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Dhul Fiqar
14th October 2003, 22:53
I know there have been some threads discussing specific works in the past - but I would prefer a more general approach to these incredible works to be the hallmark of this thread.

What do you think of him? Ever read an entire work by him? What is your favorite quote?

Personally - I am getting pretty engrossed in the whole debate over whether he actually wrote those plays or not. There is a lot of convincing evidence pointing to the possibility that Sir Francis Bacon - certainly capable of incredible poetry and insight - actually wrote those works. They cover almost exactly the same themes as his philosophical outlook would lead one to expect Bacon to write about - the wording is peculiarly similar, a friend of his was covertly peddling old Shakespeare originals when Bacon needed money, etc. etc.

Anyway - here are a couple of great quotes:


On alcohol:

I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell me I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange! Every inordinate cup is unblessed and the ingredient is a devil. Cassio - from Othello


On Life, Death, and Fate:

There greet in silence, as the dead are wont, and sleep in peace, slain in your country's wars. O sacred receptacle of my joys, sweet cell of virtue and nobility, how many sons hast thou of mine in store that thou wilt never render to me more!?! Titus Andronicus in the play named after him - spoken uppon entering the tombs where his loved ones and loyal soldiers are buried.

BuyOurEverything
14th October 2003, 23:30
I think he's overrated. A talented writer, no doubt but his plays were just written to apeal to the masses and make money. Nothing wrong with that but to call it literary genius is a bit of a stretch. So many people say they like Shakespeare just because they're taught that he is a great writer and because the plays are so old but when asked to name another playwrite of that time period, few people will be able to. In 300 years, kids will be studying scripts of CSI: Miami in school as great literary works.

Bradyman
15th October 2003, 02:07
I think he was a great writer as well as a pioneer in literature. He was one of the first writers to write about the physcology of humans (Chaucer also) in its most basic form or at least made the subject much more popular and for that reason he was a genius.

Dhul Fiqar
15th October 2003, 14:30
Originally posted by [email protected] 15 2003, 07:30 AM
I think he's overrated. A talented writer, no doubt but his plays were just written to apeal to the masses and make money. Nothing wrong with that but to call it literary genius is a bit of a stretch. So many people say they like Shakespeare just because they're taught that he is a great writer and because the plays are so old but when asked to name another playwrite of that time period, few people will be able to. In 300 years, kids will be studying scripts of CSI: Miami in school as great literary works.
You are not impressed by his use of language? I find his plays boring and the plotlines do not interest me - but I doubt if I have ever seen anyone use the English language so skilfully...

--- G.

El Commandante
15th October 2003, 14:45
I reall enjoy Shakespeare, the range of topics which he covers are all interesting and the dialogue and methods which he employs give life to the plays. His examination of the human emotions of greed and and selfishness (Romeo & Juliet, MacBeth, Othello) are insightful and interesting to read.

suffianr
16th October 2003, 01:30
"But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief that thou her maid art far more fair than she."

Guaranteed to set a lady's heart aflutter. Or not.

But I like the way his characters are, more often than not, rather melancholy and fatalist in nature. I don't know why.

truthaddict11
16th October 2003, 01:32
i loved reading Macbeth in High School

Discontinuity
16th October 2003, 01:59
I find Shakespeare's works entertaining, clever, fairly well-written, but in no way the greatest things I've ever read.

I have an affection for Midsummer Night's Dream, as I played Puck in one of the productions, and for the line from Macbeth:


There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, then are dreamt of in your philosophy.

People would do well to remember and consider that thought. And yes, I realize I'm speaking to a crowd of atheist political philosophers, but still. :rolleyes:

bluerev002
16th October 2003, 04:16
Originally posted by [email protected] 14 2003, 03:30 PM
I think he's overrated. A talented writer, no doubt but his plays were just written to apeal to the masses and make money. Nothing wrong with that but to call it literary genius is a bit of a stretch. So many people say they like Shakespeare just because they're taught that he is a great writer and because the plays are so old but when asked to name another playwrite of that time period, few people will be able to. In 300 years, kids will be studying scripts of CSI: Miami in school as great literary works.
YOu really think hes overrated? I find him underrated (it thats even a word, but you get what i mean). Most people read a few lines and put the book down and call it boring. my favorite line from a student: "Why dont they try to spoke right english?"- Richard from English :lol:

bluerev002
16th October 2003, 04:31
Originally posted by [email protected] 15 2003, 05:59 PM
I find Shakespeare's works entertaining, clever, fairly well-written, but in no way the greatest things I've ever read.

I have an affection for Midsummer Night's Dream, as I played Puck in one of the productions, and for the line from Macbeth:


There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, then are dreamt of in your philosophy.

People would do well to remember and consider that thought. And yes, I realize I'm speaking to a crowd of atheist political philosophers, but still. :rolleyes:
dude big coincidense. I played Puck in a midsummer nights dream

Thous speakst aright
I am that merry wanderer of the night
I jest to oberon and make him smile
when I a bean fed horse beguile
Neighing in likeness of a filly foal
and sometimes, lurk I in the gossips bowl
In very likeness of a roasted crab
And when she drinks, against the lips I bob
and on her withered delap pout the ail
the oldest aunt telling the saddest tale
Sometimes for a three foot stool mistaken me
and slip I from her bottom and down topples she
and TAILOR! she cries and falls into a cough
while the whole quior hold their hips and laugh
And waxen, in their murth and neeze and sweart
the merrier hour was never wasted there
but room fairy, here comes oberon

I like that monolouge da best :D

This is one of my fav. quotes from Hamlet
I have heard of your paintings, well enough.
God hath given you one face, and you make your-
selves another. You jig and amble, and you lisp;
you nickname God's creatures and make your wantonness your ignorance... III.i.



Taming of the shrew is a great play too! But my favorite is Hamlet.

Dhul Fiqar
16th October 2003, 12:42
Everyone that said the M word in this thread is in deep trouble - it is known as "The Scottish Play" for those of us that don't want to suffer horrible accidents (the curse, remeber? The CURSE!!) =D

Anyway - in honour of the monologues being posted, here is a quote:


"'Tis better to be brief than tedious"
Richard III, Act i, Sc.4

j/k (it is an actual quote though)

=D

--- G.

bluerev002
17th October 2003, 04:46
Originally posted by Dhul [email protected] 16 2003, 04:42 AM
Everyone that said the M word in this thread is in deep trouble - it is known as "The Scottish Play" for those of us that don't want to suffer horrible accidents (the curse, remeber? The CURSE!!) =D

Anyway - in honour of the monologues being posted, here is a quote:


"'Tis better to be brief than tedious"
Richard III, Act i, Sc.4

j/k (it is an actual quote though)

=D

--- G.
Oh man, I never belived in that. Saying the "M" word would bring bad luck. But some girl was telling us about it during a performing night, so a bunch of us were scaring her by jumping around saying it. And the sets started falling apart, people were falling down, and a whole shit load of stuff happend!!

Considence maybe... :o

truthaddict11
17th October 2003, 05:50
i guess a "curse" could exist even though Roman Polanski had that thing of bad luck one night before the movie was made.

Discontinuity
17th October 2003, 22:17
Dude, I gotta stop posting when I'm tired... Noone pointed out to me that I said Macbeth when I meant Hamlet? Although bluerev002 seemed to understand what I meant, anyways. Yeesh. I feel dirty.

But yeah, bluerev, he's the best character in the whole play. In any of the plays, in my opinion... damned that trickster, damn him to hell! :D

"How now spirit, whither wander you?"

ComradeRobertRiley
19th October 2003, 22:04
Ive only read McBeth and Romeo & Juliet, both of which I enjoyed

BuyOurEverything
21st October 2003, 23:23
You are not impressed by his use of language? I find his plays boring and the plotlines do not interest me - but I doubt if I have ever seen anyone use the English language so skilfully...


Word order changed, I have. A literary genius, not am I


YOu really think hes overrated? I find him underrated (it thats even a word, but you get what i mean). Most people read a few lines and put the book down and call it boring. my favorite line from a student: "Why dont they try to spoke right english?"- Richard from English


It's a word but it certainly doesn't apply to Shakspeare. Lit teachers fuckin worship him as a god. I wrote an essay about how Romeo and Juliet was unbeleivable and my teacher held a grudge for the whole year.