Hey, I've been trying to fully understand Hamlet because of my love of existentialism and philosophy, but I'm struggling with finding the magic that I'm SURE is there somewhere.

To help me out, could you discuss what your favourite parts of the play are? That would really help me learn to love it.

Tell you what, I'll start: Hamlet's ideas about death (in to be or not to be) is something that really hit home as an edgy agnostic who can't get over the idea of a bad afterlife. It's crazy how well Shakespeare understood existential philosophy before the term was even coined...

Anyway, tell me what you love about it!

I've recently developed an interesting in the history of Shakespeare's Mark Antony and am curious are he would compare to Brando and Heston?

I truly love a lot about Shakespeare’s plays, but wow, just so struggle with the dearth of women and the treatment of most of the few women who are there. I realize those were very different times, and Shakespeare was perhaps even a bit progressive. However, when reading most of his plays ‘the woman problem’ makes me cringe or disgusts me and deflates my enjoyment.

Any suggestions?

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/apr/19/questions-over-shakespeares-authorship-began-in-his-lifetime-scholar-claims

My eyes hurt from how far they are rolling up in my head

What line or plot point in the Bard's plays do you consider the most badass, cool, bad-to-the-bone, etc.? What line/scene is most worthy of a vine boom?

For me, it has to be Hamlet's taunt towards Claudius during "The Mousetrap": "What, frighted with false fire?" (3.2.292). Chills every time.

I'm working on a project right now and wondering if there's a list of rhyming words from Shakespeare's works that don't rhyme in modern English. If anyone knows of one that would be very helpful. Thanks

Was wondering what everyone thought of the final lines of King Lear, the 2nd line in particular is stumping me, as well as "nor live so long". Really can't figure out Shakespeare is trying to communicate here! I've had a look on Google and nothing has been too illuminating to me, although I'll paste two interpretations I found online here. Thank you in advance!

Edgar/Albany (depends on version of the play):

"The weight of this sad time we must obey;

Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.

The oldest hath borne most: we that are young

Shall never see so much, nor live so long."

One commentator on Reddit - personally think this is a great interpretation although sceptical over whether this message can actually be drawn from the text: Edgar’s message to Shakespeare’s contemporaries is: “let go of your old tales of nobility and heroic aristocracy. Open your eyes to the reality Machiavelli points to, that in this world we will face wickedness, greed and ruthlessness. Understand that, as our parents didn’t, and STILL choose to be noble and do the right thing. If we don’t realize that, we will repeat their mistakes”.

Another commentator on Genius - also seems a bit subjectively off?: A rough paraphrase, 'We must all pay attention to the sad grief of this time; we should say what’s really in our hearts, not what we think one’s supposed to say in tragic moments. The oldest have suffered the most: all of us younger folk will never suffer as much as Lear did, nor live on in immortal tales as Lear will.'

Edit: managed to create a logical interpretation from the discussion below, thank you all! I feel like I can fully understand King Lear now :)

Hi, I am looking for some light, fun interactive activities to do with an adcanced teenage English as a Second Language class around the theme of Shakespeare.

I've been suggested getting them to take it in turns reading lines from soliliquoy (maybe turning into catch the a bean bag and read thing), but that feels a bit bland.

I quite like Akala's Rap or Shakespeare quiz (if you are familiar with that).

Does anyone have any ideas or any links to resources?

Many thanks in advance!

I feel like I’m losing my mind here. As the title implies I am searching for something I could’ve sworn was in Hamlet but I can’t find it in any of The Bard’s works. I’m looking for a line that went “What ho from Denmark” or “how goes it in Denmark” or something like that but again it doesn’t seem to exist. Can yall help me out by either confirming I’ve gone mad or directing me to the line in question? Thanks in advance

Hi, I would really appreciate some help finding a monologue for class. I am looking for one spoken by a female character in her 20s it has to be spoken in verse. I'm aiming for one where preferably the female character is experiencing rage, anger, or hurt preferably expressed to a male character (one about heartbreak or a breakup would be amazing but not necessary) Hoping for one on the shorter side but I'm open to other options. My professor wants one geared towards my acting skill set where the thoughts build upon each other to make a convincing point one coherent thought not many different thoughts all over the place IE Juliet's "Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face". The monologue unfortunately can't come from Midsummer.

Any ideas would be extremely appreciated, thank you!!! (Please delete if not allowed)

The tone of “Hamlet” is sombre, dark and even eerie so would an upbeat jig very soon after the bloodbath in the final scene not have blunted the emotional impact left on the audience? In effect, would it not be like the modern equivalent of watching "Schindler’s List” and it concluding with Pharrell William’s "Happy" playing over the credits?

Hello fellow Billy Shakes fans.

I have always connected to Hal very much as a character. I grew up the son of a military officer and have always had a penchant for partying a bit too hard, but also having a code and sticking to it.

There’s an open call audition coming up and I was wondering if Hal’s Henry IV “Do Not Think So…” speech is done to death these days. I know how overdone his warhorses in V are, and just wanted to get some gouge, and if it is, if there are some hidden gems I’ve missed in my read throughs.

Thanks and love this community.

I’m making playlists for Shakespeare plays and I can’t come up with any really fitting ones for Measure for Measure.

What themes of Julius Caesar do you think involve methods of subversion and containment (the female characters in this story are some of the most dynamic of Shakespeare’s women but this is more obvious to the reader so I’m not sure if this counts as Bill trying to subvert current gender norms) wondering if there is anything else

Who'd win in a three-way magical battle? Prospero, the Weird Sisters, or Oberon and Titania as a tag team?

I’m working through Shakespeare’s complete works with a group of people, and we’ve decided to dedicate our next meeting to Shakespeare’s first 50 sonnets. For all our meetings so far, each of which has been dedicated to one of his plays, I’ve included an optional critical paper for all of us to read, to help kickstart the meetings and dive deeper into the play itself. I’m looking for something similar that would work for his first 50 sonnets. I’d be especially interested in any notable, pathbreaking papers. They don’t need to have been written recently, and they don’t need to take the form of a paper, but I need something I can expect people to read in a week’s time.

I am thinking about R+J from a more female-focused perspective and was wondering how far you think the real tragedy of the play could be considered to be Juliet's death, as opposed to the death of the two lovers together.

Even though they seem to be compelled to die by the same things (i.e. the feud, their love), does Juliet have more complexity in her motivation?

Any ideas, thoughts, or other lines of thinking greatly appreciated!

I have to do this stupid Monologue for english class as Iago and I personally see the man As very motivated by ambition(That and pure sadism) Cause he Seeked to make those above him fall. But I don't know if thats the right answer

This is for my EPQ, about 'how has Shakespeare's use of language has influenced todays English language?'

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1. Any good texts or sources that are specific to this? I have read David Crystals "a guided tour of English language" and read a few dissertations which are all loosely written the same way?
2. What is your favourite Shakespearean idiom or word that you still use today?
3. What are other idioms reportedly invented by Shakespeare that you know?

I would really appreciate any response, but don't want to arrogantly ask for it so please don't feel complied to answer but any help would be appreciated, especially considering the expert contacting segment of my EPQ has not quite gone to plan just yet.

Only have the time to see one and it’s between these 2. What would you recommend, haven’t read either but I know Richard 3rd is more serious and much ado is a comedy

So, I'm not a native English speaker and I really like Shakespeare. That sometimes make it complicated because I'm getting lost on the bard reaaaaaalllly complex languange. But to my shok there are a few plays I can understand much easily than others. So my question: Which is for you the easiest play to understand and what's the hardest? Mine's are Julius Ceaser and Hamlet respectively

I'm a student from south korea. For some reason, I have to read Hamlet from shakespeare in english text. So, can you recommend me a Hamlet in modern english version? it will be best if i can download in pdf, but i want the translation to have high quality.

Hi, I'll be graduating with a degree in English with a concentration in creative writing. Is there anywhere in the US I could get an MFA in Shakespeare?