BBC Radio has a unique heritage when it comes to Shakespeare. Since 1923, when the newly formed company broadcast its first full-length play, generations of actors and producers have honed and perfected the craft of making Shakespeare to be heard. Titles include Othello, Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth. Revitalized, original, and comprehensive, this is Shakespeare for the new millennium.
William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "the Bard"). His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted. Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others. Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights. Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".
Four Great Tragedies: Hamlet / Othello / King Lear / Macbeth, William Shakespeare
Hamlet: One of the most famous plays of all time, the compelling tragedy of the young prince of Denmark who must reconcile his longing for oblivion with his duty to avenge his father鈥檚 murder is one of Shakespeare鈥檚 greatest works. The ghost, Ophelia鈥檚 death and burial, the play within a play, and the breathtaking swordplay are just some of the elements that make Hamlet a masterpiece of the theater.
Othello:This great tragedy of unsurpassed intensity and emotion is played out against Renaissance splendor. The doomed marriage of Desdemona to the Moor Othello is the focus of a storm of tension, incited by the consummately evil villain Iago, that culminates in one of the most deeply moving scenes in theatrical history.
King Lear: Here is the famous and moving tragedy of a king who foolishly divides his kingdom between his two wicked daughters and estranges himself from the young daughter who loves him鈥揳 theatrical spectacle of outstanding proportions.
Macbeth: No dramatist has ever seen with more frightening clarity into the heart and mind of a murderer than has Shakespeare in this brilliant and bloody tragedy of evil. Taunted into asserting his 鈥渕asculinity鈥� by his ambitious wife, Macbeth chooses to embrace the Weird Sisters鈥� prophecy and kill his king鈥揳nd thus, seals his own doom.
HAMLET "Sumnjaj da l麓 su zbilja sjajne zvezde ove, Sumnjaj da li sunce zna putanju svoju; Sumnjaj da li la啪 se istinom zove; Ali u ljubav ne posumnjaj moju..."
Mislim da su ovi stihovi, pored Biti il` ne biti? - pitanje je sad. jedni od najpoznatijih izjava Hamletovih.
Prvo 膷itanje je bilo obavezno, za 拧kolu, ovo drugo, to je samo za mene. I dalje nalazim da je poezija, kako anti膷ka, tako i srednjevekovna, 艩ekspirovska, bila prepuna jakih ose膰anja i slabih du拧a i umova. Sumnjam da 膰e se na膰i i jedna pri膷a, pesma, zapis ili 拧ta drugo u kojoj bar neko nije poludeo ili se ubio. Mada opet, ne zovu se tragedije uzalud.
Mo啪da je ovo ipak komad koji treba i gledati, a ne samo 膷itati ali evo ja, i godinama kasnije, smatram da su mnoge stvari presko膷ene (a trebale su biti ispri膷ane, kako bi se pri膷a bolje do啪ivela); kako je motiv, u trenutku kazivanja ovog dela, kralja Danske i dalje nepotpuno razja拧njen (bilo je spomena o manjku ose膰anja, ali da li o nedostatku potpunom ili samo u pogledu njegovog brata ne zna se. On tra啪i opro拧taj, zna da je po膷inio greh, a opet ne nalazi dovoljno 膷ove膷nosti u sebi da se kaje. Govori o svojoj kraljici i sre膰i 拧to je sada njegova, a ne njegovog brata, a opet mu je svejedno kada uzima otrovanu 膷a拧u...primera je mnogo, jednostavno nije ostavio dovoljno jak utisak na mene kao zlikovac ove pri膷e); pojavljivanje duha, na po膷etku tako zna膷ajno, a kasnije mu nema ni traga, pa ni da zahteva osvetu ni da se njome, na posletku, kona膷no zadovolji; Kraljica je ostala toliko nedore膷en lik, a imala je potencijala biti i sjajan zlikovac (realno je plot twist mogao biti da je ona u膷estvovala u zaveri da joj se prvi mu啪 ubije kada se, nakon samo dva meseca, preudala za njegovog brata i ubicu) ali i neko sposoban za pokajanje ali avaj, za拧to tro拧iti re膷i na 啪enu? 艩to me opet dovodi do Ofelije, devojke koja je bila spremna odre膰i se Hamleta na prvu o膷evu re膷 a opet, nakon o膷eve smrti i svog pada u ludilo, nari膷e za njim i utapa se zbog prezrene ljubavi? A sam Hamlet...na po膷etku spreman da ubije, zatim se neprestano premi拧lja i mu膷i sebe a onda ni okom ne trepne kada gre拧kom ubije Polonija, u naletu psihi膷kog rastrojstva? Pa ga jo拧 i hladnokrvno negde odvu膷e i sakrije, da bi potom malo plakao pa opet sve zaboravio i 膷udio se Laertovom gnevu?
Uh, mnogo zamerki, ali nije da mi se nije uop拧te dopao, 艩ekspirov na膷in pisanja je jedinstven (mada mi, opet, gorepomenut stih mnogo lep拧e zvu膷i u svom prevodu nego u originalu). 3/5 zvezdica od mene.
KRALJ LIR 膶itano puta - jedan.
Prvi utisci: Pri膷a po膷inje kao bajka o starom kralju koji ima tri k膰eri pa pita koja ga voli najvi拧e, da mu opi拧e kako i koliko i 拧ta bi u膷inila. Dok se prve dve utrkuju u naki膰enim i pritvornim hvalama, najmla膽a mu odgovara da ga voli taman koliko treba k膰er da voli oca, da ga ne膰e i ne mo啪e lagati. Razgnevljen, kralj (Lir) je odbacuje. Tada proteruje i Grofa od Kenta, 膷oveka koji se usprotivio kralju govore膰i mu da treba da poslu拧a svoju najmla膽u 膰erku, svoju mezimicu i spozna istinu u njenim re膷ima jer zaista, ona ga voli najvi拧e. Moram priznati da sam ovde po啪elela da on bude glavni junak na拧e pri膷e ali, avaj, vide膰emo. Predstavljeni su nam i Kralj Francuske i Vojvoda od Burgundije kao Kordelijini (najmla膽a k膰i) prosci. Burgundija je odbacuje nakon 拧to 膷uje da kralj ne膰e dati nikakav miraz za nju ali je zato Kralj Francuske odu拧evljen mladom devojkom i njenom iskreno拧膰i i drage volje je uzima za svoju kraljicu (ovo mi je, moram priznati, bio mali 拧ok, za to doba).
Dalje imamo Edmunda, nezakonitog sina (srednji vek/novi vek, pa 膷ak i ovo na拧e 鈥渕oderno doba鈥� i njihove etikete) Grofa od Glostera.
Izvrsna je ta ludost ovog sveta: kad se na拧oj sre膰i smu膷i, 膷esto usled njene presi膰enosti na拧im vlastitim postupcima, mi krivimo za na拧e neda膰e Sunce, Mesec i zvezde; kao da smo mi nitkovi po nekoj neminovnosti; budale po nebeskoj prinudi; nevaljalci, lopovi i izdajnici zbog nadmo膰i sfera; pijanice, la啪ovi i bludnici zbog nametnute nam pokornosti uticaju planeta; i kao da je sve u 膷emu smo zli podstaknuto nekom natprirodnom silom. Divan izgovor za arhibludnog 膷oveka da svoju pohotljivu sklonost baci na teret neke zvezde! Moj otac se sjedinio sa mojom majkom pod Zmajevim repom; moje ro膽enje se dogodilo pod sazve啪膽em Velikog medveda; iz toga sleduje da sam surov i pohotljiv. Koje拧ta! Bio bih ono 拧to sam 膷ak i da je najdevi膷anskija zvezda na nebeskom svodu svetlucala kad sam se kopilio.
Amin, dru啪e. Zatim 鈥� Budala, definitivno najgotivniji lik. Sve ti ka啪e, ako si voljan pa啪ljivo da slu拧a拧 i 膷uje拧. Bez dlake na jeziku. 沤ao mi je 拧to je na kraju ostao potpuno zaboravljen. Edgar, zakoniti sin Grofa od Glostera, nepravedno optu啪en i osu膽en na lutanje. Te拧ko je slu拧ati ga u ulozi lude i prosjaka.
Premda sam na po膷etku razumela Reganu i Gonerilu (dve starije k膰eri) njihovi kasniji postupci su dokazali da su zaista Kordelijine sumnje i strahovi bili opravdani, kao i Budaline i Kentove.
Smenjivanje ludosti i lucidnosti je toliko suptilno da se nekad ne mo啪e ni naslutiti gde jedno zavr拧ava a drugo po膷inje. Sve u svemu, 4/5 zvezdica.
This is a mass-market-sized edition I keep at my desk at work. One can dip into any of these pages and find a healing salve amidst the incessant streams of bowdlerized corporate-speak.
If there is a lesson common to all of these tragedies, it is not to go jumping to conclusions. You may have an enemy muddying the waters (Othello). You may have mispercieved the situation because your ego is in the way (King Lear). You may think you are avoiding fate, when actually you are placing yourself right in the way of it by doing something ethically questionable (Macbeth). Or you may just be a little to self-righteous for your own good (Hamlet). Tragedy in these works is usually brought about by the protagonists own misuse of power or action. Shakespeare gives some good warning here to check yourself before you go off on a tangent.
idk why we had to get this specific edition for my class since we only read Othello - but it did have some extra info and the source material Shakespeare stole from so that was helpful.
I'm sick of Othello though like wow. if i ever have to read this again it'll be too soon.
5 stars for the book. I liked that this one had the footnotes at the bottom of each page by line number, and the notes not only provided definitions of obscure words or words that no longer mean the same thing, but historical context as well. There are further notes at the back for changes that have been made over the years to the text, and they even group the popular quotes from each play at the end.
I only gave the introductory material for each play a cursory glance, but what I did read was interesting and for those who want to know more about the history of the plays and their productions and inspirations, it's good stuff to go through. At the end of each play is additional information about Shakespeare's sources. The true Shakespeare scholar would appreciate all that stuff.
This book is great in that it compiles Shakespeare's four main tragedies, but its font is very small, its pages are short, and putting together all of these texts makes it difficult to hold the book and flip the pages. The notes that go along with the plays are difficult to read because they are listed beneath each page of the play, and the formatting is just awkward. Definitely much harder to read than the Barnes & Noble Editions of Shakespeare's works.
I think that the plays in this book are great, but the format and structure of the book make it difficult to read it. This edition would be something you could have to save room on your shelf (rather than having four separate books), and you could use this copy as a reference book and look up certain parts of the plays when you need to, but I wouldn't recommend this edition for pleasure reading.
Okay, I love Shakespeare! I have read this book over and over, for classes and for leisure, and my absolute favorite play is King Lear. I love the disruption of gender conventions and the vanity of the characters. I love how Lear goes from being king down to being nothing. I think that it's Shakespeare's most brilliant and misogynist play. Regan and Goneril are so united and terribly ambitious and they pretty much throw it away over Edmund, going along with saying that "down from the waist they are centaurs", lustful centaurs that will risk a kingdom for a penis. Edmund is the greatest villain: he conspires to get his father's estate by framing his brother and selling his father up the river.He is so cold-hearted. Brilliant.
Othello is good, but only because of Iago. He is a wonderful villain and a mastermind, and the only reason to read Othello.
Hamlet, is my least favorite of all. He's too depressed and indecisive for my taste. That's all I will say.
Macbeth, is great as well. Something about ambitious women killing for power just appeals to me.
Christopher F. Brown Prof. Chris Weidenbach English 017 / Shakespeare 11/30/2013
A Brief Unpacking And Examination Of Corruption And Nationalism Through The Shakespearian Plays: Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Othello, And Troilus & Cressida.
In a paper about the play, 鈥淛ulius Caesar鈥� I wrote that 鈥淛ulius Caesar,鈥� 鈥�. . . is a message of warning against, and commentary about nationalism.鈥� The underlying themes of, commentaries about, Nationalism and Corruption are also very present in the plays: MacBeth, Othello, and Troilus & Cressida. The ideology of Nationalism is defined by Merriam Webster鈥檚 on-line dictionary as, 鈥淟oyalty and devotion to a nation, especially: a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of the culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups.鈥� Corruption is, defined, again defined by Merriam Webster鈥檚 on-line dictionary, as 鈥淚mpairment of integrity, virtue, or moral principle: depravity, decay, decomposition, inducement to wrong by improper or unlawful means (as bribery) a departure from the original or from what is pure or correct.鈥�
In the play, 鈥淥thello鈥� the character of Othello is constantly referred to as 鈥淭he Moor.鈥� On the surface, this is just a term that lets the reader know that Othello is of North African descent, and possible a Muslim, Shakespeare never directly writes such in the play but it is inferred as such. If this is examined further, the slight of subtle Nationalism can be seen in Act 1, Scene 1, lines 105-110; Act 1, Scene 1 lines 127-134, and Act 1, Scene 2, lines 7-28. Iago, in a clear example of corruption, and a subtle swipe of the negative aspects of Nationalism tries to convince Brabantio that it was a highly negative thing that Othello be married to his daughter, says,
Zounds, sir, you are on of those that will not serve God if the devil bid you. Because we come to do you service and you think we are ruffians, you鈥檒l have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse, you鈥檒l have your nephews neigh to you, you鈥檒l have coursers for cousins, and gennets for germans.
-- Othello, Act 1, Scene 1, lines 105-110
All of that simply means that Othello is a Moor, an outsider, not a Venetian. If you let him, Othello, the Barbary horse, which is a breed of Arabian horse and a derogatory term for a Moor, have your daughter your descendants, meant by nephews, will neigh to you, meaning that your descendants will be part beast. A courser is another horse, particularly, a fast warhorse used in medieval Europe, again making bestial references. A 鈥済enney鈥� is an old English/Shakespearian term for 鈥淛enny鈥� which is a Spanish Donkey. Shakespeare uses the term 鈥淕erman鈥� in the sense of the old English/Shakespearian usage which meant cousins, as in having the same grandparents on ones mother鈥檚 or father鈥檚 side of the family. Iago is not only being racist on the surface but is inferring that Othello might also have some Spanish blood in him as well. If Brabantio lets Othello have his daughter then the Spanish Donkeys, the 鈥淕ennys鈥� will become apart of Brabantio family, appealing to the subtle draw of Venetian nationalism in that in medieval Europe, as well as in some places in modern Europe, Spain is known as a part of Europe and has European culture, but unspokenly, Spain has been looked down upon by other Europeans as other, not 鈥渢ruly鈥� European. Iago is appealing to the nationalistic side of Brabantio in order to corrupt him against Othello.
One of the doctrines of Nationalism is the national purity of it鈥檚 citizens. The citizens of nation 鈥淎鈥� should seek to procreate with other citizens of nation 鈥淎.鈥� The procreation between citizens of nation, 鈥淎鈥� with citizens of nation, 鈥淏鈥� is only to be done sparingly, and only when it serves to benefit the nations that could not be had otherwise. In the case of Othello and Desdemona, they eloped without regard for proper protocol, without regard for the rules and regulations of high society, of the nation, of Venice. Roderigo under the corrupting influence of Iago in a plot to gain Desdemona for himself says to Brabantio in Act 1, Scene 1 lines 127-134,
Do not believe that from the sense of all civility I thus would play and trifle with your reverence. Your daughter, if you have not given her leave, I say again, hath made a gross revolt, tying her duty, beauty, with, and fortunes in extravagant and wheeling stranger of here and everywhere. straight satisfy yourself.
-- Othello, Act 1, Scene 1 lines 127-134
again giving nod to the same subtle usage of Nationalism and pointing out how he, Othello is an outsider, stating Othello is an, 鈥渆xtravagant and wheeling stranger of here and everywhere鈥� is in a sense, saying to Brabantio that Desdemona has thrown away her, 鈥渄uty, beauty, with, and fortunes鈥� on a wandering nobody. This attempt is a direct appeal to Brabantio鈥檚 sense of nationalistic pride, and is using Nationalism here as a corrupting tool.
In the first part of Act 1, Scene 2 Iago attempts to corrupt Othello against the Venetian aristocracy by telling him how horribly they spoke of him and how much harm they could do to him. Iago tells Othello how Brabantio is loved by the people and holds much influence and power beyond his rank. Iago plays on subtle Nationalistic notions and points out to Othello how Othello is once again considered an outsider. In Act 1, Scene 2, lines 17-28 Othello responds by saying,
Let him do his spite. My services which I have done the Signiory shall out-tongue his complaints. 鈥榯is yet to know which when I know that boasting is an honor I shall promulgate 鈥� I fetch my life and being from men of royal siege, and my demerits may speak unbonneted to as proud a fortune as this that I have reached. for know, Iago, but that I love the gentile Desdemona, put into circumscription and confine for the seas鈥� worth. but lights come yond?
Othello is forced to appeal to the ideology of Nationalism as being a servant of the nationalism of Venice, not a challenger. Othello is forced into a political goldilocks paradigm. Othello can never be a fully accepted member of the nation, of Venice, yet if in good faith he marries into a high standing family as he did, although not for political purposes but actual love, and gives of himself at a high level of servitude as he did, he is not met with the full negative forces of being and outsider of the nation. Othello, for now, is left unassaulted, but not bruised, by Iago鈥檚 and Roderigo鈥檚 attempts to use the ideology of Nationalism against Othello, yet everyone has been fully induced into the initial stages of corruption Iago has planted.
This is as blatant as is the ideology of Nationalism is present in the play, 鈥淥thello.鈥� In the play, 鈥淢acBeth鈥� or 鈥淭he Scottish Play,鈥� Nationalism and Corruption are more present. Through prophecy and persuasion an increasingly corrupt MacBeth positions himself to gain the crown of Scotland. In 鈥淢acBeth," as with medieval other European monarchies, the idea is that the King (in the historical case of England and Spain, Queen) is the state/nation and serving the will of the King is serving the will of the state/nation. The conflict arises in, 鈥淢acBeth鈥� when three witches tell MacBeth he will be King, as well as telling his good friend and fellow soldier Banquo, he will spawn a line of Kings. In the monarchal system of medieval Europe, there can only be one ruling King and typically that King鈥檚 children are the ones that inherit the thrown. The conflict is increased by the fact that neither of the men are in line to be King and there is already a reigning monarch at the start of the play.
鈥淢acBeth,鈥� speaks to the notion of how a spark ambition and what one is willing to do to accomplish the goals of ambition can turn one to corruption and using Nationalism as part of an arsenal of corrupting tools. MacBeth鈥檚 wife fully embraces the corrupting notions of being a Queen, a head of state, when she receives MacBeth鈥檚 letter speaking of the prophecy foretold by the witches. Lady MacBeth pledges herself to do whatever she could to make the prophecy come true. As I wrote in another paper, the corruption of MacBeth has taken full effect and MacBeth goes, 鈥�. . .from a true nobleman with a heart and a sense of loyalty, duty, and a very present conscious to, by the time Lady MacBeth kills herself, a very heartless, cold, and power hungry man.鈥� After MacBeth has killed Duncan, the rightful King of Scotland, and causes Malcolm and Donalbain, Duncan鈥檚 sons, to have fled to England, killed Banquo, MacBeth then uses the guise of Nationalism, the will of the King as being good for, and the will of the kingdom, to cause MacDuff to flee Scotland as a traitor and then have his killed his family.
There are a select few that are willing to speak aloud, although not to his face, that all are not fully swept away in the new Nationalistic fever of praising MacBeth. In Act 3, Scene 4, lines 1-38 Lennox and Another random lord have a conversation amongst themselves, where they speak of the killing of Duncan, the fleeing of Malcolm, Donalbain, and McDuff, and openly refer to MacBeth as a tyrant. This conversation is Shakespeares way of telling the reader that all have not fully fallen under the persuasion of MacBeth鈥檚 unrightfull implantation of himself as being the head of the nation and therefore setting the stage for conflict between MacBeth鈥檚 brand of Nationalism and the version that others whom are not loyal to MacBeth subscribe hold. If the reader fully undertakes analysis of 鈥淢acBeth,鈥� it is inferred that, Duncan the King of Scotland, has recently become so at the onset of 鈥淢acBeth鈥� by having won a battle ousting the Thane of Cawdor and making MacBeth the new Thane. This notion is important because it plays against the theme of Nationalism and Corruption. If the reader is to assume that Duncan was a conquering force upon Scotland then his legitimacy to the throne of Scotland is only such because he took it by force. If this is true then it makes those loyal to Duncan, loyal to Malcolm, Donalbain, and McDuff no different than MacBeth. When reading 鈥淢acBeth,鈥� the reader views MacBeth as a traitor and villain because he does not subscribe to the nationalistic ideology that has Duncan as head of state and corrupt for envisioning himself as head of state but factually Duncan, just as MacBeth, used Nationalism as a tool to establish himself as rightful monarch only more effectively having had other still loyal to him after his death and only having MacBeth revolt against him during his reign. It is because of MacBeth鈥檚 and Lady MacBeth鈥檚 ready willingness to pursue perceived corruption to supplant Duncan and implant themselves as head of state and then their latter succumbing to insanity, that reader views MacBeth鈥檚 and Lady MacBeth鈥檚 actions as corrupt when maybe, their actions might have been the very same as some of the actions of Duncan鈥檚 past.
The message of Nationalistic legitimacy is the opposite, yet in some ways similar to the Nationalistic warning found in the play 鈥淛ulius Caesar.鈥� Cesar is already established as the head of state, of Rome, and the vast majority of Romans accept his legitimacy. There are some; however that when put under pressure and have a bit of cajoling applied to them, come to believe that Caesar is no longer serving the interest of the people of Rome or Rome its self but their own. Rome being a republic at this time, there is no unquestioned ruler, the ruler has to answer to the senate and even though we like to believe the senate represented the people, it did not. The senate of ancient Rome represented the interests the Roman aristocracy. Brutus is one man, of the aristocracy, that is different from rest in that he truly does believe in doing what is right for the people of Rome. In a paper about, 鈥淛ulius Caesar鈥� I wrote, 鈥�. . . it was not jealousy that caused Brutus to act. The love of Rome, the love of country and state, caused Brutus to kill the man [Caesar] he also claimed to love.鈥�
In, 鈥淛ulius Caesar鈥� the juxtaposition between the ideals of Nationalism are found. The one ideal in MacBeth were the King is the nation and the ideal found in more modern times where the people of the state, not just its head, are the state, are present. Brutus comes to reason that for the good of the nation, the good of Rome, to keep the established tenets of the latter ideals of Nationalism going not for personal gain, he must kill Caesar. This killing of Cesar, his dear friend, ultimately leads to his own death as well as Cesar鈥檚, but Brutus believed that his death would be a small price to pay if the Nation, if Rome, would not be left in the hands of Caesar. Which Brutus perceived to be now and ultimately growing more corrupt. Brutus makes a mistake in believing that Mark Anthony poses no threat to his beloved Rome, and certainly not the threat present and perceived real threat in Caesar.
The welfare of the nation of Rome and the corruption of Caesar is the focus of 鈥淛ulius Caesar鈥� whereas 鈥淭roilus & Cressida鈥� draws on strains of Nationalism similar to that of MacBeth. The leaders and heroes of the Nations act in a manner that they say is best for the nations but like 鈥淢acBeth鈥� the people and even some of the nobility realize that the war between the Greeks and Trojans is not something that benefits them but only serves to benefit to a very tragic detriment, the egos and pride of the various aristocrats, heroes, princes, and Kings involved. Another lesson of 鈥淭roilus & Cressida鈥� is that if the will of the people is not supported by the rulers then it is no longer a republic but a vastly corrupt dictatorship and the people are non-entities of the nation and Nationalism is only lip service used by the nobility on a people that do not know any better or can do nothing about it.
In these four plays Shakespeare examines Nationalism and corruption vaguely to very overtly and the effects on the leaders, would be leaders, participants and the average citizen of a nation. Nationalism, can be used as a tool unite a people, to rally them and throw off the shackles of oppression. Nationalism can also be misused by the leaders to only further themselves or their interests, all under the guise of being good for the nation. When this happens, or is revealed as having had happen, corruption has been in play, and eventually will take down the leader or person that is corrupt. Unlike the nicely well wrapped plays of Shakespeare, history shows us corrupt officials and people in power take time and blood to be toppled. In these plays Shakespeare gives the reader, and subsequently the viewer of the plays, a glimpse of the ideology that is Nationalism and Corruption as a doubled edge sword. If the wielder of that sword is not careful the wielder could find themselves on the receiving edge and the cut meant for someone else is the blow that brings them down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Like the introductions and the additional notes to the text and the stage play which provide readers a detailed background and insight along with the actual text My favourite of these 4 are Othello and Macbeth
I'd already read Hamlet and Othello, but getting Lear and Othello for only $1 still seemed like a worthwhile investment. In addition to the annotated text of each play, notes include how each play has actually been performed, Shakespeare's historical sources, and suggestions for further reading, almost 800 pages in all. That said, the print is small and the numerous footnotes tiny. I just finished Macbeth which I read in conjunction with Asimov's Guide to Shakespeare and plan to read Lear in the near future. Asimov quotes a lady reading Shakespeare for the first time who was not impressed because all he did was string together a series of well known quotations one after the other. This book includes a four pages of memorable lines from each of the four plays, and Macbeth certainly had its fair share.
I don't usually review things as a group, but I have pretty similarly thoughts about these four plays. They're easily Shakespeare's best tragedies, and are basically unrivaled when compared against his comedies (except The Tempest) and his histories (except Richard III). Each protagonist has a clearly defined flaw that others take advantage of, resulting in unfortunate ends for almost everyone. It's especially interesting to note how switching Hamlet and Othello's positions would result in them having happier endings, as the cautious Hamlet would be wary of killing Desdemona while the headstrong Othello would obliterate Claudius without hesitation.
Each protagonist is accompanied by an excellent companion that pushes them off a cliff into a massive pile of morality dung. Othello would not be the wife-murderer we know and love if Iago wasn't there to gaslight everyone into being their worst selves. Macbeth is basically content with his life before Lady Macbeth convinces him to follow the witches' prophecy by killing the king. King Lear's betrayal by Goneril and Regan causes him to wallow in misery (among other things) as everyone looks at him in disgust. Hamlet is... actually ruining his own life more than Claudius ever did to be honest. Eh, he can have Laertes I guess.
These characters, combined with a wonderful surrounding cast that would take way too long to go over, makes the sorrow of each tragedy all the more bitter. Not to worry though, as they are occasionally hilarious too. The line "What, you egg? [he stabs him]" is so much funnier than anything in the comedies. Hamlet's fake (possibly real) descent into insanity is wonderful to watch as he treats his loved ones like garbage. King Lear's fall from grace feels like watching a clown car pileup on the freeway get bigger until it finally explodes. The scene in Othello where... actually this play is just depressing. Iago's bitterness for a brown man being respected more than him is sort of entertaining I suppose.
Huh, I wonder if the similarities between the plays, combined with a few key differences, highlight Shakespeare's ability to write a specific, yet unique story for each one. This guy seems like a pretty good author. I wish more people knew about him.
The Shakespearian tragedies - few of the most performed plays of the literature. It is unquestionably considered classics by readers of all times. And of course Shakespearian dramas are classics, but I am not matured enough to enjoy the classics yet! I found it really hard to follow - mainly due to the structure of the Shakespearian dialogues - and was going at a very slow pace.
This book is a collection of 4 tragedies. Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth. Personally the retelling by the editors also did little help for me in understanding the essence of the content as-is. But the commentary for the tough statements and quotes connecting to the era/geographic specific references was handy in understanding a good deal of colloquial dialogues and comments.
Hamlet is a revenge story ended up in the most tragic way for Hamlet on his quest to avenge his father's death. "To be, or Not to be " - the most famous dialogue from this play show cases the contemplation of Hamlet - the protagonist - in terms of assuming his stance regarding the revenge to his uncle who killed and usurped the kingdom. It was but an average read for me.
Othello is dealing with more diverse issues and multiple plots in which the ever faithful and loving wife - Desdemona - of the protagonist is getting murdered by Othello himself. The progression from the true love between Othello and Desdemona, through brutal murder of hers by Othello is orchestrated meticulously by the hideous plot devised by the antagonist Iago - a servant of Othello - because of his enmity with his Lord Othello. And when the plot is revealed to Othello by Iago's wife - Emilia - Othello understands his mistake and commits suicide alongside his Desdemona.
King Lear's plot is about the sufferings he experiences from his elder daughters after his misjudged demeanor of dividing his kingdom into 2 and share it with his 2 elder daughters and banishing the youngest one. He jumped into conclusions by the flattery of his elder daughters.
Macbeth deals with the treachery and power mongering by one of the Scottish general - Macbeth - and the resultant destruction of himself and many others around him.