Should I admit that all didn’t go as planned, or try to bluff?
I’m not really a bluffer, so I’ll first say straight off that I did not read the entire play of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. But do I consider the whole effort a failure? No, and here’s why:
The plays of Shakespeare are still read today — four-hundred years later. It’s not only because of the quality of the writing, or the fact that they are still performed as drama (and new productions and movies are still produced), but because of the strong themes: love, jealousy, revenge, sorrow as good versus evil battles out (but who is good? who is evil?). So, while I didn’t read the play, I experienced the theme.
To me, Hamlet is about lost chances, and the literally life and death permanent consequences of bad decisions (planned or unplanned). It’s about personalities — how good qualities such as compassion and self-sacrificing love can lead to very dire consequences taken to the extreme.
Hamlet is a tragedy, but there are moments of humor in it, and watching it on screen (which I will explore fully in Thursday’s Books on Screen column) made it easier to pick up on the humor in delivery — not only in intentional comedic moments, but in the madness of Hamlet himself.
Several resources helped me:
- The Sourcebooks Hamlet version. The text is laid out clearly with notes of explanation for difficult terms that are lost in translation, but what I enjoyed most was the introduction featuring performance notes, and the CD containing certain scenes as performed by the “Shakespeare greats.”
- Movie adaptations such as Kenneth’s Branagh’s 1996 edition so that I could see it and appreciate the beautiful melody of the language, even when the meaning sort of escaped me.
- Wikipedia’s entry on Hamlet (I should have read this first for a general overview and to help keep the characters straight)
- Charles and Mary Lamb’s Tales from Shakespeare. The Hamlet section is twenty pages long. It details the plot, but as the name suggests, it shares the info as a tale. In the preface, the authors share that their intent is to use as much of the original language as possible, with the goal of exposing young children (and other brain-weary folks like me) to the beauty of Shakespeare in a simpler form that will whet the appetite for the real thing. This is not simply a synopsis of the play, but a retelling in which you can almost see the action. You can use amazon’s look inside feature to read their entry on the Tempest. I highly recommend this book, and am glad that I remembered I had it on my shelf.
- Shakespeare Stealer series — Two years ago I shared in this post about how these juvenile novels primed my interest in Shakespeare (and in the same post I mention the Lambs’ book, which answered my own question of how that book found its way to my bookshelves).
What about you? Did you fare any better? I posted some thought-starting questions in the Classics Preview, but you can link up whatever you would like in your review. And like me, don’t be afraid to admit failure, if that’s the case. If you didn’t finish it, why? And in spite of the fact that you didn’t finish it, did you learn anything? Are you done with Shakespeare for good?
In answer to that last question, I am not done with Shakespeare. In fact, I think that even though I “failed” in reading the play, it has increased my interest in Shakespeare, and I think that after being more aware of the intricacies of the plot, and more familiar with the characters, I might pick it up again, but I will certainly read more of the tales from Charles and Mary Lamb, and probably watch some more Branagh movies as well.
Managing Editor Jennifer Donovan is a contributing editor at 5 Minutes for Mom. She blogs at Snapshot about daily life with her tween daughter and preschool son.
We are almost at the end of our published schedule for Classics Bookclub. Please take note of our titles for the next two months, and leave a comment here if you have a suggestion for future books.
February 3: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
March 3: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo — You are welcome to read all 1488 pages of an unabridged version, or you can check out a “shortened” version such as the one that I ordered, Les Miserables (Enriched Classics). I also ordered Les Miserables (A Stepping Stone Book) which is child-friendly in content and length, and I’m going to try to get Amanda (age 10) to read along as well.
But now it’s your turn! Link up your thoughts about William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
I didn’t get to it this time round. Though if putting the book by your bed counts for anything, I suppose I participated the teeniest tiniest bit. But I did read the comic-book-Hamlet last spring.
I do like reading Shakespeare–on my own terms and in my own time! But if you come into the reading already sleepy and a bit out of sorts, you don’t get far!
Becky
I’m sorry I just couldn’t get to it this month! As for future Classics, I’m thinking some important authors are Mark Twain, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Alexandre Dumas (love The Count!). I’ve never actually read Alice In Wonderland, so that may be nice. Oh, and I sure hope we read Little Women at some point!
Shakespeare is meant to be performed and watched, not just read. I think there’s value in reading his plays, but I would MUCH rather see them–live, if possible. The Hamlet movies done by Kenneth Branagh and Mel Gibson are both worth watching.
I made it through! I wish I would have checked out all the great resources before I read, but proud of myself for making it through without them.
I love reading Shakespeare, but just didn’t have time this month with the holidays. I’ve read the Maya Angelou book before, so we’ll see if I have time for a re-read.
I’D like to read Ben-Hur at some point. Well. I AM going to read the following books this year and if you make it a part of the Classics Bookclub I’ll just save them for the appropriate times! =D (Ha.)
1. Ben-Hur
2. Around the World in 80 Days
3. The Pathfinder. (Although I confess Pathfinder is on my shelf but I wouldn’t read it without considerable motivation – like this book club.)
By the time February rolls around I intend to be into Les Mis in order to participate in March!
All of the suggestions ound wonderful!! I am excited to be joining this year. I love Shakespeare but find much more enjoyment and understanding when watching it performed (perferably on stage) than when reading. Although I love the language, it just rolls off the tongue after a while. The rhythm is amazing.
Well, I tried to post this earlier today, but it must not have gone through.
I would really like to participate in this, but I missed out on this challenge because I came a little too late to the party. However, I am up for the Les Mis challenge anyway, because it is #1 on my TBR list this year. Maybe I can get to I Know Why, as well.
As far as suggestions for the future go, I would like to be held accountable to read Huck Finn. I have NEVER read it. Isn’t that terrible? How about Wuthering Heights? I haven’t read it since high school. I would also like to re-read Jane Eyre since it has been a while since I enjoyed it.
Jennifer~
What about Anne of Green Gables, Little Women or some classic science fiction like Journey to the Center of the Earth? Cry, the Beloved Country is also good.
Kipi
I like the idea of Little Women, definitely. The Great Gatsby comes to mind too.
I have Little Women on my list this year as well as Mark Twain’s A Murder, A Mystery and A Marriage. I’ve never read the Twain book but the title intrigues me. Sorry I missed Hamlet.
I tried – I really tried – but I could not read much of it. I felt like I was reading one of my husband’s technical books for work – like the words were all there, but they were going in and not making any sense. I don’t want to think of this as a failure on my part, though – I really did try!