What is your favorite play by Shakespeare?
- Jenn+books
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What is your favorite play by Shakespeare?
I haven't read as many of the comedies as I would like, so I'm mainly basing my answer on the tragedies. Of the tragedies, Hamlet is my favorite. I like the waffling in Hamlet's character, though many people seem to complain about his lack of activity. I think most people faced with a situation like that wouldn't just rush in and kill a king! (Or an older or superior person, since king's aren't as evident in our day and age.) Hamlet understandably is conflicted about the rightness of his thoughts and actions, wishes his life isn't as it seems to be, and puts off the horrible act he doesn't want to perform. I'm sure I would do the same thing in his position!
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Macbeth is a good play--it's kind of like Hamlet from Claudius' (the usurper's) perspective.The dynamic between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is interesting, to say the least. There are so few wives throughout Shakespeare's work, and Lady Macbeth is a very masculine wife. I think that Lady Macbeth empowered Macbeth, motivated him, to a large extent in the killing of the king. If Macbeth hadn't had Lady Macbeth there to motivate him to kill the king, he might have been much like Hamlet--waffling, reluctant, contemplative. Once he kills the king, though, and he has the power in his grasp, Macbeth becomes more and more power hungry, and also more and more nervous. Fear and power don't go together well, apparently. That's my take on Macbeth. What did you like about it?SarahPapesh wrote:I read some of Shakespeare's plays, but not all. I liked Hamlet more than Romeo and Juliet, but I really liked Macbeth. I think that Hamlet was very conflicted which made the play very interesting, but I prefer Macbeth.
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But I also do like A Midsummer's Night Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, and Twelfth Night. I really need to read some of Shakespeare's history plays (since I love the time period). I recently watched The Hollow Crown series (with Jeremy Irons, Ben Whishaw, and Tom Hiddleston) and that series got me interested to physically read the plays.
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I really need to read more of the comedies! I do love MSND. Pericles was a pretty interesting one too. I was just thinking that after I finished King Lear a few days ago. I need some marriage instead of some death! As You Like It might be my next one.MagicofBooks86 wrote:It's hard for me to pick between Macbeth and Hamlet. I love both pretty much equally.
But I also do like A Midsummer's Night Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, and Twelfth Night. I really need to read some of Shakespeare's history plays (since I love the time period). I recently watched The Hollow Crown series (with Jeremy Irons, Ben Whishaw, and Tom Hiddleston) and that series got me interested to physically read the plays.
Of the histories, Henry V might be my favorite (though I have to admit that the histories are harder to get into for me than the tragedies and comedies). That series looks great--I hadn't heard of it before. It might be just the ticket I need to get a little more connected with the histories. Someone said it's posted on YouTube, but I think I might try to rent it or buy it. It would be so much better to see it on a bigger screen. Thanks for the recommendation!
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I did like Macbeth's wife - she was a good symbol of manipulation. Actually, what I liked the most about Macbeth was how Shakespeare used the witches to help tell the story. I love symbolism, and the witches definitely provided that! I have always seen the witches as a necessary evil in the play that, because of their words and actions, actually help the reader to see Macbeth as someone worthy of compassion, despite everything he does.Macbeth is a good play--it's kind of like Hamlet from Claudius' (the usurper's) perspective.The dynamic between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is interesting, to say the least. There are so few wives throughout Shakespeare's work, and Lady Macbeth is a very masculine wife. I think that Lady Macbeth empowered Macbeth, motivated him, to a large extent in the killing of the king. If Macbeth hadn't had Lady Macbeth there to motivate him to kill the king, he might have been much like Hamlet--waffling, reluctant, contemplative. Once he kills the king, though, and he has the power in his grasp, Macbeth becomes more and more power hungry, and also more and more nervous. Fear and power don't go together well, apparently. That's my take on Macbeth. What did you like about it?
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It is easier to say which one I like least - that would be Midsummer Night's Dream
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You're right--it is difficult to choose one. They are so different! It's interesting that you don't care for MSND. What do you not like about it? Most people like the play. Or, at least, it's one of the best-known plays today. That one, and maybe Hamlet.Fran wrote:I'd probably say Hamlet although I very much like King Lear, Coriolanus, Othello and The Merchant ... it's difficult to choose just one.
It is easier to say which one I like least - that would be Midsummer Night's Dream
-- 08 Oct 2013, 03:53 --
You're right--Lady Macbeth is definitely a strong woman, though Shakespeare had to actually strip her femininity to do it. And the witches are an interesting aspect of the play. I think Macbeth had to already have the ambition and the potential for corruption within him for the witches' manipulation to provoke him to take the action he did, and his wife had a huge part to play in it, as well. I really like it that Shakespeare's characters are often complex characters--neither all good nor all bad--that, like Macbeth, they are often worthy of compassion, even if they do horrible things. Great point!SarahPapesh wrote:I did like Macbeth's wife - she was a good symbol of manipulation. Actually, what I liked the most about Macbeth was how Shakespeare used the witches to help tell the story. I love symbolism, and the witches definitely provided that! I have always seen the witches as a necessary evil in the play that, because of their words and actions, actually help the reader to see Macbeth as someone worthy of compassion, despite everything he does.
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You're right--it is difficult to choose one. They are so different! It's interesting that you don't care for MSND. What do you not like about it? Most people like the play. Or, at least, it's one of the best-known plays today. That one, and maybe Hamlet[/iJenn+books wrote:Fran wrote:I'd probably say Hamlet although I very much like King Lear, Coriolanus, Othello and The Merchant ... it's difficult to choose just one.
It is easier to say which one I like least - that would be Midsummer Night's Dream
@Jenn
MSND just never did it for me - I think it's just that in the main I prefer the tragedies to the comedies (I know The Merchant is considered a comedy which I always found rather odd but I guess it's down to the different times!
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Even though I find it kind of hard to get into the history plays, I really liked Henry V. The band of brothers speech alone (and the ensuing battle) makes the entire play--and it's already a strong play! I also like that it has some comedy in it, with the French princess trying to learn English. Overall, it's a really good play. Have you seen the Kenneth Branagh version?Bananacat wrote:I haven't read many of Shakespeare's plays but out of the ones that I have read, I would have to say that A Midsummer Nights Dream and Henry V would have to be my favourites. I think this is due to the fact that I love the storyline in them.
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