-
Why Shakespeare?
I have loved watching Shakespeare’s plays since I first saw “A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream” as a child. I thank my Mum for introducing me to his world of fairies and enchantment. I thank my English teachers at school for continuing this education, and my goal for this blog is to pass on this passion to you. Who are you? I hope you are not an expert in literature, you will quickly see that I am not. I hope you are someone who is willing to come on a journey for the…
-
Watch, Don’t Read!
Is Shakespeare still relevant? “Yes,” says actor Sir Ian McKellen. “Shakespeare more than any other writer who ever lived understood us. It’s almost as if he invented us, invented our emotions, our relationships, our difficulties we have getting on together…. the trouble with Shakespeare is it is very, very, very difficult to read.” In the same article from The Independent, Dame Helen Mirren even goes so far as to say that Shakespeare should not be taught in schools, and is adamant that a child’s first encounter should be through live theatre.…
-
The Comedy of Errors
Story Summary The play opens with the Duke condemning a foreigner to death because of his nationality unless a friend will pay 1000 marks for his freedom. In explaining why he risked his life visiting Ephesus, a tale emerges of two sets of identical twin boys, one set being his sons; the other set being sons of a servant woman. They were separated as babies in a shipwreck, with the father saving one son and one servant and the mother saving the other son and the other servant. When the son…
-
As You Like It
Story Summary Rosalind’s father, Duke Senior, has been banished by his younger brother, Frederick, and taken refuge in the Forest of Arden. Rosalind remains at court, being a cherished companion to her uncle’s daughter, Celia. Orlando de Boys, mistreated by his older brother Oliver, comes to Rosalind’s attention during a wrestling match, and they fall in love. When Rosalind is also banished, she and Celia run away from court to the Forest of Arden, disguised as the youth Ganymede and his sister, Aliena, and accompanied by the fool, Touchstone. Unaware of…
-
Antony and Cleopatra
Story Summary The Roman Empire is ruled by a triumvirate, Lepidus, Octavius Caesar and Mark Antony, following Julius Caesar’s death. Infatuated by the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra, Antony neglects his duties, but his wife’s death and the threat of war with Pompey forces him to return to Rome. With peace restored, Antony marries Caesar’s sister, Octavia, to improve relations with him. When Caesar imprisons Lepidus and breaks the treaty with Pompey, Antony sends Octavia to her brother to secure peace. Caesar declares war; Antony returns to Egypt to fight with the aid…
-
All’s Well That Ends Well
Story Summary Helena, the impoverished daughter of a now-deceased physician, loves Bertram, a Count. He goes to court where the King of France is seriously ill. Helena follows him there and cures the king with her father’s medicines, winning a husband of her choosing. She chooses Bertram but he disdains her base origins. To honour the king, he agrees to marry her but runs away to fight in the war with the Florentines, stating that until she has the ring from his finger and his child in her womb, she will…