Culture through really detailed explanation

[angelchicken]

I bought Shakespeare. People in chat talk about some of his plays on occasion and I have wanted to read more of his work (other then the stuff I know because it seems everyone knows it ie Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet) in any case and I was at Boarders today (where I got the JM SFX! Squeee!) and I had time to kill so I ended up in the Shakespeare section. (and I am aware of the fact that the sentence I just wrote is startlingly long and unwieldly). There are a lot of different versions of each play, so I sat on the floor (Yes. Today I was one of those people) and went through all of the different copies of the plays I was considering buying. Finally I ended up with three plays:

1) Macbeth. Okay. I wanted to read it because it seems like everyone and their mother knows about this play and while I kind of know the story I want to actually know what people are talking about. The copy I bought has the original text on one page and then the "modern" version of what is being said on the opposite page. That will certainly help.

2) Much Ado About Nothing. Well, I got one of the "great tragedies" (as listed in a big ol' Shakespeare book I used as a reference) so I needed to get one of the "great comedies" to offset it. Also, I was in MAAN in college (a very wee role) so I actually have an understanding of this play. I just want to remember the plot better. Does that make sense? The copy I got has footnotes at the bottom to help the ignorant reader, ie: me.

3) Richard II. I got the second instead of the third because, well, two comes before three, and I didn't see a one. Also- Richard II was listed as one of the "great historical's" and since I had a great comedy and a great tragedy I figured out I would round out the mix with a bit o' history (though, technically you could call Macbeth a historical play as well). This book has the text on one pace and the notes on the opposite page.

So I am looking forward to reading these plays and maybe having a clue when they come into discussion.

In other news, I went to book club and was actually able to add to the discussion about "The Hours" which is impressive since people were listing off characters I had forgotten. Go me! The next book is Margaret Atwood's "The Blind Assassin". I read "The Handmaid's Tale" which I really liked, so hopefully this will be good, too.

Comments

[adjrun.livejournal.com]

Well, I read Mrs. Dalloway in college, and conveniently forgot it -- because it was a slog. I don't have bit's loathing for it; I reserve that for Kate Chopin's The Awakening.

Be forewarned: The Blind Assassin is, well, melancholy. I finished it, and just ached. Very good, just... sad.

Macbeth and MAAN are great plays, and fairly straightforward reads. But Richard II isn't a great place to start with Shakespeare. There's a lot of philosophy in it: divine right of kings stuff. Read Henry IV 1, the play that comes after it chronologically. It's a humdinger, full of action and comedy and yet thematically rich.

And you can cast Spike and Angel as Hal and Hotspur in the little play in your head. ;)

[canadia-bit.livejournal.com]

Hal! Hal! HAAAAAAAAAALLLLL!!!!! I adore Prince Hal! There are not enough words to describe the love! Favourite Shakespeare character ever!

AC, you must read the Henry plays - Henry IV 1, Henry IV 2, and Henry V. The last will also give you Spike and Giles goodness, when you get to the St. Crispin's day speech "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers..."

Oh, and while I hate Mrs. Dalloway, my vote for Worst. Book. Ever. goes to Jude the Obscure. Jude, dude, there's a reason you're obscure. You suck ass, pal. Shut up, move one, and get over yourself.

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

Oh, and while I hate Mrs. Dalloway, my vote for Worst. Book. Ever. goes to Jude the Obscure. Jude, dude, there's a reason you're obscure. You suck ass, pal. Shut up, move one, and get over yourself.

HEE! I started laughing at the very end of Jude the Obscure because it was just so damned over-the-top. Whiny mopey Jude and his whiny mopey Sue Bridehead. *HATED* them!

Though I liked Mrs. Dalloway but thought The Hours was a little overhyped, to be honest. And if anyone care, my favorite Shakespeare play is probably Othello. :)

And finally, in case you're wondering who the hell I am, you're a friend of fenwic's and you're talking about books, so I felt free to invite myself over to comment! Hee! Hope that's not rude or pushy or infringing some rule that I don't know about :)

[jheaton.livejournal.com]

>> Richard II. I got the second instead of the third because, well, two comes before three, and I didn't see a one. <<

Funny.

Speaking of which, good choice on the comedy. I like A Midsummer's Night Dream a little better than Much Ado, but Much Ado does have my favorite Shakespearean line: "Even she: Leonato's Hero, your Hero, every man's Hero." I was so pissed that they cut that from the recent movie version. Denzel could've ripped the shit out of that line.