![\"William](\"//images.ctfassets.net/uvlx0f9w0mlv/4TQ59akeuIgHMDo1jzc39I/bdd5975ebf9b855c60b5f2d3611041f7/william-shakespeare.jpg\")
William Shakespeare is my second favourite writer.
\nLike many people, my first experience of Shakespeare was his eponymous tragedy Romeo and Juliet. During an English class at school, the teacher handed out copies of the play and told us to study the text and write an essay about it. In order to encourage us and help us understand the narrative, we were shown two film adaptations:
\nWilliam Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet (1996)
\nDirected by Baz Luhrmann, Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes
I really enjoy the modern setting of this adaptation. While it features a lot of action and violence, this doesn’t ever distract from the story or its main themes.
\nRomeo and Juliet (1968)
\nDirected by Franco Zeffirelli, Starring Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey
This version stays very true to the original text, and anyone that knows me will know that is how I like stories to be told.
\nAfter Romeo and Juliet, the class went on to study Julius Ceaser. This was a bit heavy-going for me at the time. Again, we were shown a film adaptation of the play:
\nJulius Ceaser (1970)
\nDirected by Stuart Burge, Starring Charlton Heston, Jason Robards and John Gielgud
I found this film a bit long-winded. I have recently watched it again and fell asleep halfway through, but in all honesty I find this to be the case with most of Charlton Heston’s films.
\nI believe the essay I eventually wrote was something like: ‘How Cassius manipulated Brutus to be the figurehead in the plot to bring down Ceaser’s tyrannus rule’ (in their opinion).
\nMore recently, I have decided to actually watch some of Shakespeare’s plays performed in a theatre. The first one chose had to be Romeo and Juliet, which I saw in December 2008. The production was amazing, and again it took a slightly modern angle. This performance really awoke the Shakespeare fan within.
\nThe next play I went to see was Twelfth Night. I had no idea what to expect as I hadn’t read it (to this day i still haven’t got round to reading it). I found this play a lot more comical in comparison to Romeo and Juliet, and was pleasantly surprised to discover that it featured a few songs.
\nA few months back I watched The Taming of the Shrew on TV. I really wanted to see this play for two reasons:
\nThe Taming of the Shrew (1967)
\nDirected by Franco Zeffirelli, Starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton
This was very good. I really liked seeing Katherina being humbled and then rising back to become a better version of herself.
\nWell that’s about enough from me… Here are a few bits from Shakespeare I really like:
\nSonnet 27
\nWeary with toil, I haste me to my bed,
\nThe dear repose for limbs with travel tired;
\nBut then begins a journey in my head,
\nTo work my mind, when body’s work’s expired:
\nFor then my thoughts, from far where I abide,
\nIntend a zealous pilgrimage to thee,
\nAnd keep my drooping eyelids open wide,
\nLooking on darkness which the blind do see
\nSave that my soul’s imaginary sight
\nPresents thy shadow to my sightless view,
\nWhich, like a jewel hung in ghastly night,
\nMakes black night beauteous and her old face new.
\nLo! thus, by day my limbs, by night my mind,
\nFor thee and for myself no quiet find.
Sonnet 18
\nShall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
\nThou art more lovely and more temperate:
\nRough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
\nAnd summer’s lease hath all too short a date:
\nSometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
\nAnd often is his gold complexion dimm’d;
\nAnd every fair from fair sometime declines,
\nBy chance or nature’s changing course untrimm’d;
\nBut thy eternal summer shall not fade
\nNor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
\nNor shall Death brag thou wander’st in his shade,
\nWhen in eternal lines to time thou growest:
\nSo long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
\nSo long lives this and this gives life to thee.
Romeo and Juliet
\nROMEO (coming forward)
\nHe jests at scars that never felt a wound.
\n(Enter Juliet above)
\nBut, soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
\nIt is the East, and Juliet is the sun!
\nArise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
\nWho is already sick and pale with grief
\nThat thou her maid art far more fair than she.
\nBe not her maid, since she is envious.
\nHer vestal livery is but sick and green,
\nAnd none but fools do wear it. Cast it off.
\nIt is my lady. O, it is my love!
\nO that she knew she were!
\nShe speaks. Yet she says nothing. what of that?
\nHer eye discourses. I will answer it.
\nI am too bold, ‘Tis not to me she speaks.
\nTwo of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
\nHaving some business, do entreat her eyes
\nTo twinkle in their spheres till they return.
\nWhat if her eyes were there, they in her head?
\nThe brightness of her cheek would shame those stars
\nAs daylight doth a lamp. Her eyes in heaven
\nWould through the airy region stream so bright
\nThat birds would sing and think it were not night.
\nSee how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
\nO that I were a glove upon that hand,
\nThat I might touch that cheek!
\nJULIET
\nAy me!
\nROMEO
\nShe speaks.
\nO, speak again, bright angel! for thou art
\nAs glorious to this night, being o’er my head,
\nAs is a winged messenger of heaven
\nUnto the white-upturned wondering eyes
\nOf mortals that fall back to gaze on him
\nWhen he bestrides the lazy, puffing clouds
\nAnd sails upon the bosom of the air.
\nJULIET
\nO Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
\nDeny thy father and refuse thy name.
\nOr, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
\nAnd I’ll no longer be a Capulet.
\nROMEO (aside)
\nShall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
\nJULIET
\n‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy.
\nThou art thyself, though not a Montague.
\nWhat’s Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
\nNor arm, nor face, nor any other part
\nBelonging to a man. O, be some other name!
\nWhat’s in a name? that which we call a rose
\nBy any other name would smell as sweet;
\nSo Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d,
\nRetain that dear perfection which he owes
\nWithout that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
\nAnd for that name which is no part of thee
\nTake all myself.
\nROMEO
\nI take thee at thy word:
\nCall me but love, and I’ll be new baptized.
\nHenceforth I never will be Romeo.
\nJULIET
\nWhat man art thou that thus bescreened in night
\nSo stumblest on my counsel?
\nROMEO
\nBy a name
\nI know not how to tell thee who I am.
\nMy name, dear saint, is hateful to myself,
\nBecause it is an enemy to thee.
\nHad I it written, I would tear the word.
\nJULIET
\nMy ears have not yet drunk a hundred words
\nOf that tongue’s utterance, yet I know the sound.
\nArt thou not Romeo, and a Montague?
\nROMEO
\nNeither, fair saint, if either thee dislike.
\nJULIET
\nHow camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?
\nThe orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
\nAnd the place death, considering who thou art,
\nIf any of my kinsmen find thee here.
\nROMEO
\nWith love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls.
\nFor stony limits cannot hold love out,
\nAnd what love can do that dares love attempt.
\nTherefore thy kinsmen are no let to me.
\nJULIET
\nIf they do see thee, they will murder thee.
\nROMEO
\nAlack, there lies more peril in thine eye
\nThan twenty of their swords! Look thou but sweet,
\nAnd I am proof against their enmity.
\nJULIET
\nI would not for the world they saw thee here.
\nROMEO
\nI have night’s cloak to hide me from their eyes.
\nAnd but thou love me, let them find me here.
\nMy life were better ended by their hate,
\nThan death prorogued, wanting of thy love.
\nJULIET
\nBy whose direction found’st thou out this place?
\nROMEO
\nBy love, who first did prompt me to inquire.
\nHe lent me counsel, and I lent him eyes.
\nI am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far
\nAs that vast shore washed with the farthest sea,
\nI would adventure for such merchandise.
\nJULIET
\nThou knowest the mask of night is on my face,
\nElse would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek
\nFor that which thou hast heard me speak tonight
\nFain would I dwell on form - fain, fain deny
\nWhat I have spoke. but farewell compliment!
\nDost thou love me? I know thou wilt say ‘Ay.’
\nAnd I will take thy word. yet if thou swearest,
\nThou mayst prove false. at lovers’ perjuries,
\nThen say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo,
\nIf thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully.
\nOr if thou thinkest I am too quickly won,
\nI’ll frown, and be perverse, an say thee nay,
\nSo thou wilt woo. but else, not for the world.
\nIn truth, fair Montague, I am too fond,
\nAnd therefore thou mayst think my ‘havior light.
\nBut trust me, gentleman, I’ll prove more true
\nThan those that have more cunning to be strange.
\nI should have been more strange, I must confess,
\nBut that thou overheardest, ere I was ware,
\nMy true-love passion. Therefore pardon me,
\nAnd not impute this yielding to light love,
\nWhich the dark night hath so discovered.
\nROMEO
\nLady, by yonder blessed moon I swear
\nThat tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops-
\nJULIET
\nO, swear not by the moon, th’inconstant moon,
\nThat monthly changes in her circled orb,
\nLest that thy love prove likewise variable.
\nROMEO
\nWhat shall I swear by?
\nJULIET
\nDo not swear at all.
\nOr, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self,
\nWhich is the god of my idolatry,
\nAnd I’ll believe thee.
\nROMEO
\nIf my heart’s dear love-
\nJULIET
\nWell, do not swear. Although I joy in thee,
\nI have no joy of this contract tonight.
\nIt is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;
\nToo like the lightning, which doth cease to be
\nEre one can say ‘It lightens.’ Sweet, good night!
\nThis bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath,
\nMay prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.
\nGood night, good night! as sweet repose and rest
\nCome to thy heart as that within my breast!
\nROMEO
\nO, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?
\nJULIET
\nWhat satisfaction canst thou have tonight?
\nROMEO
\nTh’exchange of thy love’s faithful vow for mine.
\nJULIET
\nI gave thee mine before thou didst request it:
\nAnd yet I would it were to give again.
\nROMEO
\nWouldst thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love?
\nJULIET
\nBut to be frank, and give it thee again.
\nAnd yet I wish but for the thing I have.
\nMy bounty is as boundless as the sea,
\nMy love as deep. The more I give to thee,
\nThe more I have, for both are infinite.
\nI hear some noise within; dear love, adieu!
\nNurse Call within
\nAnon, good nurse! - Sweet Montague, be true.
\nStay but a little, I will come again.
\nExit Juliet
\nROMEO
\nO blessed, blessed night! I am afeard,
\nBeing in night, all this is but a dream,
\nToo flattering-sweet to be substantial.
\nEnter Juliet above
\nJULIET
\nThree words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed.
\nIf that thy bent of love be honourable,
\nThy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow,
\nBy one that I’ll procure to come to thee,
\nWhere and what time thou wilt perform the rite,
\nAnd all my fortunes at thy foot I’ll lay
\nAnd follow thee my lord throughout the world.
\nNURSE (within)
\nMadam!
\nJULIET
\nI come, anon - But if thou meanest not well,
\nI do beseech thee-
\nNURSE (within)
\nMadam!
\nJULIET
\nBy and by, I come -
\nTo cease thy strife and leave me to my grief.
\nTomorrow will I send.
\nROMEO
\nSo thrive my soul -
\nJULIET
\nA thousand times good night!
\nExit Juliet
\nROMEO
\nA thousand times the worse, to want thy light!
\nLove goes toward love, as schoolboys from their books:
\nBut love from love, toward school with heavy looks.
\nEnter Juliet above again
\nJULIET
\nHist! Romeo, hist! O, for a falconer’s voice,
\nTo lure this tassel-gentle back again!
\nBondage is hoarse, and may not speak aloud,
\nElse would I tear the cave where Echo lies
\nAnd make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine,
\nWith repetition of ‘My Romeo!’
\nROMEO
\nIt is my soul that calls upon my name:
\nHow silver-sweet sound lovers’ tongues by night,
\nLike softest music to attending ears!
\nJULIET
\nRomeo!
\nROMEO
\nMy nyas?
\nJULIET
\nWhat o’clock to-morrow
\nShall I send to thee?
\nROMEO
\nBy the hour of nine.
\nJULIET
\nI will not fail. ‘Tis twenty years till then.
\nI have forgot why I did call thee back.
\nROMEO
\nLet me stand here till thou remember it.
\nJULIET
\nI shall forget, to have thee still stand there,
\nRemembering how I love thy company.
\nROMEO
\nAnd I’ll still stay, to have thee still forget,
\nForgetting any other home but this.
\nJULIET
\n‘Tis almost morning. I would have thee gone.
\nAnd yet no further than a wanton’s bird,
\nThat lets it hop a little from his hand,
\nLike a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves,
\nAnd with a silken thread plucks it back again,
\nSo loving-jealous of his liberty.
\nROMEO
\nI would I were thy bird.
\nJULIET
\nSweet, so would I.
\nYet I should kill thee with much cherishing.
\nGood night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow,
\nThat I shall say good night till it be morrow.
\nExit Juliet