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Tilted Cat Head
Administrator
Location: Manhattan, NY
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by ratbastid
Shakespeare teaches what's fundamental and universal about humanity.
Think about it: there's almost no English-based text that's less immediately comprehensible (okay, Chaucer might be worse, but that's almost not English anymore, as we think of it). The language is difficult in both its verbal and figurative qualities. But the emotions and experiences it expresses are still totally relevant to us (including to young people) today. Why do you think Romeo and Juliet gets such wide reading in High Schools? Because love-tormented teenagers have been the same since the dawn of time!
Reading Shakespeare grounds you in what's fundamental about humanity. You see that you're not alone, or even particularly unique. It's a deeply resonant and reassuring experience.
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Quote:
"To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."
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I had to memorize that in high school english for a test. At that time, Rush had already sung a similar line in Limelight, AA Big Book personal stories, I see it referenced in movies, books, speeches, I've even seen it quoted as part of the NYC Subway poetry.
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