intro so far, but the book seems to be laid out pretty user friendly: on one page is the Shakespeare and on the facing page is the commentary/translation/etc. No one seemed to suggest this play as the one to start with, but I must admit, it's been the one that always sort of intrigued me.

 

[MaeDha]

Shakespeare is not bad. I think he is a matured taste though, I know of hardly any 13 year olds or first time Shakespeare readers who immediately loved his works. Definitely an acquired taste. I love Shakespeare though and I would probably start with either The Tempest or Romeo and Juliet, then go for Midsummers Night Dream, then Twelfth Night, then The Taming Of The Shrew, then start hitting the more serious Hamlet, Henry V etc etc.
Shakespeare is incredible though an utter literary genius.

Most recommended plays being:
The Tempest,
The Taming Of The Shrew,
Twelfth Night
& HAMLET. FOR SURE.
HAMLET IS A MUST READ.

 

[Willamena]

Which play should I slog through first? Is it as bad as I am guessing?

The first Shakespear play I read was Julius Ceasar (et tu, Brutus? Beware the ides of March). I was about 18, and actually surprised myself by enjoying it. I haven't read any others, yet.

I'm sure it also aided in my enjoyment of the HBO series 'Rome'.

 

[monta]

Troilus and Cressida also compliments the Illiad or, if you have to Troy

I would start with a comedy, maybe Taming of the Shrew or As you Like it, or maybe Twelfth Night.

 

[Panda]

I've read Merchant of Venice and Macbeth. I personally thought they were both utter drivel as a read however as a play they come into their own.

 

[Kathryn]

Good adaptations of Shakespeare onscreen, IMHO:

Henry V (Kenneth Branagh - best battle scenes I've ever seen, and fabulous acting) THIS IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE SHAKESPEARE MOVIE ONSCREEN!
Much Ado About Nothing (more Kenneth Branagh - FUNNY as heck!)
The Taming of the Shrew (Liz Taylor)
Othello (Laurence Fishburne -- what a performance - and sizzling hot too!)
Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh again)
Mel Gibson's Hamlet was pretty decent too - worth watching
Romeo and Juliet (1968 version)

For a great list of the top 30 Shakespeare movies, here's a good link:

ROTTEN TOMATOES: Greatest Shakespeare Movies

 

[Zephyr]

Much Ado About Nothing (more Kenneth Branagh - FUNNY as heck!)

This movie rocks. Go watch it everybody.

 

[Willamena]

'Shakespear in Love'.