Yeah, I know. Shakespeare is "one of the masters of the English language", and good for him! I'm sure he was a great guy. So why can't we just read his plays right away? Noooo, we have to learn about the time period first. This wouldn't be a problem if it was just the time period. But nope, we have to learn the time period, about the life of the people in that time, the 17,000 King Henrys before the queen, Queen Elizabeth's menstrual cycle, and what panties Shakespeare liked to wear, before we read a word of any of his plays. Why?
I'm sure his plays are good...for the people who know what the hell he's saying, but I become that much less interested in the play because of all the crap we have to do along with it. Teachers claim we need background information to help us understand the play better. I suppose that makes sense, but why do we have to go into so much detail? Just give us a quick overview of the time period so we can get on to deciphering all the crazy-ass words in the play. I don't need to know about the rich people's poofy clothes they wore to the Globe Theatre, or how to write in a diary as a character from that time (no joke, that was an actual assignment).
Maybe teach us how to read the plays? Seriously, how am I supposed to understand the "greatness" of the plays if all I see is something like this:
"Good morrow Sir Edmund Walter Richman III! How doth the wind carry the song of the nightingale through thine earlobes of time, whilst you adjust your breeches?"
Translation: "Hi, how are you?"
Mind you all the plays read like this. I can't appreciate the story if I have no idea what they're talking about, so instead of preaching to us about how Shakespeare was the greatest playwright that ever walked this Earth, how about showing us how to read these plays? By the time we finish getting past all "background information" BS, I don't even want to read the play anymore. Nice job English class.
YOU ARE READING
Yes...Another Rant Book (OLD discontinued)
Random*This rant book is old and many of the chapters hold opinions that don't necessarily stand for me today. Read at your own risk and feel free to ask me about anything questionable! So yeah, the title says it all. This is yet another rant book to add...
