What's your favorite Shakespeare play and why?
Coriolanus. The lines are great. He despises the idiots of Rome, but he loves Rome.
The older BBC productions of it don't capture it well, imo. The play itself is good to read. Ralph Feinnes' "modernized" version was outstanding. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.
Here's a comparison of his big speech:
[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsYk8oCaHLI[/yt]
I think it's an untapped Shakespearean play, not getting the credit it deserves. The rise and fall of Caius Martius Coriolanus, going to the enemies of Rome and becoming a leader of them only to find that the same thing which got him banished from Rome -- pride -- led to his downfall amongst his former enemies.
Those with historical plots i.e. Henriad tetrology.
I'm sentimental about Julius Caesar and Coriolanus for the same reason.
Et tu, Geremia?
I once got called by a radio station and asked what was playing on a certain TV station. If I had known, I would have won $10. I didn't know, but the funny and sad thing is that I would have been watching it had I known it was on. It was Julius Caesar.
I think I like Hamlet best (I'm so original). I definitely have read it (or watched it) more often then any other play, ever since before high school.
I need to read more Shakespeare again. It's a good thing there is heaven because there sure isn't enough time to savor all the beauty and truth in the world in this life. In heaven I'll "have it all" and then some, even if in a different way.
Henry V
http://youtube.com/watch?v=A-yZNMWFqvM
The Tempest. I liked the contrast of characters in that one for some reason.
That being said, I haven't read Julius Caesar or anything to do with dead kings of England, so my favorite may change.
Taming of the Shrew. It has a great speech about why women need to appreciate men.
Quote from: PerEvangelicaDicta on September 25, 2017, 10:03:25 PMEt tu, Geremia?
I'd consider
Hamlet his greatest play. It is full of religious themes (e.g., that of justification, purgatory (https://isidore.co/calibre/browse/book/4413)), and the astronomical theories of Shakespeare's day influenced it (https://isidore.co/calibre/browse/book/5418).
Measure for Measure is another of my favorites because it addresses the themes of virginity, religious vs. secular (contemplative vs. active lives), political power (esp. the question of "legislating morality"), mercy vs. justice, etc., and Shakespeare does not portray the religious characters as Protestants would (cf. this paper (https://isidore.co/misc/Physics%20papers%20and%20books/Zotero/storage/4JVGJJUJ/Beauregard%20-%202001%20-%20SHAKESPEARE%20ON%20MONASTIC%20LIFE%20NUNS%20AND%20FRIARS%20IN%20M.pdf), which cites St. Thomas in connection with this play).
Merchant of Venice does a masterful job at portraying the humanity of Jews and their relationship with Christians.
Henry VIII is also a very good historical account of the king, portraying him as devoutly Catholic (which his was) before his downfall into lust. I'm inclined to think (along with some Shakespeare scholars) that the last act (the "happy ending" baptism of the male heir by Protestants) was a latter addition (and thus not authentically Shakespeare).
I enjoy the Henry V adaptation by Kenneth Brannaugh the most. The play I like actually reading, thinking about and discussing is MacBeth. There's just so much there. Same with King Lear. Kurasowa did a fantastic adaptation of King Lear (Ran) as well.
I suppose Shakespeare is meant to be watched, rather than just read, so I don't feel too guilty about preferring the movie adaptations!
My favorite play was King Lear. My second favorite was Pericles which many people think only part of was written by Shakespeare and it is generally not considered to be that good. For some reason Marina was my favorite character in all of Shakespeare and that is why I liked the play. But I haven't read any Shakespeare in a long time, since before my conversion, and I don't remember any of his plays that well. I wonder what I would think about them now that I am a traditional Catholic. If I did read Shakespeare again I would probably start with King Lear.
Quote from: Matto on September 26, 2017, 09:25:06 AMBut I haven't read any Shakespeare in a long time, since before my conversion, and I don't remember any of his plays that well. I wonder what I would think about them now that I am a traditional Catholic.
Same here. From reading the Douay-Rheims and having more knowledge of Catholicism since converting to tradition a decade ago, I'm picking up on many of the deeper themes in Shakespeare that I completely missed in my reading/watching his plays 15+ years ago. I'm convinced Shakespeare's Catholic education has permeated his plays.
Quote from: Matto on September 26, 2017, 09:25:06 AMIf I did read Shakespeare again I would probably start with King Lear.
King Lear has been termed Shakespeare's "secular gospel" play.
The Merchant of Venice. Some great speeches in there.
Quote from: Bernadette on September 26, 2017, 10:26:08 AM
The Merchant of Venice. Some great speeches in there.
Shylock's is classic, yes.
Quote from: Gardener on September 25, 2017, 09:06:09 PMI think it's an untapped Shakespearean play, not getting the credit it deserves. The rise and fall of Caius Martius Coriolanus, going to the enemies of Rome and becoming a leader of them only to find that the same thing which got him banished from Rome -- pride -- led to his downfall amongst his former enemies.
I've seen many Shakeaspeare plays but not that one. I'll have to check it out.
Quote from: Geremia on September 26, 2017, 10:37:06 AM
Quote from: Gardener on September 25, 2017, 09:06:09 PMI think it's an untapped Shakespearean play, not getting the credit it deserves. The rise and fall of Caius Martius Coriolanus, going to the enemies of Rome and becoming a leader of them only to find that the same thing which got him banished from Rome -- pride -- led to his downfall amongst his former enemies.
I've seen many Shakeaspeare plays but not that one. I'll have to check it out.
Definitely check out Feinnes' version.
Quote from: Gardener on September 26, 2017, 10:40:15 AMQuote from: Geremia on September 26, 2017, 10:37:06 AMI've seen many Shakeaspeare plays but not that one. I'll have to check it out.
Definitely check out Feinnes' version.
From Goddard's
The Meaning of Shakespeare (vol. 2) (https://isidore.co/calibre/browse/book/5482):
QuoteHis [Coriolanus's] contempt for the plebeians has given the drama the reputation of being the extreme example of Shakespeare's own supposed antidemocratic convictions.
"Antidemocratic"; I like it already. :)
Henry V
Lawrence Olivier
[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9fa3HFR02E[/yt]
Macbeth
Quote from: Older Salt on September 26, 2017, 12:43:06 PM
Henry V
Lawrence Olivier
[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9fa3HFR02E[/yt]
My school was taken to see that at the Chiswick Empire when it came out during the war.
Apparently it was government sponsored to boost British morale.
Out, vile jelly!
King Lear
Quote from: Greg on September 25, 2017, 11:53:48 PM
Henry V
http://youtube.com/watch?v=A-yZNMWFqvM
Absolutely. So tremendously stirring...
But I also have a special liking for this scene:
[yt]https://youtu.be/ojmkCXXmEXE[/yt]
Giving thanks to God for victory, while sorrowfully carrying the dead away for burial...
QuoteFrom Henry V, Shakespeare:
...
Was ever known so great and little loss
On one part and on the other? Take it, God,
For it is none but thine!
EXETER
'Tis wonderful!
KING HENRY V
Come, go we in procession to the village.
And be it death proclaimed through our host
To boast of this or take the praise from God
Which is his only.
FLUELLEN
Is it not lawful, an please your majesty, to tell
how many is killed?
KING HENRY V
Yes, captain; but with this acknowledgement,
That God fought for us.
FLUELLEN
Yes, my conscience, he did us great good.
KING HENRY V
Do we all holy rites;
Let there be sung 'Non nobis' and 'Te Deum;'
The dead with charity enclosed in clay:
And then to Calais; and to England then:
Where ne'er from France arrived more happy men.
Exeunt
...
(My user name was also inspired by a chant version of Non Nobis that the graduates at my college sing at every graduation.)
Branaugh is sufficient in Henry V but cannot hold his own against Olivier.
Not Opinion. Fact.
Quote from: Geremia on September 26, 2017, 10:28:37 AM
Quote from: Bernadette on September 26, 2017, 10:26:08 AM
The Merchant of Venice. Some great speeches in there.
Shylock's is classic, yes.
And Portia's
QuoteThe quality of mercy is not strained.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest. It becomes
The thronèd monarch better than his crown.
His scepter shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings,
But mercy is above this sceptered sway.
It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings.
It is an attribute to God himself.
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice.
When I was in college, studying Ancient Greek, I made a mistake on my final and used the wrong accent marks throughout. I waited for the professor afterward and quoted this speech to him, and he only took a couple of points off. :cheeseheadbeer:
^
???cè?
Quote from: Marlelar on December 03, 2017, 12:12:57 PM
A parishioner at Our Lady of Sorrows in Phoenix is giving a series of three lectures on Hamlet. The first two are now posted online. Go to soundcloud.com and search for Holy Name Society Phoenix.
Here's the URL: https://soundcloud.com/user-401087675
"Gallop apace you fiery-footed steeds
Toward's Phoebus' lodging, such a waggoner
As Phaeton would whip you in the west
and bring in cloudy night immediately"
Quote from: Gardener on September 25, 2017, 09:06:09 PM
Coriolanus. The lines are great. He despises the idiots of Rome, but he loves Rome.
The older BBC productions of it don't capture it well, imo. The play itself is good to read. Ralph Feinnes' "modernized" version was outstanding. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.
Here's a comparison of his big speech:
[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsYk8oCaHLI[/yt]
I think it's an untapped Shakespearean play, not getting the credit it deserves. The rise and fall of Caius Martius Coriolanus, going to the enemies of Rome and becoming a leader of them only to find that the same thing which got him banished from Rome -- pride -- led to his downfall amongst his former enemies.
I didn't know that movie was based off a Shakespeare play when I first watched it, then I read the play too, love it!
A Midsummer's Night Dream is good too
Hamlet. I myself in him.
Not my favourite but I can recommend Timon of Athens. Because it is an easy play to follow and understand. Its about a nobleman from Athens. He's very rich and treats his friends with all sort of gifts and even gives them money without expecting anything in return. He gets into financial problems and confidently relies on his friends to help him out. But in his naivety he realises that nobody wants to help him out and his character changes into that of a misantroph. The play is labelled as a tragedy play but the way his friends abandons him is quite comic.