It's Shakespeare's birthday today.
At my school, we gave cake to any student who recited Shakespearean lines.
We gave out a lot of cake.
It made me very happy.
I teach at a grade 7 - 12 school, so not every student actually studies Shakespeare in class. Yet students from every grade came to our little table and spoke a line or two or more. It was wonderful.
I wanted to do a full-blown Shakespeare post in honour of his big day today, but instead (because otherwise I'd be here all day!), I decided to focus on three, namely, my favourites from each "category".
It is widely held that there are three types of Shakespearean plays. I chose a favourite from each to chat about today.
Comedy: Twelfth Night
Why it's so awesome: Because shipwrecks and mistaken identity and great, memorable lines and yellow stockings. But the very best thing is the characterization. Viola is one of my all-time favourite characters ever. She's so awesome and kind of bad-ass and just a well-written character and I love her.
Yes, I am fangirling a bit over a Shakespearean heroine.
Awesome lines:
Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.
History: Richard III
Why it's so awesome: Quite simply, one of the best villains in all of literature. He uses his language and his wit to win exactly what he wants. The first scenes, when he woos the woman who ends up his wife, right after she's convinced he's killed her husband... oh it's so good! And his cry of “A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse!" is just such a great moment.
Awesome lines:
And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover,
To entertain these fair well-spoken days,
I am determined to prove a villain
And hate the idle pleasures of these days.
Tragedy: Othello
I was really, really torn on this one. I love King Lear and Othello about the same, and some of the best lines come from Macbeth... Oh just so many great lines and scenes and characters! I decided to go with Othello, though, because of how much I just fell in love with it when I first read it in high school. I loved how subtle the characterization was, and, again, Iago is such a great villain. I love the conniving, witty villains the best.
Awesome lines: Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are our gardens to the which our wills are gardeners.
It was pretty tough to narrow down my list. What is your favourite Shakespeare? What did you love or hate about studying him in school? (I'm not entertaining any "we shouldn't study him anymore" conversations, though!)
Comment below with your favourite Shakespeare memory or line or anything!