My first real exposure to Shakespeare was with Romeo and Juliet. I was immediately enthralled by the Shakespearean style. So enthralled in fact that I spent that year telling my "enemies" that I bite my thumb at them. My friends were fairly unimpressed with my antics.
A little later, I saw Midsommer Night's Dream. I really had no clue what was going on (I had limited knowledge of Fae and Greek mythos). Regardless, I was entranced.
Besides the fact Shakespeare is responsible for inventing around 1700 words, I found myself obsessing about Shakepeare's English as it would have been used.
There is a comforting darkness in Shakespeare's work. Every time a read it, I gain something new. So I leave you with a quote to reflect on from The Tempest.
Our revels now are ended. These our actors,As I foretold you, were all spirits, andAre melted into air, thin air;And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,The cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces,The solemn temples, the great globe itself,Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolveAnd like this insubstantial pageant faded,Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuffAs dreams are made on, and our little lifeIs rounded with a sleep.
