Shakespeare For Dummies

Don't be thrown off by the title because I'm a little bit of a dummy too when it comes to Shakespeare. This year is the first time I am taking a deep-dive into his works. I am currently taking Acting III: Shakespeare, which is all about...well, Shakespeare. I started off deciding I didn't like it because I just didn't understand it very much, but now that I've taken the time to explore the language and characters, I can confidently say I like it a lot more than before. 

In class, I've been studying the play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" the most because I was assigned a soliloquy from it and did intensive work on the character I was playing, Helena, and the play itself. I also have been cast in the Fall Shakespeare play, "As You Like It" so I will continue on my learning journey next semester.

Okay, here's the fun part. I'm gonna give you all a crash course on Shakespeare's plays and who he was. William Shakespeare was born April 23, 1564 and died on the same in 1616, talk about poetic, right?. He was an actor and a poet, but mostly a playwright who had written 39 plays and 154 sonnets. His plays are still performed worldwide, and his influence can be seen in countless aspects of modern culture. Shakespeare's plays are often categorized into three major genres: Tragedies, comedies, and histories. 

His tragedies include: 

Hamlet: The story of a Danish prince seeking revenge for his father's murder, leading to madness and death 

Macbeth: The tale of a Scottish nobleman who, driven by ambition, murders his way to the throne, ultimately leading to his downfall. 

Romeo and Juliet: Perhaps his most famous tragedy, about two star-crossed lovers whose families' feud leads to their tragic deaths. 

Othello: A Moorish general in Venice who is manipulated into jealousy by Iago, resulting in tragic consequences. 

King Lear: A king who divides his kingdom between his daughters, only to be betrayed and lose everything.

Julius Caesar: The political tragedy of the betrayal and assassination of the Roman leader Caesar.

His comedies include:  

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A magical comedy about love and mischief in an enchanted forest, full of mistaken identities and enchanted transformations. 

Twelfth Night: A story of shipwrecks, mistaken identities and love triangles in the fictional land of Illyria. 

As You Like It: Set in the Forest of Arden, this comedy features themes of love, disguise and the complexity of human nature. 

Much Ado About Nothing: A comedy centered around two couples, full of witty banter, misunderstandings and love.

His histories include: 

Richard III: Chronicles the rise and fall of the infamous English king, who is depicted as a ruthless, power-hungry villain. 

Henry V: Follows the English king’s military campaign against France and the famous Battle of Agincourt. 

Henry IV (Parts 1 and 2): These plays explore Prince Hal’s journey to becoming King Henry V, focusing on themes of leadership and friendship. 

King John: A historical play about the struggles of King John, focusing on war, politics and betrayal.

Some key themes of his plays are usually about love, power and ambition, fate and free will, identity and disguise and appearance vs. reality. Shakespeare's language can be challenging because he wrote in Early Modern English, which includes some words, phrases and grammar that are no longer in use today. However, his language is also incredibly rich and poetic, contributing to his lasting influence. I know that that was the most difficult part of class for me because we don't speak this way anymore and therefore don't understand what is being said. 

His works have influenced not only English literature but also world literature, films, theater and even the English language itself. Many expressions from his plays have become part of everyday speech, given that he invented words that we use today. I am glad to now be on board the Shakespeare train and can't wait for next semester when I get to learn even more about him!