Humanity of Shakespeare

I really enjoyed “Shakespeare Behind Bars”, and I was actually surprised at how I felt towards the inmates. What I found so interesting, is that there were moments when I nearly forgot about the fact that they were inmates and they have made poor, often horrible, gruesome choices. Many of them speak the lines very well and clear, and in the commentary they make intelligent statements. They show emotion, and understanding of The Tempest. I think it really gave me a new insight into inmates, and the life they live behind bars. The fact that they are so willing to act in this play, some even playing female roles, is truly amazing. We see this almost unexpected humanity that goes against our typical stereotypes of prisoners. Especially when we learn this is the 9th year for the Shakespeare performance.

What I think is great is how they were able to convey their characters so appropriately because of the connection they were able to make to them. This seems like a perfect testament to Shakespeare’s universality and the applications it can still have in modern narratives. If you really get down to the root of things, Shakespeare’s stories aren’t necessarily complicated. If you take out the magic and the fantasy found in certain plays you come down to basic ideas: a boy and girl in love, a jealous and treacherous friend, deceit to reach a goal. Basic human instincts and feelings are timeless.

I think a reason Shakespeare was so popular in his time, and also throughout the centuries, is because of how his plots are developed from the most basic human instincts. We may say we love Othello because of the dark plot, conspiracies, and killings, but maybe truly what attracts us so much to the story is how it emotionally relates to our lives and the society we live in. Or look at Romeo and Juliet, which was practically the prototype for teenage love. It has become so iconic because it embodies love and gives audiences a longing and connection for it.

I think one of my favorite scenes from a movie is from “Shakespeare in Love”, when the troupe is performing Romeo and Juliet. I absolutely love how attached the audience at the Globe is. For example, when Juliet (Paltrow) awakens from her sleep and the audience lets out an entire gasp, or when she asks where her love is and a woman in the crowd tearfully shouts “Dead!”. It’s that kind of connection that has allowed Shakespeare’s plays to thrive and become so famous. I’m a fan of Shakespeare, even if there are occasionally words and phrases I can’t fully understand, and perhaps it is because of this human element.

MTV Presents: The Venetian Shore

I really enjoyed reading Jonson’s play, and what I think made it such an interesting read was the amount of “dark” attributes the characters displayed, and how easy it was to connect the themes to modern day. When we think of plays from the 16th and 17th centuries, what comes to mind (initially to me at least) is class and properness, and this idea that everything back then was not nearly as scandalous and nuts as things are today. Yet this play is evidence that argues against that thought. This play is filled with greed, lust, deception, blackmail, trial, adultery, dark comedy, and backstabbing, among other things. To me, these elements sound like the perfect ingredient to a high-rating television show.

Each character can be related to a certain archetype seen in television (especially reality) that really gives it that modern appeal. Essentially, when thinking this through, I was reminded of “Not Another Teen Movie”. Volpone is the greedy, selfish socialite that isn’t afraid to be nasty to get his way. He is ultimately the bad guy who the audience roots against, and who learns his lesson at the end. Mosca is the intelligent and cunning but dependent sidekick who is full of jealousy and, initially, lacks courage to overtake the boss (Volpone). Celia is your typical pretty girl, who represents the virtuous housewife that every guy wants. Bonario I see as the hero, and the nice guy who ultimately comes out on top. The list could go on, but you get the idea. Of course, like every reality star, each character ultimately has one thing in mind: themselves, and the drama and scandal that ensues is what makes the play such a great and comedic read.

Honestly, I feel this play really would not be too difficult to modernize and make into a modern day play or perhaps even a movie. It’s been done with numerous Shakespeare plays (most notably in my mind “Hamlet” with The Lion King and “Twelfth Night” with She’s the Man). In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if something similar has already been done with “Volpone”. However, I know of nothing and to me it seems like something that would not be hard to achieve. I do not think much of the actual plot has to change, nor the characters, in terms of their attributes. Maintaining the archetypes, Jonson presents us with cookie cutter characters. The most notable change would have to be in the language. Additionally, some historical and political aspects of the plot would also have to be altered, but that goes without affecting the basic storyline.

So, in conclusion, this play gives us a taste of greed, drama, and deception of the early 17th century, and shows that today’s “wild” society may not have taken too big of a leap. What are your thoughts? Does this play have all the right ingredients for a modern dramedy?