On Shakespeare

Here are some miscellaneous thoughts from my Shakespeare class at Toccoa Falls College this past spring semester.

There is much more of theological relevance in Shakespeare than some people realize. They may miss it because it is never sectarian or in your face. But MacBeth is the most profound exploration of the compounding effects of unrepented sin outside the Bible. Hamlet dies because he chooses revenge over forgiveness or even justice, after missing Claudius’ profound meditation on the power of a repentance of which he is incapable; but he dies in a state of grace as signaled by his response to Laertes’ request “Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet.” That is why the play can end with flights of angels singing him to his rest. Merchant of Venice is about the triumph of grace over law (though its climax is marred by the forced conversion of Shylock.) Etc., etc., etc. The bottom line is that carcely a single play can be fully understood without reference to Christian teaching familiar to Shakespeare’s audience, though lost to us.

“Alas, poor Yorick . . .”

Another example of Shakespeare’s theological wisdom:  If you’re an anti-Semite Racist you don’t write the “Hath not a Jew eyes?” speech for Shylock; if you’re a romantic about human nature you don’t show him as genuinely evil. Shakespeare’s greatness lies in the fact that he does both. In “The Merchant of Venice,” we see human nature in all its complexity, including the effects of prejudice. We see Shylock’s evil but also his humanity, and thus we are forced to realize that “There but for the grace of God go I.”

“Hath not a Jew eyes?”

I’ve often  said that Lear and Othello are the darkest of Shakespeare’s great tragedies, and they are. But I am more impressed with my latest reading that even in them something good comes from all the apparent suffering and futility, though it may be harder to see. At the end of Othello, Iago, who struts through the play serenely confident in his ability to manipulate anybody and get away with anything is caught and promised a severe punishment. After all the injustice that happens, justice is finally served. And after all his suffering, and only as a result of it, Lear gains self knowledge. Both these goods come at a terrible price, but the implication could be drawn that, at any price, they are worth it.

Lear and his daughters. Cordelia, on the far right, is played by Alice Liddell–the Alice for whom Lewis Carroll wrote Alice in Wonderland!

The older and (I hope) wiser I get, the more I tend to draw that inference. And I think that wisdom consists, not simply in drawing it, but in doing so while being sobered at the high price our fallen nature often exacts, and realizing that our task is to keep the price from being so high when we can, for ourselves and others. The only way ultimately to do that is to believe and proclaim the Gospel, the Good News that the Price has already been paid. Whether he went so far himself I do not know, but because he understood life and portrayed its heights and depths so accurately, Shakespeare seen through the lens of Scripture is a Schoolmaster who points me to Christ.

Othello, Iago, Desdemona. Iago is already coming between them.

For more of Dr. Williams’ ruminations on literature and life, visit the Lantern Hollow Bookstore!

“There is a double meaning in that” Good Reading Part II

This will be no surprise coming from the token English major:  I love Shakespeare. I think I am more justified in this little obsession than most people, because I was introduced to Shakespeare when I was still young and impressionable.  My mom taught Shakespeare to her eighth graders and they would put on a play every year.  She would also drag us kids to as many plays as she could.  She called it culture, we called it torture–but we all really enjoyed it!

My mother’s love and enthusiasm could have only done two things–turned me off Shakespeare forever or turned me into an avid fan.  So, having chosen the path of a fan, let me explain a few things about Shakespeare.

Shakespeare is witty.  He likes puns and bawdy humor.  Yes, his language sounds a little foreign to us, but Shakespeare wrote in English–modern English, no less! (But this comment proves that I am over educated, with nothing better to do than try to educate anyone and everyone I come into contact with all my useless English facts)  Shakespeare is actually funny; you just need to listen for it.

One thing that I love about Shakespeare is that he has a play or a sonnet for nearly any mood.  The Comedies range from the completely ridiculous (Much ado about Nothing) to humor mixed with social commentary (Merchant of Venice).  The Tragedies have humor (Hamlet) as well as poignant observations concerning human nature (Othello).  The Histories plays are equally entertaining.  Henry V is my favorite.

The only problem is that Shakespeare needs to be seen.  Reading his plays is all well and good but one needs to see the plays to truly appreciate his genius.  Nothing beats a good stage performance.  I had the privilege to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Globe Theatre in London.  I don’t think anything will ever compare to that experience. But there are lots of festivals and other venues that put on Shakespeare plays and I recommend that you see one preformed on the stage at least once in your lifetime.   But if a stage production is not possible there is always Blockbuster or Netflix, because there are numerous movie adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays.  Kenneth Branagh has prehaps some of the best movie adaptations out there.

Here are some of my favorites.  You can click on each link to go straight to a play to start reading:  Twelfth Night or What You Will, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, Julius Caesar, Henry V, A Midsummer Night’s Dream,  and As You Like It.  As you can see I prefer the comedies but I have not yet read a Shakespeare play I did not like.

So dear readers, go read a play…watch a play…and, if you are feeling particularly adventurous, be in a Shakespeare play!