Author Archives: Open Shakespeare
Word of the Day: Bagpipes
Bagpipes are, for Shakespeare, an instrument that inspires emotion. Falstaff, in the first of my three passages, mentions the instrument in the midst of some tavern banter with young Prince Hal: FALSTAFF … ‘Sblood, I am as melancholy as a … Continue reading
John Boe, The Tragedy of Macbeth: Bibliography and Film and Video Productions
Bibliography Adamson, Silvia, Hunter, Lynette, Magnusson, Lynn, Thompson, Ann, and Wales, Katie, ed. Reading Shakespeare’s Dramatic Language: A Guide. The Arden Shakespeare: London, 2001. Blake, N. F. Shakespeare’s Language: An Introduction. London: Macmillan, 1983. Bloom, Harold. Shakespeare: The Invention of … Continue reading
John Boe, The Tragedy of Macbeth: Five Topics for Discussion and Writing
Religion in Macbeth: Some critics and directors have emphasized the religious themes in Macbeth. Where in the play do such themes emerge? What are these themes? Are they explicitly Christian and just generally religious? Important Words and Images in Macbeth: … Continue reading
John Boe, The Tragedy of Macbeth: The Play Today
Macbeth has been one of the most performed of Shakespeare plays, from its initial performance with Richard Burbage in the title role on. In the 20th century numerous acclaimed actors and directors have taken the play on. In 1936 Orson … Continue reading
“Jumping o’er times”: An Update on Open Shakespeare
Did you know that the word “jointress”, used by Claudius to describe his new wife and Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, is an Elizabethan legal term for a widow who owns property from her first marriage? I didn’t, until a contributor to … Continue reading
Minutes of Meeting: 2011-04-30
Present: JHS, RP To do: Publish a ‘state of the project post’ on OKFN blog Publicise site through contact with other projects: www.delightedbeauty.org, www.shakespeareinsmalldoses.com Publicise site: unis (NFP, fun for summer), Call For Papers Investigate kickstarter Organise May Week event, … Continue reading
John Boe, The Tragedy of Macbeth: Modern Criticism and Critical Controversies
Macbeth criticism varies widely in terms of the critical approaches taken. Macbeth criticism begins in the 18th century, where the moral lessons of the play tended to be stressed. Thus Samuel Johnson summed up the play as “The danger of … Continue reading
Open Shakespeare: March and April
Annotation Sprint II Our second annotation sprint, taking place at the end of Cambridge University term attracted contributions from all over the internet, particularly from the States. In Cambridge itself, our volunteers continued working on Hamlet, bringing the total number … Continue reading
John Boe, The Tragedy of Macbeth: Extracts of Classic Criticism
Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) [From Shakespeare 1765, Johnson discusses the belief in witches and how Lady Macbeth influences her husband.] I. i. Enter three Witches. In order to make a true estimate of the abilities and merit of a writer, it … Continue reading
John Boe, The Tragedy of Macbeth: Difficult Passages
Act I. Scene 7, Lines 1-28 Macbeth. If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well It were done quickly: if th’ assassination Could trammel up the consequence, and catch With his surcease success; that but this blow Might … Continue reading