Ugh. I hate reading Shakespeare. Shakespeare isn’t meant to be read, it’s meant to be watched. That’s why reading him is always so boring, because they’re plays, so it’s like reading a transcript of something you should be watching.
Mark Twain on the other hand is a fantastic author to read, and he’s getting canceled all over the place too. Once you understand how he writes dialects his books take on another dimension.
“The Innocents Abroad” is a great book about his trip to the Holy Land around the turn of the last century, when overseas cruises to the Mediterranean were all the rage. He sure didn’t like Arabs very much, lol.
It can be useful to read him before seeing the play performed, because you can follow more easily. And, lamentably, sometimes they cut him. He likes to pace a story. Some directors like to hurry his pacing and cut him to hurry his pace.
But cancelling him is a crime against humanity. No really.
Buy him in hard cover, buy him in one-play editions that have difficult language explained on the opposite page, keep him as your own.
I hated Shakespeare in school as well. Then, I was bored out of my skull one day, and had an annotated Shakespeare, and started reading it. My life was turned upside down!
Now, Shakespeare is only second to the Bible in my reading, LOL!
ETA: However, I just remembered why I hated Shakespeare: Julius Caesar! Actually, it was a boring shakespeare play! I still dislike it, and I don't see why schools taught it back then. Give me a break!
No, I don’t teach. If I did we would spend time on things more important than teen angst in long past era ( yes I overly simplified it on purpose). There are many American authors, contemporary and past that deserve our attention. Thoreau, McCarthy, Rawls, Twain, Hemingway, I can keep going. There are more important works as well, federalist papers, the Bible (if even as a collection of parables), most dystopian works, civil disobedience, brothers Karamazov, crime and punishment, again there are too many to list. I know that these are touched upon, however they are given nowhere near the attention that they deserve. Shakespeare can piss up a rope.
All that said, the modern assault on his identity is one of the more asinine things I’ve ever seen.
Edit: lol step in line and agree with us wrong thinker. We shall punish you with downvotes. Let me give you all a reason to downvote me. Shakespeare is for simple, overly emotional, morons. The depth of thought is of the most basic required for its reader. It is to literature what the McDonald’s cheeseburger is to cheeseburgers. Low quality yet recognizable.
If your kids can read/understand Shakespeare, they're already ahead of their teachers!
Shakespeare appealed to both high and low class people when he was alive and selling tickets.
He can be taught well or badly.
Ugh. I hate reading Shakespeare. Shakespeare isn’t meant to be read, it’s meant to be watched. That’s why reading him is always so boring, because they’re plays, so it’s like reading a transcript of something you should be watching.
Mark Twain on the other hand is a fantastic author to read, and he’s getting canceled all over the place too. Once you understand how he writes dialects his books take on another dimension.
“The Innocents Abroad” is a great book about his trip to the Holy Land around the turn of the last century, when overseas cruises to the Mediterranean were all the rage. He sure didn’t like Arabs very much, lol.
Shakespeare is great both read and watched.
Oh yes, he's about being performed. Oh yes.
It can be useful to read him before seeing the play performed, because you can follow more easily. And, lamentably, sometimes they cut him. He likes to pace a story. Some directors like to hurry his pacing and cut him to hurry his pace.
But cancelling him is a crime against humanity. No really.
Buy him in hard cover, buy him in one-play editions that have difficult language explained on the opposite page, keep him as your own.
I didn't know any of that. You are the resident historian of this site.
Maybe make a post of that comment, so more can learn their heritage.
Just take them out of horrible state mindscrubbing asylums altogether.
This nation is done. There is nothing left to do but wait for the spark.
I hated Shakespeare in school. Reminded me of reading the Bible.
I hated Shakespeare in school as well. Then, I was bored out of my skull one day, and had an annotated Shakespeare, and started reading it. My life was turned upside down! Now, Shakespeare is only second to the Bible in my reading, LOL!
ETA: However, I just remembered why I hated Shakespeare: Julius Caesar! Actually, it was a boring shakespeare play! I still dislike it, and I don't see why schools taught it back then. Give me a break!
Shakespeare is more work to teach than it is worth. Much like Tolstoy. Drivel
Shakespeare is miles above Tolstoy.
Ah. You may be a teacher.
No, Shakespeare is not drivel.
Why would you say he is drivel?
No, I don’t teach. If I did we would spend time on things more important than teen angst in long past era ( yes I overly simplified it on purpose). There are many American authors, contemporary and past that deserve our attention. Thoreau, McCarthy, Rawls, Twain, Hemingway, I can keep going. There are more important works as well, federalist papers, the Bible (if even as a collection of parables), most dystopian works, civil disobedience, brothers Karamazov, crime and punishment, again there are too many to list. I know that these are touched upon, however they are given nowhere near the attention that they deserve. Shakespeare can piss up a rope. All that said, the modern assault on his identity is one of the more asinine things I’ve ever seen.
Edit: lol step in line and agree with us wrong thinker. We shall punish you with downvotes. Let me give you all a reason to downvote me. Shakespeare is for simple, overly emotional, morons. The depth of thought is of the most basic required for its reader. It is to literature what the McDonald’s cheeseburger is to cheeseburgers. Low quality yet recognizable.
Shakespeare is not a philosopher, even though he has things to say.
He is about beauty.
Like I said, it appeals to the most basic of thought.