Why Shakespeare, Still?
I found links to Kiernan Ryan’s Guardian article on Shakespeare both at Mental Multivitamin and at Arts & Letters Daily. I like that Ryan challenges the common theory for Shakespeare’s continued popularity.
The popular consensus is that his drama has defied obsolescence and triumphed in translation all over the globe because it expresses the timeless truths of the universal human condition. It’s a view that has secured powerful advocates, from Samuel Johnson in the 18th century to Harold Bloom in the 21st. But it’s a view whose platitudinous piety I’ve never found credible, not least because it’s been used so often to buttress the status quo.
Ryan’s conclusion, though, proved less compelling to me than the one he purported to denounce.
Shakespeare’s drama still thrills us because it allows us to see his world from the standpoint of a world that men and women are still struggling to create. Shakespeare’s gift to our time is an extraordinary one: the power to view the past that shaped the present as if we were already citizens of centuries to come.
I came to Shakespeare via Kenneth Branagh’s film adaptation of Henry V. “I can understand this,” I thought exultantly, as I sat in the theater and waited to find out who won the battle, my enjoyment of the movie made more powerful by my spotty knowledge of history. Since then, I have read several of the plays, seen them performed on film or in the theater and read other books and seen other films that are homages to Shakespeare’s works. I enjoy Shakespeare, and I don’t think it has to do with the universality of the stories, or with what Ryan said.
For me, it’s the language. My brain has to work just a bit harder to process it. Once I have done, I feel I’ve had the mental equivalent of a good workout and a hearty meal. The language draws me in, then the stories keep me engaged.
Recently, a movie meme made the rounds. I ignored it because I am terrible at quoting movies. My ease at coming up with Shakespeare quotes, though, supports my theory on why I like Shakespeare.
Why do you like Shakespeare? The language, the stories, a combination? I propose a Shakespeare variation on the movie meme. If it goes ’round, perhaps I’ll see if I’m the only one who disagrees with Ryan. If you have a blog, post a link to your entry in the comments. If you don’t have a blog, answer in the comments.
1. Name the first five lines of Shakespeare that come into your head. (Don’t cheat–write the first five that you think of, then check for accuracy later.)
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers
The quality of mercy is not strained
All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players
Lead on, MacDuff (Oops, it’s actually Lay On, MacDuff)
To thine own self be true
2. The last Shakespeare play you went to see on stage.
Antony and Cleopatra
3. The last Shakespeare film homage or adaptation you watched at home or at the movies.
Titus (at home)
4. What Shakespeare homage/adaptation/plays are on your to be read/to be seen list?
Looking for Richard on Tivo
Richard II on DVD
Hamlet (read the play and watch the Branagh DVD, once I finish Don Quixote)
Gertrude and Claudius, by John Updike
5. Name a favorite Shakespeare-inspired work.
Issue #75 of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman. It was a strong ending to a strong series. Good endings are hard to do. Gaiman pulled it off brilliantly. Close second, The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey.
6. Why do you think Shakespeare’s plays are still popular?
May 13th, 2005 at 12:59 pm
(from an email exchange that really is meant to be this comment)
Gawd, this is like the Friday Five went to grad school!
…But I’ll
take a crack at it.
>
>
> 1. Name the first five lines of Shakespeare that come into your head.
> (Don’t cheat–write the first five that you think of, then check for
> accuracy later.)
>
Accuracy, schmaccuracy. Here’s what I think I know, and others can
correct me.
a. “Lechery? I defy lechery!” -Sir Toby Belch, Twelfth Night, after
being accused of drunkenness and lethargy b. “Many a good hanging has
prevented a bad marriage.” -Feste the clown, in the same play
c. “Knock, knock! Who’s there?” -a minor character in the Scot’s Play,
forever altering the comedy landscape
d. “Nymph, in thy orisons be all my sins remembered.” -Hamlet, being
Hamlet
e. “Sweet lady Disdain, are you still living?” -Benedick, from the
play we like to call “Muchado” (pronounced moo-CHAW-doe)
> 2. The last Shakespeare play you went to see on stage.
>
Twelfth Night, at the Globe in San Diego… five summers ago.
(Starring Harry Groener, the Mayor from “Buffy,” as Feste!)
> 3. The last Shakespeare film homage or adaptation you watched at home or at the movies.
>
My Own Private Idaho, Gus Van Sant’s movie, on DVD at home
> 4. What Shakespeare homage/adaptation/plays are on your to be
> read/to be seen list?
>
* Looking for Richard
* Speaking of Pacino, I’ll check out the new Merchant of Venice
* I never saw the Ethan Hawke Hamlet
> 5. Name a favorite Shakespeare-inspired work.
>
All-time favorite: “10 Things I Hate About You.”
> 6. Why do you think Shakespeare’s plays are still popular?
>
Language, yes, but if that was all there was to it we’d have a lot
more Marlowe and Kyd fans. It’s the characters and the lovely hints of
a deeper, more meaningful inner state in each of them. It was
something of an innovation for characters’ motives to be not just
hidden from one another but also, at times from the audience.
May 13th, 2005 at 1:48 pm
Yay! Comments are working again. Here is the link to the post in which I answered your questions.
http://mentalmultivitamin.blogspot.com/2005/05/again-with-bard.html
May 13th, 2005 at 3:52 pm
Yay, comments! Here is a link to my Shakespeare thoughts: http://nautile.blogspot.com/2005/05/arrrrgggghhhhh-shakes-spear.html
May 20th, 2005 at 2:48 pm
Thanks, all, for responding. This is good stuff!