Shakespeare Reading Month Wrap-up and a Winner.

Welcome to the wrap-up for Shakespeare Reading Month. It was my first time organizing and hosting an event of this magnitude, and while there were a few kinks and glitches, I think it was a great success!

What I love about events like thius is seeing how a vast and varied group of people interpret works by the same writer (or the same piece). While some of us love the Bard's comedies, others found a deeper connection to his poetry, histories, or tragedies. Based on my own reading list for the event, I'm leaning towards his tragedies. :)

Nevertheless, I think we can all agree that William Shakespeare, whoever he was, has had a lasting impact on literature and popular cultire. As I read, I couldn't help but notice all the phrases, words, and ideas that we still reference and use today. Without his work, would we have ever had them? THAT is something to think about.

More than anything else last month, I was struck by the power and endurance of his work. It is almost hard to believe that these plays and poetry, written 400+ years ago, retain a universality in theme. The same things found in Shakespeare's work-racism, infidelity, identities in crisis, love, and a constant quest for power, are all things we still battle with on a daily basis. That timelessness is what marks a classic, I think, since it allows us to feel, understand, and contemplate the same issues as those who saw his plays performed in the Globe on the banks of the Thames.

I also love that his work is ageless. Earlier today I subbed in a classroom where the students read Jacques' "All the world's a stage" speech from As You Like It. We talked a bit about Shakespeare and the play before reading, and after we read and I broke down the speech for them, the majority decide that "Old Will' was a pretty good writer. :) I am also reminded of when I was in Florida, reading Shakespeare poolside (because I am that cool), when a couple of older gentlemen stopped by to talk to me. My mom had just gone back to the room, so she missed the exchange, but they stopped to talked about Hamlet with me-and that they were rather delighted to see a "young thing" reading old "fuddy-duddy" books. :) It made me smile, but it also goes to show that literature is powerful and bridges generations. That is why I am glad that so many of you participated in the event. Because while Will might be "old" or "fuddy-duddy," we all know that he matters.


I again want to thank everyone who participated. You guys made this event a roaring success! And while I am still commenting on posts from the master post, I appreciate everything you guys had to say about the Bard and his work. It does my classics-loving heart some good to see I'm not alone. YOU ROCK!

If you are interested in going back to read some other posts from the event, please visit the Master Post for all the links. There is some great stuff! I would also appreciate any suggestions or comments to improve future events of this caliber. :)

Last but not least, I went to random.org to pull a number to win the clothbound edition of Shakespeare's Sonnets (seen at left). There were 83 links left, and since I couldn't win, the first qualifying number random.org spat out at me was....

#38: The Tempest post by Carol of Carol's Notebook!

I am going to notify Carol and give her 48 hours to respond. She can also choose to pass along the prize if she is disinterested to someone else and I will repull a number. :)

Thank you all again!

And so you know, I am planning a Victorian event, structured similarly to this one, for June and July. Keep an eye out if you're interested!

Book 136: A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare (Shakespeare Reading Month).

“Lord, what fools these mortals be!”

For those of you who are getting tired of the Shakespeare, be happy since this is my last post on one of his plays. Yep, play #11 for the event is A Midsummer Night's Dream. I purposefully left this one for last. Besides Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing, I know this play the best. I've lost count of how many times I've read it or seen the movie. It is a fabulous example of Shakespeare at his best and one of the "funnest" plays I've read.

This is a play that focuses on the connection between the fairy realm and that of mortals. But there is also a sub-plot that focuses a bit on class issues. I'll touch on that in a minute.

The main plot focuses on 4 humans who wander into the forest. The two men, Demetrius and Lysander, are both in love with Hermia. Only one of them (Demetrius) has the favor of her father, and she loves the other (Lysander). There is also Helena, who adores Demetrius.

The four of the them are wandering around the forest, fighting over each other. They gain the attention of Oberon, king of the fairies, and his friend Robin Goodfellow (he is also called Puck in many editions). Oberon wants to fix the problem by having Demetrius fall in love with Helena using a flower powder, but Robin screws up the instructions and winds up having both men fall in love with Helena. So now, instead of the two men chasing Hermia, they wind up chasing Helena. It causes some funny interactions, but eventually Oberon straightens out the problems, leaving the couples paired off and ready to return to Athens to get married. In typical Shakespearean comedy fashion, it all works out.

The sub-plot focuses on an acting troupe. They are also in the woods at the same time as our four lovers, practicing for a play to perform before the King and Queen of Athens. They serve as the clowns in the play-causing mischief, etc. There are some hilarious scenes with these characters. I love when one, Bottom, is given the head of an ass and Titania, Oberon's wife, falls in love with him due to a spell. I am sure that for viewers back in the Globe, seeing that on stage was a riot.

But they really steal the play with the last Act of the play. They finally "perform" the play they've been practicing live in front of our two couples and the Royal couple. Before they perform, they give a little prologue, assuring the ladies that it is an actor, not a lion, who is roaring at them, and that the "wall" in the play is a man who is only symbolizing the wall. Hilarious. I am sure that with the right staging, etc, this was the highlight of the play in Shakespeare's time.You also get this gem as one of the characters in the play dies...

“Thus I die. Thus, thus, thus.
Now I am dead,
Now I am fled,
My soul is in the sky.
Tongue, lose thy light.
Moon take thy flight.
Now die, die, die, die.”

Ah, so funny. But, while this whole scene is certainly funny, it is important to at least notice the undertone. All of the characters in the acting troupe are from the working class. Their main goal in performing before the King and Queen is to earn the opportunity to make more money. They are at the mercy of those higher than themselves. Their bits of stupidity and hilarity are caused by their lack of education and knowledge about acting. I also think that Shakespeare uses them to poke fun at unprofessional acting troupes. I believe that Shakespeare and many of his contemporaries were showing that actors were higher than the everyday man. But those are my guesses.

The other piece of the play that I love are the ending lines, which I'll also end with. They say a lot about the play, but I also find them a fitting closure for my discussion on Shakespeare's plays this month.

“If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumbered here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
If you pardon, we will mend:
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call;
So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.”

Book 135: Othello by William Shakespeare (Shakespeare Reading Month).

“Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving."

Othello is the last of the "great" Shakespearean tragedies that I've read (those tragedies include Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet). I knew I wanted to end my reading of the tragedies with this one because I knew I would love it. It is a play that is often talked about, and I have been lucky not to have it spoiled for me.

Like The Merchant of Venice, I read it without doing research beforehand. I think the fact that I understood it and knew what was going on speaks to how reading so many plays has helped my knowledge of Shakespeare's sentence structure. It also kept up a bit of mystery as I read, as I didn't know what would happen.

I am glad that I saved it, and that I finally read it since it is a play that is part of the curriculum for the district I have been working in. It was about time that I read it!

Anyway, the play is about Othello, a Moor from Africa who has become one of the greatest generals in Venice. By the end of the play, he has a huge downfall. At the beginning of the play, everything seems to be going wonderfully for Othello. Beyond his military accomplishments, he recently married Desdemona. There is a bit of hoopla about the marriage because of the difference in their races, but Othello and Desdemona seem happy at the beginning.

Of course, it all spirals down from there. Othello has to choose a new lieutenant and selects his friend Cassio over Iago. This pisses of Iago, who determines to bring Othello down from his lofty perch. Iago is really the mastermind behind all of the tragedy in the play, as he is determined to seek revenge on both Othello and Cassio.

All of these little details wind together-the race issue especially. Since Othello is black, he subjected to a lot of racism, especially given Desdemona's own color. There are many comments throughout the play that focus on the color of Othello's skin and his relationship with Desdemona. Some of these are incredibly sexual and conniving (and most are said by Iago).

Where it all falls apart is when Iago convinces Othello that Desdemona and Cassio are sleeping together. Othello turns into a madman, agonizing over what he thinks is happening. What really struck me about this change was that Othello took Iago's word over anything Desdemona had to say. It seemed as if he didn't care to learn the truth from Cassio or Desdemona before condemning them for their transgressions.

“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss,
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger:
But O, what damnèd minutes tells he o'er
Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!"

In the end, it all ends in murder and suicide (Shakespeare was a fan of suicides it appears).

This play? Fantastic. I was blown away by the power and evilness of Iago. He might be the best Shakespearean villain. Every move was calculated and he truly used the circumstances of Othello's life and appearance to his advantage. He knew every weakness, the racism, and the insecurity against Othello to bring him down from his lofty heights.

Now I see why this play is the perfect choice for high schoolers. As I was reading, I continually thought of ways to discuss the major issues here: prejudice, the importance of reputations, and learning the full story before acting on information. And while I still think there are better Shakespearean tragedies, this really is a great choice for high school students. There is so much here to discuss.

A bit of me is sad that this is the last of the big tragedies-those most well-known and read-but I am excited to get to the smaller ones in the future and see what other kinds of torture Shakespeare wants to inflict on his characters.

“I hold my peace, sir? no;
No, I will speak as liberal as the north;
Let heaven and men and devils, let them all,
All, all, cry shame against me, yet I'll speak.”
 
What did you think of this one? Love it? Hate it?

Weekly Wrap-up for February 5, 2012: On Singing, Babies, Books, Shakespeare, and More.

I am tired this morning, but I did force myself out of bed to get some things accomplished this morning. I guess I have myself to blame.

Last night we went to a karaoke bar. Now, anyone who has been in a car with me, to a concert, or by me while I think I am alone knows that I cannot sing to save my life. My husband says I can't really call it "tone-deaf" since I can tune myself when I am playing my trumpet, but I cannot carry a tune (Yes, I play the trumpet. Matt and I play in a community band once a week. And yes, I am better than him. ;) Don't tell him that).

So last night was a little tortuous for me, since the friends we went with have not been graced by the beauty that is my singing voice. Needless to say, even with all their peer pressure tactics, I didn't get up on stage and sing. I stayed at our table and listened. Our friend Jay was a little scared of the stage as well, so we just pretended that we were way too awesome to let others hear our golden voices. ;)

It was a good time, and I am glad Matt forced me to go. I was ready to snuggle in bed with a book, as is befitting for a hermit like myself, but I had fun with everyone.

I also went to a baby shower yesterday for one of my oldest and best friends. I met Jenny in the first grade and we have been friends ever since (over 20 years?). She lives down in Knoxville now, but her parents live out in Ann Arbor (about an hour from me). It was great to see her and some other old friends. She doesn't know what she's having yet, so I am excited to see come April.

It seems like a lot of people I know are pregnant or just had a baby! There is baby fever everywhere! I was at one of the schools I worked in on Thursday, subbing, and discovered that three of their English teachers are pregnant! They are all due near the end of July/early August. They were cracking jokes at lunch about something being in the water over there.

Today I don't have too many plans besides recuperating from a busy day yesterday and selling back some books to my local bookstore. They only buy back used books once every couple of months, and the last time I was there, their used section was a little on the empty side (their new sections were also a little bare, which confused me). I still have all those books I culled in November (I missed the weekend buy-back by a week), and since this is the first weekend to sell back since then, I am ready to get these books out of here. 140+ books take up a lot of space when they are just sitting there. Hopefully they'll take most of them. The rest I am going to donate to one of the schools in the area. And, hopefully, I'll get some store credit to buy a few things I've been eying.

In other good, bookish news, I was accepted to be a giver for World Book Night! I don't know which book of my 3 choices I'll be handing out, but I am really excited. I am going to go in and give half the books to some old students (as long at the two teachers I worked for are okay with it), and the rest I am passing out in the area. I am going to hit up one of our local malls. It should be a great experience and I am so excited that I get to do this.

In regards to the blog, Shakespeare Month is wrapping up on the 10th (I extended it) and to be honest, I'm kind of excited to get it finished. I feel a little drained with all the posting, reading, and writing about Shakespeare. Don't get me wrong, I love Shakespeare, but I am burned out. I read 11 plays, so I'm allowed. I still need to go read all the posts everyone wrote as participants, so that will be my main goal this week.

I am also planning a Victorian themed event for June and July. I have a lot of Victorian books to read on my list, so it is a good excuse. I've already started thinking about some prizes (you're going to love them), as well as 1 or 2 challenges to offer something different to the challenge. I'm planning on hammering out all the details in the next two months and announcing it in April. If you have some Victorians on your TBR, save them for June and July! :)

Well, that's all I have for this week. I am planning on catching up on some reading. I am in the middle of Roots by Alex Haley for the readalong, so I want to get to our goal for Wednesday before diving into something else. I'm having a hard time deciding if I should read David Copperfield, Nicholas Nickleby, or one of the two biographies on Dickens. I was thinking of saving the bios (one is the Bicentenary book I showed earlier this week, the other is the Tomalin) for later, but now I am second-guessing myself...Any suggestions?

Happy Reading!!

Book 134: The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare (Shakespeare Reading Month).

“All that glitters is not gold;
Often have you heard that told:
Many a man his life has sold
But my outside to behold:
Gilded tombs do worms enfold
Had you been as wise as bold,
Your in limbs, in judgment old,
Your answer had not been in'scroll'd
Fare you well: your suit is cold.' Cold, indeed, and labour lost: Then, farewell, heat and welcome, frost!”
The Merchant of Venice is yet another Shakespearean play that I was unfamiliar with. Unlike some of the others that I read for the first time, I really knew nothing about the play before I started. I was surprised to get into the play and see what it was about.

The play focuses on the "merchant" only slightly, which is what confused me. For being the title character in the play, the merchant, Antonio, does not appear to be the central focus on the play.

Basically, the play starts with a young man, Bassanio, asking Antonio for money. Antonio agrees to sign for a loan from Shylock, a wealthy Jew, to help Bassanio have the opportunity to go and woo his love Portia. Shylock has it out for Antonio, so part of the terms of this loan is that if Antonio fails to pay it back, Shylock can take a pound of flesh from the merchant.

After the loan is in place, Bassanio travels to Portia to win her. There are, of course, some other suitors, who all fail miserably at the test put in place to "win" dear Portia. I was a little amused at the test and found it interesting that her future husband would be determined by his ability to figure out a riddle. If my own father left that kind of a trap for my future suitors, I would have had a fit. It all seems to work out, as Bassanio manages to figure out and he wins dear Portia.

Meanwhile, poor Antonio is in a bit of a bind back home. His ships haven't returned, and lo and behold! No money to pay back Shylock!

This is where the play gets really interesting. I had to reread the last couple of Acts a few times because I was pretty enthralled with events and how Shylock was portrayed. As a Jewish character, Shylock was shown as a dark and mischievous fellow-only concerned with his money and revenge. And Shakespeare really portrays him as being that way. I'm aware that a lot of Jewish characters in literature are portrayed that way. In fact, I was reminded of Fagin from Dickens' Oliver Twist. In both Shakespeare and Dickens' work, the Jewish characters were portrayed in this slimy, disgusting way. Obviously in today's day and age, that kind of..antisemitism is inappropriate and offensive. But, you can't help but be a pit in awe of how these characters appear. I was particularly struck by these lines by Shylock...

"I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge."

Interesting, right? I also have to point out that this speech is in prose, which Shakespeare usually leaves to those of the lower classes in his plays. I had to think a lot about what Shakespeare was really trying to say here. On one hand, you have a character being portrayed in a dark light-he is obsessed with revenge, is shown as being a lower class, and is constantly being called out for being a Jew. On the other hand, he says things like this. He appears to be a sympathetic character. This side makes sense to my 21st century mind, but what kind of impact did his speech have on those who first saw the play performed? Did they question the right for a Jewish character to speak this way? Did it hit home for any of them? I wonder.

I also love that Portia seemed to hold a lot of power in the end of the play. Again, there was a bit of cross-dressing and Portia winds up at the trial to determine the fate of poor Antonio and Shylock. This scene was by far the most interesting-to see how words were twisted to get a desirable result. This whole scene helped show how the play really focuses on the power of language. One bit of intent left out of speech and everything can come crashing down.

I particularly fell in love with Portia's "mercy" speech...

“The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice.”

Lovely, isn't it? No wonder it is one of the most famous bits from the play.

I could go on, but I feel I would talk in circles. This is definitely one I am going to return to sooner rather than later. There is so much to explore and question. :)

Books 132 & 133: Henry IV Parts I and II by William Shakespeare (Shakespeare Reading Month).

“I know you all, and will awhile uphold
The unyoked humour of your idleness."

I decided, for my own sanity, to discuss both of the Henry IV plays together in one post. Part of that is because they closely relate (as is obvious by the titles), but also because I don't have much to say about the second.

I've read Henry IV Part I  before in college, and it was one of the plays I wrote about for my final. Obviously I enjoyed the play then, and I still do. It had been 5 or 6 years since that Shakespeare class, so I was pumped to jump back into a play that I really loved.

It is easy to see why Henry IV Part I has the reputation it does. It is a fantastic play full of intrigue and really likable characters. Just as before, I really loved the characters of Prince Hal and Falstaff. Hal is a bit of a mischievous lad-not really sure of his role as Prince and what he "should" be doing. Falstaff is an older man who "guides" Hal in all things that are not princely. He is a bit of a scoundrel and plays the "fool" role in this play (almost all of Shakespeare's plays have a fool of some sort-someone to lighten the mood, point things out to the audience, and provide an opportunity for Shakespeare to explain things to his audience). I believe that when I wrote about the play before, I really focused on the relationship between Hal and Falstaff. They're funny and interesting.

This time I was also really struck by Hotspur-now HE was a dynamic and interesting character. :) What I also noticed on this read was how uninterested I was in Henry IV. While he was obviously a very important part of the play (and all the battles and what not), I was more interested in comparing Hal and Hotspur. I liked how Hal seemed to be growing up a bit (unlike Falstaff), and Hotspur was sassy and on fire. The King just paled in comparison.

Considering I loved Part I, I was really excited to read Henry IV Part II, especially since I hadn't read it before. Part I ends on a bit of a cliffhanger (well, the main "problem" was killed off and it ends in the middle of a war...), so I was expecting Part II to kind of...go with it.

I was a bit disappointed. It didn't have the same charm and power as part I, so I finished it being not as impressed as I was with the first part. I was still drawn to Hal and his growing maturity. I definitely think that this second part really showed a coming of age part of Hal as he accepted more responsibility.

That comes from Hal growing apart from Falstaff and striking out on his own. What made me love Part I was the interaction between those two characters...they only interacted a couple of times in Part II. Sad. It also lacked the humor that the first part had, which is something I really enjoyed.

Overall, I felt like Shakespeare was writing a bit of a "filler" play to bridge the gap between Part I and Henry V. This second one lacked everything I loved in the first and just let me down. It didn't seem to have that much of a plot, but just a further continuation of Hap growing up and away from Falstaff. I'm not sure that warranted its own play.

What did you think of these two?

Book 131: King Lear by William Shakespeare (Shakespeare Reading Month).

“Who is it that can tell me who I am?”

 I think I have become a bigger fan of Shakespeare's tragedies than his comedies...which is saying a lot because I love Shakespearean comedies. But there is something so dark and twisted about some of these tragedies, and I just can't get enough.

King Lear is the story of an aging King, named Lear, who determines to divide his kingdom among his three daughters while he is still living. He must think that they will take care of him in his old age and allow him to continue wandering and such until he eventually passes.

The play opens with King Lear discussing this with his three daughters; Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia. One at a time, the daughter "confess" their unconditional love towards their father in exchange for getting their portion of the kingdom. Goneril and Regan proceed to flatter the aging king and pretty much lie to his face. When it comes time for Cordelia to speak, she refuses to flatter and to lie. Instead, she speaks simply and honorably, saying that while she loves her father, she isn't going to be false. This sends Lear into a bit of a grumpy mood. He banishes one of his loyal friends, Kent, for sticking up for Cordelia. He then decides to divide the kingdom in two for Goneril and Regan, leaving poor Cordelia without an inheritance. Luckily, the King of France heard the exchange and still loves Cordelia, so he whisks her away to marry.

Obviously, tragic things begin to happen. Now in charge of the kingdom, Goneril and Regan begin to mistreat their father. He gets into an argument with Goneril about how many men he can have attending to him. When she says no, he stomps off like an angry child to Regan. The two women agree that Lear is crazy and old.

In the midst of all that drama, there is also a side plot with the two sons of the Earl of Gloucester. One is legitimate and one is not, and of course, the illegitimate son starts some shenanigans to hurt his brother. This whole side plot winds up interweaving into the story of the two older daughters, as they begin to fight over men who aren't their husbands, reject their father, and start fighting.

It is a bit of a mess and I haven't even touched on more than two acts worth of information. The characters are all quite despicable, except for Cordelia and Kent (the rejected friend of King Lear). The rest of them are all quite awful-they manipulate each other and hurt poor old Lear. The older daughters, Goneril and Regan are flirtatious and conniving as they try and steal husbands and suitors...while being married.

And since it is a tragedy, it doesn't end well. Of course there is a bit of redemption, but there is also a lot of bloodshed and sadness at the end. And a few suicides in true Shakespeare fashion. The whole thing is depressing, but fascinating. You immediately get drawn into the chaos of this messed up and tragic family.

There are a lot of interesting characters in this one, which might be why I love it so much. First, the female characters are amazing and have some great lines. I kind of like how snotty and obnoxious both Goneril and Regan are and how they compare to Cordelia. I also loved Lear. I mean, he was probably crazy and seemed a bit nuts in parts, but in a way, I felt like he just needed a hug and someone to love him a  bit. Poor old coot.

But hands down, the best characters are Edgar and Kent. Edgar is the legitimate son of that Earl I mentioned above, and he has a scene near the end of the play where he talks with his father. It was a breathtaking scene-probably my favorite of the whole play. Kent, banished by Lear, takes on a disguise for the rest of the play and finds a place back in Lear's confidence. He is one of those loyal friends who continues to protect against the odds. I love that kind of loyalty in a character.

So yes, great play and one that I definitely want to see live!

“The weight of this sad time we must obey,
Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.
The oldest hath borne most: we that are young
Shall never see so much, nor live so long.”

Book 130: Hamlet by William Shakespeare (Shakespeare Reading Month).

“This above all: to thine own self be true,

And it must follow, as the night the day,

Thou canst not then be false to any man.”

It has been a long time since I've read Hamlet, so when I cracked it open poolside while in Florida, I wasn't sure what to expect. On one hand, I remembered that I really enjoyed it the previous times I've read it, but I couldn't remember why. And I also felt that it could never live up to its reputation. I mean, besides Romeo and Juliet, what other Shakespearean play is so much a part of popular culture?

Take this little speech..

“To be, or not to be: that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,

And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;

No more; and by a sleep to say we end

The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks

That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation

Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;

To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;

For in that sleep of death what dreams may come..."

(It goes on quite a bit longer...).

That speech is quoted and manipulated SO MUCH that many of us immediately recognize it. And before I reread Hamlet, that speech had lost a bit of meaning for me. But after diving deep into the play, I realized that Hamlet really is a phenomenal work and one that deserves the recognition it has.

For anyone unfamiliar with the play, Hamlet is about the young Prince of Denmark, Hamlet, who discovers early on that his father was murdered by Claudius, his uncle. Hamlet's father appears in ghost form and bids his son to do away with the traitorous king. In the process, Hamlet appears to go a bit crazy (if seeing ghosts wasn't enough to mark him insane). He begins to mutter to himself, and that passage above takes place when he is in the midst of his contemplations.

And obviously, in true Shakespearean tragedy form, all hell breaks loose. Claudius becomes suspicious of Hamlet's motives and conspires to off him. Hamlet kind of loses it and freaks out. His poor mother, who is married to Claudius, gets caught up in the middle. By the end, there is a lot of blood and death.

The whole play is fantastic and while it is one of the longest plays, it doesn't feel that way. There is constantly action and deception to propel it forward. I don't think any one part lagged!

On this reread, I paid closer attention to one character-Ophelia. She must have slipped under my radar on my earlier reads, but this time, I was really drawn to her. Ophelia is Hamlet's love interest. In the midst of his confusion and madness, he turns away from her and pushes her aside (he tells her to go to a nunnery). He also kills her father-maybe on accident, maybe on purpose. This drives Ophelia into complete insanity. She wanders in and out of scenes singing songs. These little pieces really drew me in, and of all the characters, she is the one I sympathized with most.

When she dies, there is confusion about whether it was suicide or accidental, but the description of her death is somewhat beautiful...

"There is a willow grows aslant a brook

That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream.

There with fantastic garlands did she come

Of crowflowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples,

That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,

But our cold maids do “dead men’s fingers” call them.

There, on the pendant boughs her coronet weeds

Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke,

When down her weedy trophies and herself

Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide,

And mermaid-like a while they bore her up,

Which time she chanted snatches of old lauds

As one incapable of her own distress,

Or like a creature native and indued

Unto that element. But long it could not be

Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,

Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay

To muddy death."

After finishing the play, I went and looked at some of the depictions of her death done by artists. I think the innocence of her passing is what resonates in these images...the whole beauty destroyed by ugliness idea.

Sad, tragic, and eerily beautiful, right? She was the only character who I felt sorry for, and I have a feeling I'll be thinking about her for a little while longer.

"Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia,
And therefore I forbid my tears."
Anyway-fabulous play and one that I would love to teach in the future. There is a lot of passion simmering under the surface, and I think discussing whether Hamlet was truly mad would be an interesting conversation to have with teenagers. I also think that teens would have a lot to say about poor Ophelia and her death.

What do you think of this one?

Book 129: Richard III by William Shakespeare (Shakespeare Reading Month).

“Now is the winter of our discontent

Made glorious summer by this sun of York;

And all the clouds that lour'd upon our house

In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.”

I've always kind of ignored Shakespeare's history plays. Even though I love history and the eras Shakespeare writes about, I shy away from the plays. In a way, I feel like I don't know enough to "get" them.

But when I stop thinking of the history aspect and start focusing on the characters and action...I fall in love.

This play, Richard III, will probably remain a favorite of mine. I wasn't sure what to expect going in, since I had never read it before, but I was intrigued by the darkness. It also opened with the above quote. I was intrigued from the beginning (especially after having read The Winter of Our Discontent by Steinbeck last year-cool to see where the title came from).

Considering I had no idea what was going to happen, I was surprised by the amount of blood, murder, and deception in the play.

Basically, our pal Richard wants the throne, and he will stop at nothing to get it. He is an evil, miserly sort of fellow, and will stop at nothing to get what he thinks he will deserve. The play is full of his conniving and monologues...

“And thus I clothe my naked villany
With odd old ends stolen out of holy writ;
And seem a saint, when most I play the devil.”
I was truly impressed by the amount of evil one character possessed. He slowly begins "taking out" those who are next in line, as well as marrying whoever he thinks will help him win the throne.

This is a bloody, bloody play. I lost count of how many people dear Richard offed. It seemed that as soon as someone seemed slightly uncomfortable with his thoughts and plans, they were next on the "hit" list if you know what I mean.

I love that Shakespeare played up his villainy throughout the play with well-crafted lines to show the audience how sick and twisted dear Richard was...

“Why, I can smile and murder whiles I smile,
And cry 'content' to that which grieves my heart,
And wet my cheeks with artificial tears,
And frame my face for all occasions."

 What a sneaky little man.

I also love that this play didn't feel like history to me. Instead, it truly read as one of Shakespeare's tragedies (I think it is often referred to as The Tragedy of Richard III). The one main fault I had with the other history play I've read so far, Antony and Cleopatra, is that the action was very spread out to take in the scope of the historical events. In Richard III, I didn't feel that gap and the play flew by (I read it in one sitting). I was impressed with the way Shakespeare condensed and molded the events into 5 acts. There was plenty of action to keep the play steadily progressing forward, and I find myself not being able to find fault in it.

By the end, since I didn't know what was going to happen, I was pleased to see I was rooting for the right people. :) And I also loved this line, said in the very end by dear Richard as things seems to unravel before him...

"A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse!"

And, as silly as that line sounds, I think it really speaks a lot to who Richard was. He would stop at nothing and would let nothing get in the way of his becoming king. To let a silly thing, like not having a horse, stand in his way must have been irritating and frustrating. It really speaks to his ambition and drive.

And now, having finished this one, I am curious to see if any of Shakespeare's other historical plays can live up to this one. It blew me away-this is definitely one to make a priority!

A Winter's Respite Readathon.

I wasn't going to sign up for this readathon, but after thinking it over today, I decided I better. :)

This readathon is hosted over at The True Book Addict and lasts from today through Sunday. I am signing up late, but I don't think it is a big deal. :)

Since this week is exam week for the school districts around here, I doubt I will get many, if any, subbing jobs. And while there are a few other things to take care of this week, I would love to make more progress on my reading list.

Here are my reading plans for the week:

• Finish the five remaining Shakespeare plays I have on my project list: Henry IV Part I, Henry IV Part II, Othello, The Merchant of Venice, and A Midsummer Night's Dream
• Read Volpone by Ben Jonson and Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe to finish my plans for Shakespeare Reading Month (both were contemporaries of Shakespeare, so I thought it would be a fun way to end the month).

That's it! I hope I can at least get the Shakespeare plays done-that would be a huge relief! :)

Are you joining in? Either way, what are you reading plans for the week?

Shakespeare Reading Month Updates (IMPORTANT).

Hi everyone! We are most of the way through Shakespeare Reading Month. Hard to believe, right?

I am writing with a quick update and some important notes for all participants. Please pass this post around or link to it on your blog so that all participants see it! Thank you.

First, there seems to be some confusion about where to post reviews for the month. I have had some people post links on the original sign-up post, as well as in response to some of my own reviews. YOU MUST post reviews to the Master Post for the month (click that link to go there). Please read that post if you haven't already and follow the format to get your posts linked properly. I will be drawing the winner from those linked posts-if your review isn't linked, you will not be entered.

Second, I have had a couple of people write to request a bit more time. Since I am also behind on posting reviews and getting a few things read, I have decided to extend the date by a few days to help out. Therefore, you will have until February 10 to link posts on that Master Post above. I am hoping that the extra time will spur you all to attack another play or two, or to finish the one you already started. :)

I hope you are all enjoying your experiences with the Bard! I know I am!

Book 128: Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare (Shakespeare Reading Month).

“Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them."

I decided to read Twelfth Night after finishing As You Like It on purpose. Since As You Like It contains some gender switching, I decided to read the other play known for its play on gender right after. I haven't read Twelfth Night before, but I was familiar with the story and eager to jump in.

In Twelfth Night, Viola is shipwrecked in a new land. She assumes her twin brother, Sebastian, drowned at sea, so she determines that the best way to keep her identity safe for a period of time is to dress as a man and find work. She ends up under the employment of Duke Orsino, and he soon finds a lot to value in his new servant. The Duke doesn't know that Cesario is really Viola, but it all comes out eventually...

The Duke bids Cesario to woo the lovely Olivia, and this is where the plot gets a little convoluted. Olivia ends up falling in love with Cesario (Viola) and not the Duke. Olivia also has some lovely drunk relatives who have plans for her married future, so of course, all of the characters end up swapping partners, falling in love, and being generally confused.

This was a marvelous play! I was cracking up in any of the scenes featuring Sir Toby Belch (Olivia's uncle) and Sir Andrew Aguecheek (his friend). Both characters spend quite a bit of the play intoxicated, and offer quite a bit of amusement and chaos to the proceedings. Their conversations and mixed-up words are some of the funniest bits of the play!

Another portion that I really enjoyed is when Viola's actual brother, Sebastian, shows up in town with his servant Antonio. As Sebastian and Viola, stilled dressed in her disguise as Cesario, interact with the other characters, there is a great deal of confusion and mix-ups with the relationships. I liked that we, as the audience, get to know Sebastian in the end. Sometimes Shakespeare throws in characters at the end without defining them, but this is not the case with Sebastian.

In the end, everything manages to work out. The characters pair off as they should and the sneaky villains are punished. It was just what I expected from a Shakespearean comedy, and it is definitely a play I will revisit again. I loved the female characters, and I'll admit that I fell in love with both of them. Both were witty and clever-pushing the boundaries of acceptability for females in their time.

I find that I am constantly surprised by the power and wit of Shakespeare's female characters, and that has been especially true in this and As You Like It. I wonder, did Shakespeare do the gender switching because it was actually males reading the parts? Or did he really love and push for women to take on that level of strength and wit in their everyday lives? I wonder...

Anyway, fabulous play, and definitely one that I will read again and again! I hope you'll also give it a chance.

“This fellow is wise enough to play the fool;
And to do that well craves a kind of wit:
He must observe their mood on whom he jests,
The quality of persons, and the time,
And, like the haggard, check at every feather
That comes before his eye. This is a practise
As full of labour as a wise man's art
For folly that he wisely shows is fit;
But wise men, folly-fall'n, quite taint their wit.”

Book 127: As You Like It by William Shakespeare (Shakespeare Reading Month).

“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.”

It wasn't until I sat down to read As You Like It that I remembered I read it in college. That concerned me for a moment, since I was having a hard time remembering it, but once I got into it, all of the play came back. And I remembered that I LOVED this play when we read it in class.

As You Like It is the story of a young woman, Rosalind, who is banished from her Uncle's court and finds her way to the Forest of Arden to wait for acceptance. Her cousin Celia and the court fool Touchstone join her in the forest as they wait to go back.

One of the things that stands out about this play is the complexity in addressing identity. At one point in the play, Rosalind is impersonating a man impersonating herself. :) It is a great play on what happened with the issue of actors back in Shakespeare's time. Since, as you probably know, women weren't allowed onstage, the role was originally played by a young boy playing a female impersonating a man who was pretending to be a woman. Follow all that?

But in addition to all of that, the play is also a great comedy. It has all the elements of Shakespeare's comedies that I absolutely love: romance, confusion, fools, and a grand reveal. Of course it ends happily as well, which is always a great aspect of a comedy. The banter and relationships between the characters is fun and inviting. The play is also a fast read and one of Shakespeare's shorter works.

There are also some great lines in the play, including the bit that is on my graphic for Shakespeare Reading Month:

"Blow, blow, thou winter wind!
Thou art not so unkind
As man's ingratitude."

The play also contains one of my favorite Shakespearean speeches (the Queen Mab speech in Romeo and Juliet is another). I'm sure you'll recognize this:

"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard;
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything."

So beautiful. I love that Shakespeare created this and now, centuries later, we can still have the chance to read and remember these beautiful passages.

If you haven't read this one yet, I highly recommend it. It is a happy, loving, and funny comedy that I know you'll enjoy-especially those of you who are just discovering Shakespeare.

“Under the greenwood tree,
Who loves to lie with me
And tune his merry note,
Unto the sweet bird's throat;
Come hither, come hither, come hither.
Here shall he see
No enemy
But winter and rough weather.”

Book 126: Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare (Shakespeare Reading Month).

“The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch
Which hurts and is desired.”
 
Since finishing Julius Caesar last fall during the 24-hour Readathon, I have been anxious to read Antony and Cleopatra. This play, while not a "sequel," does talk about what happens to the Roman empire after the death of Julius Caesar. In this new Rome, it is ruled by three men: Antony, Octavius Caesar, and Lepidus.

However, Antony has been cavorting and canoodling with Cleopatra in Egypt, so he has been a bit out of the loop. Things have taken a turn as Lepidus has started to push out and abuse his power. Antony must return to Rome to set things right with Caesar. This is where the play derives its plot and set things in motion. Antony and Caesar form an alliance, but the relationship with Cleopatra complicates Antony's decisions.

The last chunk of the play recounts the deaths of both Cleopatra and Antony, as well as how Rome was reunited under Caesar to start anew. Of course there is more to it in between all that, but I can't give away everything, right?

It certainly sounds interesting, but I wasn't as into this play as I thought it would be. One of my biggest peeves was how...spread out the play seemed. This is really the first play by Shakespeare where the action is spread out over a long period of time...and it is noticeable. There were small scenes interspersed into the play where a character or two seemed to "sum up" what was going on with the battles and war between the three rulers. I was a little bit...annoyed with these scenes. I am used to the fast-paced action of Shakespeare's plays, where they usually take place in the matter or days or weeks. Not months.

The best part of the play, however, was Cleopatra. Shakespeare portrays her as a witty, passionate woman. You could tell that she really loved Antony and her people. Her aims were to love him and to love her people. She made decisions for the good of Egypt and herself.

I loved the banter with Antony in the beginning when they were still together. I also loved the degree of her temper when learns about some of Antony's "betrayals." I think I would have gotten along well with her. :)

In all, while Antony and Cleopatra was an enjoyable play, there were bits and pieces that simply didn't work for me. I think it is a play that is overshadowed by some of the others before it, like Julius Caesar. 

“That truth should be silent I had almost forgot."

For those of you who have read this one, what did you think? Did I miss a big part of it?

Movie Adaptations (Shakespeare Reading Month).

I hope you are all enjoying your Shakespearean reads this month in honor of Shakespeare Reading Month! I know I am!

Today's post is on some movie adaptations of Shakespeare's plays. Personally, I LOVE watching adaptations of books and plays! And now, with all the streaming media, older films are easier to find. Another great resource for finding movies is your local library.

Movies based on Shakespeare's plays are vast. Since he left behind 38 plays, Shakespeare has become a great source of material for filmmakers. And since movies have hit it big, there have been hundreds of adaptations. Some are modern adaptations-meaning the play is referenced or only the plotline is followed. Some are traditional, some take liberties. Some focus on Shakespeare himself, and others are all about pushing the envelope. I think they're all wonderful in their own way!

Now, there is no way I could talk about all of the movie adaptations of Shakespeare's plays, as there are close to 500...and counting. Instead, I picked 20 that I have either seen, want to see, or have heard a lot about. I'll be specific when I discuss each film about whether I have seen it. Please let me and everyone else know in the comments if there is another adaptation we all need to watch!

I also want to point you in the direction of Rotten Tomatoes "Greatest Shakespeare Movies" for another great source on Shakespearean films.


O (2001: Rated R)

O is based on the play Othello, one of Shakespeare's heralded "4 great tragedies." While I haven't read Othello, or seen any movie adaptations of the play, I have heard a lot about the play. The play itself contains a lot of references to racism, violence, angst, and identity, making it a good choice for high school students (a lot to relate to!).

The movie stars Julia Stiles, Josh Hartnett, Mekhi Phifer, Andrew Keegan, and Martin Sheen among others. Instead of the traditional storyline, the plot was adapted by director Tim Nelson to a high school setting.

I remember when this one came out, and while I wanted to see it, I never had the opportunity. This film seems to have some mixed reviews-mainly concerns that it is too violent (what do people expect when it is rated R?). I still want to see it at some point-perhaps after I finish Othello this month!


The Lion King (1994: Rated G)

Are you surprised to see a Disney movie on this list? Don't be!

The Lion King, while not a direct adaptation, has elements of two Shakespearean plays: Hamlet and Richard III. While I have only focused on the aspects of Hamlet in my previous viewings (including watching it last weekend), I know that I am going to have to watch it yet again after finishing Richard III this month.

There are scenes in here that I love because of their reference to Hamlet. The scene with Mufasa's ghost gets me every time, as well as Simba's constant struggle with his identity and purpose in life-sounds a lot like the whiny Hamlet, doesn't it?

If you haven't seen this one in awhile, find your old VHS tape and give it a go (or pick up a copy before it heads back to that stupid Disney vault).


She's the Man (2006: Rated PG-13)

Twelfth Night is actually the play I am currently reading, which makes me laugh considering I saw this movie years ago. The spoof is pretty darn funny! The play has quite a bit of cross-dressing, which makes it one of the more interesting of Shakespeare's plays (he loved switching his character's identities).

She's the Man, starring Amanda Bynes, is a modern retelling of the play. There is no Shakespearean language, but the plot, cross-dressing and all, serves as the inspiration.

The movie is quite hilarious, and that should say something considering the fact that I think Amanda Bynes isn't that funny of a girl. But the comedy is spot on, the situations are hilarious, and it is just what you can expect from a teen comedy spoofing the Bard (Plus Channing Tatum is in it, and he is easy on the eyes...)

Richard III (1995: Rated R)

I actually had never even heard of this film until I was searching for a few more film adaptations of Shakespeare's historical plays. It probably doesn't help that I was only 10 when it came out. And since I'm reading this one, I figured I should do a little more research!

This film stars Ian McKellen (Yes, Gandalf from Lord of the Rings..."You SHALL NOT PASS!"- Sorry, couldn't help it), as the murderous and insane Richard III. Set in a fascist and scary form of England in the 1930s, the film takes some liberties with Shakespeare's original work.

That being said, the movie has earned great reviews and I am anxious to get my hands...errr....eyes on this one to see what I think of the adaptation and move to a more "modern" setting for one of Shakespeare's historical plays. Has anyone else seen this one?


The Taming of the Shrew (1967)

The Taming of the Shrew has long been one of my favorite plays by Shakespeare, ever since I first read it in high school, so when my college Shakespeare class watched this film as a "fun" class, I was absolutely enthralled in the film.

Directed by Franco Zeffirelli, this film stars two of the biggest actors of the era: Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. The costumes are fabulous, as is the acting. Taylor really captures the anger and reluctance of Katharina, and Burton is an excellent Petruchio!

I love the whole "battle of the sexes" that plays out in both the play and the film. It is fun and entertaining!


The Tempest (2012: Rated PG-13)

Considering that this one is a recent release, I'm surprised that I had never even heard of it until I was looking for film versions of The Tempest. I just read the play back in August of 2010, so you can imagine my shock! It was also nominated for Best Costume Design at the Oscars...so why haven't I read of it?

In any case, the film stars Helen Mirren as Prospero...a bit of gender and role switching from the original play (Prospero is a male character in the play). There is also quite a bit of CGI as noted by the reviews, and quite a few alterations from the play.

I still think it looks interesting, and since Helen Mirren is such an amazing actress, I think I will have to remember this one for the future!


Anonymous (2011: Rated PG-13)

I was really bummed that I didn't go and see this when it was in theaters this fall (I checked and none of the theaters in the area are still showing it).

This film focuses on the controversy surrounding Shakespeare's authorship. Taking place during the failed Essex revolution, the film portrays the Earl of Oxford as the true author of the Shakespearean works.

I'm curious to see what the film has to say, as well as whether it references any real evidence to back up that statement. :) I am team Will Shakespeare from Stratford, so unless someone finds some pretty compelling to prove that someone else is the true author, I won't be swayed. But I'm sure the film is entertaining and offers a lot to think about (for instance, how little we really know about the past!).


Julius Caesar (1953)

The oldest adaptation on this list and one that I really enjoy, is this 1953 adaptation of Julius Caesar with the dreamy Marlon Brando as Antony.

This is a well-done and fairly accurate representation of the play, and I really love the scenery, costumes, and the actors in this one. The story of Julius Caesar is one that really interests me, and since finishing the play in the most recent readathon, I've been thinking about reading a little more about Mr. Caesar.

In any case, the movie is a wonderful old classic, and you should really think about watching it at some point.

And come on, Brando? Yes please.


Coriolanus (2011: Rated R)

Besides the fact that this has Gerard Butler in it (as a Spartan of Michigan State, I have a certain affection for Butler and 300), I love that this new adaptation is taking on one of the Bard's more unfamiliar plays!

This one will hit the theaters a little later this month, and even my husband is excited to go see it! Of course, I am curious to see how close they will keep the film to the feeling of the play. Will they keep the language (always my first concern)? You can tell by the trailers that they have modernized the era and such-obviously there are no tanks in Shakespeare's original. But, I have high hopes that the film will capture the spirit and power of the story that Shakespeare told.

Anyone else planning on seeing this in the theater?


Othello (1995: Rated R)

I actually have this one set up with Netflix as a film I WILL watch before the end of the month. Like I said above, I haven't read Othello yet, but I am anxious to get to it.

Since Kenneth Branagh is is fabulous Shakespearean actor, I have really high hopes for this somewhat recent interpretation of the play. I think that Branagh really understands the underlying meanings of Shakespeare's plays and always finds a way to bring them to life.

(Do you know that we have Branagh to thank for the "recent" revival of interest in turning the Bard's plays into film? yep, his fault).

For those that have read the play AND seen the movie, is this a good adaptation?


West Side Story (1961)

I'm kind of scared to admit that I haven't seen this one either! I know enough about it to say that West Side Story is a "modern" interpretation of the Romeo and Juliet story.

Instead of Italy, the story is set in New York City. Our star-crossed lovers come from rival gangs and the expected drama ensues.

I remember that we almost convinced our ninth grade teacher to show this to us instead of the old version of the actual play, but she said no (something about the violence level?). This is definitely a movie that has been on my radar ever since, so I know that at some point I'll cave and watch it.



Shakespeare in Love (1998: Rated R)

I'm almost a bit embarrassed to say that I love this movie. It is one of the films I watch when I've had a crappy day. This movie takes a very interesting approach to the inspiration behind Shakespeare's great love story in Romeo and Juliet by having Will fall in love with the beautiful Viola. Their love story inspires his writing of the play.

One of the things I love about this movie is the other pieces of the era we get as well-from boys playing female roles, to the fights and violence, to the grandeur or Elizabeth's court.

And one of my favorite parts is watching Ben Affleck play a pompous actor. Cracks me up every time. :)

No really, the movie is a good romance, and it did win a bunch of Oscars!


The Merchant of Venice (2004: Rated R)

This is another play coming up in my reading pile this month, so this is another movie waiting its turn in the Netflix queue. Again, I was surprised at finding this one, since I don't remember it hitting theaters (perhaps I just have a bad memory).

This play focuses a lot on racial tension, especially in regards to Jews. From reviews I have read online, the film is a fairly accurate depiction of the play. I am also curious to see Al Pacino in a Shakespearean role, since that isn't what I am used to!

The film also stars Jeremy Irons, who is a fabulous actor as well, so I will go into this one with high hopes!



Henry V (1989: Rated PG-13)

This movie is the film that started the "modern" craze of adapting the Bard's plays for the big screen (as I started to say above). Directed by Kenneth Branagh, this film focuses on the king of the same name, who battled his way into France.

Branagh did a fabulous job with this one (I read the play and watched the film in college). Again, it is a fairly accurate representation and it really brings the battle and hardship to life in a way that the play cannot. But mostly, I love Branagh in this...well, I love Branagh in anything (he plays Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets if you didn't know). But he shines here.

And we have this film to think for the other Shakespearean films that emerged in the 1990s and 2000s. That is a big deal.


Romeo + Juliet (1996: Rated PG-13)

I was 11 when this came out, and I remember it being a big deal because of Leo. This was around the whole Leonardo CRAZE, which I was sadly a part of. And at my young age, I really loved this movie. What teenage girl doesn't love the idea of Romeo and Juliet?

Anyway, this is definitely a different interpretation of the play. Director Baz Luhrmann took quite a few liberties by placing this in a more modern setting, complete with crazy Hawaiian shirts, cars, and guns. The movie is mostly in line with the language of the play (they do use lines from the end of the play at the beginning of the movie, which I don't like or understand), but the movie is still good.

And hey, young Leo. :)


Hamlet (1990: Rated PG)

I purposefully chose this version over the 1996 version (starring Kenneth Branagh of course) because I've seen this one. ;) We actually watched this one as part of my AP English class in high school, so I have some fond memories.

And hey, I think it's funny that Mel Gibson is in it. :) No, I actually really enjoy this version, crazy Gibson and all. There are some great visuals in it, plus it has some other fabulous actors. Glenn Close is wonderful as Gertrude. And the one and only Helena Bonham Carter is Ophelia. And if you know anything about her, you'll know that the role of Ophelia is perfect for her.

This is a great choice, especially if you are looking for a film that uses much of the same language!


Romeo and Juliet (1968: Rated G or PG-13 depending on where you look)

I think this is Director Zeffirelli's masterpiece, but I'm not enough of a film nut to back that up with tons of knowledge. ;) Anyway, this is probably one of the most accurate representations of Shakespeare's work on the big screen in regards to language, costumes, and era.

I really love the older feel of this film, and I was in love with it from the first time we watched it as ninth graders. The actors are absolutely amazing, especially John McEnery who plays Mercutio (probably my favorite Shakespearean character).

I should warn you that the movie is often labeled as G or PG. There is some very obvious nudity in the scene where Romeo leaves Juliet after spending the night with her. Be forewarned!


A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999: Rated PG-13)

As one of my favorite comedies, A Midsummer Night's Dream holds a very dear place in my heart. This movie is another that I love to watch after a crappy day, as it always makes me smile.

Since the play has such a magical, fun-loving quality, I love that the film captures the forest and the hi-jinks that ensue. The cast is great, but my favorite is Stanley Tucci as the mischievous Puck. He really captures the role of the sly fairy responsible for all the mix-ups!

I also think that Michelle Pfeiffer does a great job as Titania. Other actors include Kevin Kline, Rupert Everett, Calista Flockhart, and Christian Bale (pre-scary Batman voice).



10 Things I Hate About You (1999: Rated Pg-13)

Probably my favorite Shakespearean "spoof," 10 Things I Hate About You captures everything I love about The Taming of the Shrew. Made into a modern teen comedy, this one is just plain hilarious. In addition to the romancing and battle of the sexes, it puts in a lot of modern humor that I think Shakespeare would approve of.

The cast is also great: Heath Ledger, Julia stiles, Andrew Keegan, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt to name a few. They all do a great job of capturing the spirit of the original play-but don't think you'll hear a lot of iambic pentameter-this was merely inspired by the bard's play.

Some of my favorite scenes include Ledger's serenade by the soccer field, the paintball fight, the school counselor and her romance novel, and Gordon-Levitt's character.


Much Ado About Nothing (1993: Rated PG-13)

Hand's down my favorite Shakespearean comedy, Much Ado About Nothing is also one of my all-time favorite movies. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, it really is a great example of the Bard's play. It has great music and imagery, as well as one of the best casts in any Shakespearean adaptation: Kenneth Branagh, Kate Beckinsale, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves, and Michael Keaton.

Really, it shouldn't work, but it does. Reeves absolutely cracks me up as Don John the Bastard, and Thompson is amazing as the sharp-tongued Beatrice. Keaton plays Dogberry, the "clown" character, and he is simply amazing!

If there is one adaptation you watch this month, please make it be this one-I promise you'll love it! :)


There you have it, 20 movie adaptations of Shakespeare's plays. I hope that one or two (or all 20) grabbed you in some way. Please consider watching one in celebration of Shakespeare Reading Month, or mark it down for future reference.

And, if you have watched one that didn't make my list, please tell us about it in the comments! I am looking for more recommendations, and I am sure others are too!