Ok, so yeah I have to do public school curriculum for English, and of course SHAKESPEARE is mandatory reading. Man alive, it is soooo boring. I've heard that some Christian curriculum includes reading Shakespeare, or even that some people read it for fun?
Like why are these pieces of garbage so revered? Shakespeare has no literary talent in the least-there's no imagery in the sense that you can't place yourself in the scene very well. The writing is atrocious-I mean I know it's in old English, but even then it's still bad.
The story is boring and crude, the "poetry" is horrible, and I can't imagine any good reason to read it. I just don't understand it. Yet another reflection on our society and culture, when stories of hate, deception, and pornography are the "classics", considered "beautiful" :S, and the "creme da la crop".
Thank you Lord for C. S. Lewis and Tolkien! Thank you for the awesome stories you placed in their hearts to symbolize but a shadow of your Magnificence!
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Longing just to bring something that's of worth-that will bless your heart...
10 comments:
Amen
SHAKESPEARE: A Work of Art.
-me-
tell me nate, how is it a work of art???????????????
Yes, please do...
Can art be proved?
-me-
To a point... I think art has to be edifying and God glorifying, which is why I can't call the works of Shakespeare-art. It's very hard to find any redeemable aspects of any of his plays.
Well, I definately would not compare it to the perverse things of the day, like pornography.
To be honest, I have not read Shakespeare since grade 6, but I think I will have it again in a year or two.
-Nathan-
Sure there are! While it might be dumbed down through the language barrier, there are multiple references to the misuse of the married bed. That's what the whole story of Othello is about-false accusations of adultery.
Now, is that really something a Christian should be reading? I'm pretty good at finding redeemable aspects of things, but in the case of Shakespeare: what is redeemable about a couple who weds despite their families, and then kill themselves when they think the other is dead(Romeo and Juliet) or... one man deceiving his general into believing his wife is adulterous to the point that he kills her?
I don't know... maybe I'm missing something...
Well I don't know a whole lot about it... but the fact that his work is soo old and is considered by most people who actually study literature (not just a high school course) to be some of the greatest works. Also his work does proclaim evil as evil and good as good. He never makes you think that murder is good or adultury like much of todays work. (Macbeth is a good example)
I took Macbeth, Julius Ceaser, and Much ado about nothing, and did rather enjoy them .. When I could understand the old english. :)
oh by the way its me.. Chris :)
I don't know how long it will be before anyone reads this, but I will write it anyway.
First of all, I would have to say I agree with Nathan and Chris. Sure, Shakespeare was not a Christian, and he wrote about the world from that perspective. However, he did have some sense of morality, looking down on such things as adultery.
I would like to bring in a quote from John Calvin concerning literature written by non-Christians. I'm not sure of the exact words but I'll see what I can remember. "If ungodly men have said anything that is just or true, let us not reject it, for it has come from God." I believe this also applies to Shakespeare. I have personally found many truth to his works, although I can't recall them at the moment. He portrays the moral characters as being honourable and the immoral characters as dishonourable.
Lastly, I believe it is of the utmost importance for Christians to read the works of non-Christians for this reason: how are we to refute an ungodly worldview if we ourselves do not know what that worldview is about? Here I quote: "...always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you..."
If anyone reads this, it was a sort of spur-of-the-moment thing and may not be well organized. If you would like to talk about it my email is rk_carrots14@hotmail.com.
Thanx
Rachel Korvemaker
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