Shakespeare 400

Today is the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death. Could he had imagined those plays he wrote for his company would one day encircle the whole world and be performed from one end of the world to the other? Translated into different languages and spawn other plays and movies based on his plays? That schools of drama and english would exist to only study and perform his work?

I like to believe William was a regular guy with an amazing talent. (There is a whole school of thought that William Shakespeare never existed and is a pen name for other people.) I'm not here for that. I believe William Shakespeare lived and breathed just like I am now. He wrote from his heart, his imagination and his inspiration.

As one of my english teachers said, Shakespeare wrote the Soap Operas of his time. I always loved Shakespeare and believe his work is for everybody not the select few. I think the best way to get to know Will is to read his sonnets. Everything he wrote in the sonnets echo in his plays. Yes, everything. Love, Death, Passion, Love, Lust, Sex, Betrayal, Revenge, Heartache.

Here are two other Shakespeare posts I did last year reading Juliet's speech and And the year before.

Enjoy. Have a great weekend everyone.

Sonnet 29 on a Saturday

Happy Saturday. I know, I rarely post on the weekends. Perhaps I need to do more weekend posts, something to think about.

I hope the weekend is treating you all well. I wanted to share this with all of you. If you are a new reader, you may not know I'm a fan of Shakespeare. One of my ideas is to film a video of me performing a sonnet like a mini film. What gave me the idea is from this video below I found years ago with Matthew Macfadyen (better known as Mr. Darcy for all your Pride and Prejudice fans out there.) This is sonnet 29. You can tell the video is older because of the phone he uses in it. (Wow, how phones have changed!)
Enjoy, my friends.




Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare

When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself, and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featur'd like him, like him with friends possess'd,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

Happy Birthday, Shakespeare!

Today is the birthday of my old friend, William. You know him better as William Shakespeare. In honor of his birthday, here is my tribute to him. Here are the sonnets I'm reading:116 and 43



As always, Sweet Dreams to you all.