> Even among those who claim to "like Shakespeare", they seem to be driven more by wanting to feel "highbrow" rather than any genuine appreciation for the works.
The main problem with Shakespeare is that we are reading something that is supposed to be performed.
A play strongly depends upon the actors to give it life.
I had this driven home when I was reading a script for some play I found particularly particularly boring. We got together to read it aloud for rehearsal, and I uttered some line that caused a couple of chuckles.
Wait, hold the phone! This character is supposed to be funny, and I, the actor, completely missed that from simply reading the script. Suddenly, I was rereading everything with a completely different tone in mind and paid a lot more attention to timing. The character suddenly had life where before it was simply flat.
I think this is what causes the disconnect about Shakespeare. The people who praise Shakespeare are projecting their experience(s) of a play over top of what they are reading while those who do not have that experience cannot understand what is so interesting.
The main problem with Shakespeare is that we are reading something that is supposed to be performed.
A play strongly depends upon the actors to give it life.
I had this driven home when I was reading a script for some play I found particularly particularly boring. We got together to read it aloud for rehearsal, and I uttered some line that caused a couple of chuckles.
Wait, hold the phone! This character is supposed to be funny, and I, the actor, completely missed that from simply reading the script. Suddenly, I was rereading everything with a completely different tone in mind and paid a lot more attention to timing. The character suddenly had life where before it was simply flat.
I think this is what causes the disconnect about Shakespeare. The people who praise Shakespeare are projecting their experience(s) of a play over top of what they are reading while those who do not have that experience cannot understand what is so interesting.