Tag Archives: Shakespeare

Kurosawa’s RAN

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Brian

I do count myself as a fan of King Lear , and I do count myself as a fan of Akira Kurosawa, but I don’t count myself as a fan of Ran. I’m not sure if I dislike Ran in … Continue reading →

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A Gloss of Royal Illusions in RICHARD II

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Brian

I thought maybe it would be helpful to post an essay I wrote five years ago about Shakespeare’s Richard 2.   Stylistically, I wouldn’t write the same essay today, but the essay gets at a few important points, and it is … Continue reading →

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On Protestant Elizabethans practicing Catholicism in the theater

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Brian

The principle of  “the double” functions in Shakespeare on both a character’s interior and exterior.  As for the exterior: There are doubles such as the twins Antipholus, and a doubling of the doubles with the twins Dromio, and this is … Continue reading →

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Sex, money, and art in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Brian

The reason to be interested in Shakespeare’s comedies is because they offer Shakespeare’s most direct thoughts and critiques (and some funny jokes) about social dilemmas, particularly those of love and marriage and family and money.  With these matters, Shakespeare suggests, … Continue reading →

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Some Ado about Shakespeare

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Brian

“Much Ado About Nothing” isn’t a play that consistently delights me, and  I would say that it is significantly inferior to Shakespeare’s four or five best comedies. But I think “Much Ado” is a good play for actors. When I … Continue reading →

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Thoughts on The Tempest: For several reasons have I liked several women

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Brian

Consider the plight of Prospero.  He has magic at his disposal. He has a small army of spirits under his command, led by the great Ariel.  He can will weather disturbances into being.  On his island he is master of … Continue reading →

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Measuring MEASURE FOR MEASURE

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Brian

I have been thinking about Measure for Measure a great deal in the last month. It is a nettlesome drama to blog about because its themes are well suited to a 2k-5k word essay, but are less well suited to … Continue reading →

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