In the interest of Mental Health Month during the month of May, I took a break from blogging (and other social media endeavors), but I am Sans Serif once again with some discussion about one of my favorite writers: William Shakespeare.
Before I begin this series of blogs, let me be the first to establish: I am no Shakespeare expert—far from it. The writings I am familiar with don’t extend too much farther than required course reading in high school and college, but I enjoyed those assignments, and continue to enjoy the language and intricacies of his work(s) as I’ve broadened my exposure here and there.
Throughout history, universal themes or topics have been explored in entertainment. From books to movies to plays to music, writers have centered their ‘message’ around one or another key subjects. And while those themes/topics are numerous, there are, of course, certain subjects making the top of the list.
Looking back at literary entertainment from the 16th and 17th centuries, I want to touch on a few of those ‘top’ themes as they apply to William Shakespeare (hereby referred to using my nickname for him: ‘Billy Shakes’). They are: Love, Revenge/Betrayal, and something I like to call, ‘Family Living.’ Given the number of his works and the depth of ‘goings on’ within them, there may be a few repeats.
First up: Love.
Forbidden love. Psychotic love. Tested love. Unrequited love. One of the easiest (ink) wells a writer can dip his quill in for a bit of creative exposition, is the subject of love. Whatever kind it is, love, in all its variations, is something common in the human experience, some we all (in general) relate to. Regardless of the degree of romanticism involved, we’ve all loved or wanted love or rejected love. Love … is a many splintered thing—if not necessarily splendored. So, how does Billy Shakes fit in? Oh, his works have certainly delved on the subject of love …
Romeo & Juliet. But of course. Can’t discuss the subject of love in the same sentence with William Shakespeare without mention of this classic work on forbidden love. The Caplets and the Montagues ‘hate’ each other, but alas, their children can’t live without each other—literally. With misconceptions and misunderstandings all around, this tale of forbidden love ends tragically. I’m still not clear on the reason for the Capulets and Montagues being at odds, but the way the adults in the play ‘use’ the teens’ angst for covert gains in the interest of either ending the ‘feud’ or inflaming it, sends a cynical message regarding adults and love. Poor Mercutio …
Much Ado About Nothing. After the tragedy of R&J, it’s time to lighten things up a bit with some romantic comedy. Claudio, Hero, Benedick, and Beatrice are curiously and wittingly led to romance after quite a few humorous and not-so-humorous rounds of misconception and misunderstanding (yeah, Billy Shakes is sorta famous for this ploy in his works) involving the family of Leonato, governor of Messina. With the help of Don Pedro and Dogberry and despite the meddling of Don John, this tale of unrequited love that is, in truth, very much requited, ends happily with a double wedding. Although the story’s primary focus is Claudio and Hero, I always thought the ‘better’ storyline was that between Benedick and Beatrice. With this tale, Shakespeare is possibly conveying such ‘serious’ (non) love for social status doesn’t equal ‘true’ love … born out of the funny.
Other tales by Billy Shakes falling under the ‘love’ category: Winter’s Tale; As You Like It; Cymbeline; The Tempest; and Antony & Cleopatra.
Book One in my Dr. Naomi Alexander book series, Like Sweet Buttermilk, is a love story revisited. The novel’s epithet appropriately quotes William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. With killing and deception and other drama going on in the story, there assuredly exists an un-smooth road to true love.
Next up: discussion on Billy Shakes addressing the juiciness of a little betrayal and revenge …
Until then, Read on!
