Time Travel and Shakespeare

As I was reading Rebecca's post about Doctor Who going back in time to meet Shakespeare, a memory was dredged up from the depths of my mind.

When I was probably like ten years old, I read a book by Susan Cooper called King of Shadows. I remember I loved it but I haven't thought about it in ages! Rebecca's post reminded me of it because it's about this boy who is in theater and he goes back in time and performs A Midsummer Night's Dream with the real William Shakespeare. In the process he finds healing from tragedies that have happened in his past. It's a great book!

Wow, I think that might have been my first exposure to Shakespeare. I just remember that I loved the character of Shakespeare because the author portrayed him as very fatherly and loving and perceptive. And one of the things that I've since come to conclude is that Shakespeare really understood people. As I've read and watched his plays, I'm continually amazed at how well he portrays people. He had a gift not only to mold the English language, but to discern who people really are and what drives them. He understood what made people do the things they do and is able to recreate that in his plays. And I think that is why his plays are timeless. As others watch his plays, they are able to relate with his characters because they are so real. I love that! William Shakespeare was such a genius.

A Shakespeare rant, but not as eloquent as King Henry...

Man, I am feeling so frustrated right now! And it frustrates me that I'm frustrated, because I know I really shouldn't be.

Ok, so for my Shakespeare class we were asked to make a blog to fulfill our learning outcomes for the class. So, I made it. The end. Except not because now I need to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing with it. And it's hard for me! I just don't think I'm getting what I'm supposed to do with this. Which annoys me because I don't know why it's hard for me! I can analyze literature. And I'm creative. . . sometimes. . . . I'm just having trouble applying this stuff and sharing Shakespeare meaningfully and engaging it creatively. And I hate feeling stupid. I feel like I'm being asked to take a step into uncharted territory except in my mind the earth really is flat and after the next step there isn't anything else.

Now, if I was Henry V, I'd command this stupid mental block to go hang itself. Or I'd give it a brilliant monologue that I came up with. On the spot. You know what I wish? I wish that King Henry could come give me a St. Crispin's day pep talk right now. . .

Whatever. This will all work out. Wish me luck that I'll be able to find the beauteous new opportunities that this brave new world has to offer. . .

Holy Cow, Henry V

Ok, Henry V is incredible! I LOVED it! Wow, Shakespeare is so good at using language. It gives you such great imagery and just the sound of it is so beautiful. It really makes you feel.

Some of my favorite lines were right at the beginning of the play when King Henry V is describing war.

"...His soul
Shall stand sore charged for the wasteful vengeance
That shall fly with them: for many a thousand widows
Shall this his mock mock out of their dear husbands;
Mock mothers from their sons, mock castles down;
And some are yet ungotten and unborn
That shall have cause to curse the Dauphin's scorn."

It's so powerful! He totally plays on your emotions to feel the loss that war brings.

I also loved how Shakespeare integrated faith in God in this play. The religious aspect wasn't overbearing but it rang so true to me! I think its probably because I just returned from my mission, but that thread of the play stuck out to me. And I loved it. Throughout the whole play Henry makes comments like,

"But this lies all within the will of God,
To whom I do appeal."

"We are in God's hands now, not theirs."

Especially the St. Crispian's day speech.

"If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more."

I loved this part because this small, weary band of soldiers are facing 5 to 1 odds and King Henry V is so full of faith and humility. You can tell he really trusts God. And Shakespeare subtly (ok, not super subtly but very tastefully) conveys that that is why Henry V beat the French.

MONTJOY: "The day is yours."

KING HENRY V: "Praised be God, and not our strength, for it!"

It's just so great. I loved the whole play but I think my favorite part was when Henry disguises himself and goes around his camp and talks with his soldiers and then his soliloquy after that. He's so human. You can feel the pressure and anguish of his soul. And his subjects love him. Shoot, I love him too! He just has some great qualities: faith, trust, mercy (while at the same time being exactly just), optismism, love, humility, courage, diligence. He's awesome.

And the courting scene at the end! Soooo cute! As I was watching this scene in the movie, I was thinking about how he had just sacrificed part of his life fighting in war, experiencing the misery and depression of it. And many other people died for this cause. How joyful he must have felt right then to know that there would be peace between France and England. And...he gets the girl :)