What Shakespeare plays are still relevant today and why?
All of them are relevant, if you consider the close and careful examination of human psychology — the quicksilver nature of thought, the differentiators among personalities and motives, the capacity to overhear oneself thinking, learn from oneself, adjust and change — “relevant” to the human experience; if you consider the intricacies of political maneuvering and the legerdemain of power “relevant” in an age of political chaos; if you find questions about the role of fate and/or divinity in earthly affairs, or their effect upon human agency “relevant” — whatever the hell “relevant” is.When we say something is “relevant,” we mean it is appurtenant to a question or argument under discussion. Shakespeare’s subject is humankind. If keen and thought-provoking observation of humankind is appurtenant to humankind, Shakespeare is “relevant.”King Lear is about pre-Christian England. And yet surely this speaks to the disparities in the treatment of rich people and mere mortals in modern America:KING LEARWhat, art mad? A man may see how this world goeswith no eyes. Look with thine ears: see how yondjustice rails upon yond simple thief. Hark, inthine ear: change places; and, handy-dandy, whichis the justice, which is the thief? Thou hast seena farmer's dog bark at a beggar?GLOUCESTERAy, sir.KING LEARAnd the creature run from the cur? There thoumightst behold the great image of authority: adog's obeyed in office.Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand!Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thine own back;Thou hotly lust'st to use her in that kindFor which thou whipp'st her. The usurer hangs the cozener.Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear;Robes and furr'd gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold,And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks:Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw does pierce it.None does offend, none, I say, none; I'll able 'em:Take that of me, my friend, who have the powerTo seal the accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes;And like a scurvy politician, seemTo see the things thou dost not.If that is not our world, nothing is. So yes — he’s relevant.
What is the message of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night?
Cross-dressing can lead to serious problems and yellow garters are a fashion disaster. The background of the pagan festivities - the Lord of Misrule, and the prevailing mood of the Puritans in Elizabethan London (exemplified by Malvolio) would not have been lost on the contemporary audience. It has much to say on the subject of gender, love and avid ambition. The funny thing is that as all the women were played by men anyway it is a wonder any of his groundlings got the joke.
Help finding 2 contrasting monologues from published plays?
I'm going to be competing in the Florida State Thespians District Competition in a few months and i wanted to preform some monologues. I need 2 contrasting monologues (probably comedic and dramatic) from PUBLISHED PLAYS. They need to be no longer than 5 mins together. I also need to present a copy of the play to the judges so i will need to buy whatever play the monologue is in. And they both have to be from different plays. Also it would be great if they were from plays that are not very popular, (like off broadway) so that i can do a monologue that no one else will do. Thanks so much!!!
In The Merchant of Venice, what does this extract mean?
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare The prince of Aragon - An arrogant Spanish nobleman who also attempts to win Portia’s hand by picking a casket. Like the prince of Morocco, however, the prince of Aragon chooses unwisely. He picks the silver casket, which gives him a message calling him an idiot instead of Portia’s hand. http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/merchant/characters.html STUDY GUIDES These links will give you a summary of the play, character analysis, plot and much more, so that you will be able to answer literary questions. http://www.bookrags.com/notes/mov/ http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/merchant/index.html http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/titles/merchantvenice/ http://cummingsstudyguides.net/xMerchantof.html#Merchant%20of%20Venice