Image taken from tripsavvy.com
TheMarySue has declared the month of April to be Shakespeare Month! In these times of misery and boredom brought about by the loneliness of staying at home (which everyone should continue to do), it becomes difficult to find things that peak our interest. TheMarySue has the solution… Shakespeare, Shakespeare, and more Shakespeare. But why Shakespeare? Jessica Mason states “Shakespeare is funny and sad and violent and beautiful. It’s been said that if you want to understand people, you can do a lot worse than diving into the works of William Shakespeare.” The month of April on The MarySue is dedicated to looking into the influence and more trivial aspects of Shakespeare.
Shakespeare’s plays throw a slew of emotions and twists at the audience, pulling on heartstrings while also slaying villainous foes. Thus far this month TheMarySue has been compiling articles on the famed poet and playwright, including a full list on where to watch every Shakespeare play, and a recipe on how to make the Witches’s Brew from Macbeth.
The first article Where to Watch EVERY Shakespeare Play provides an in-depth, inexpensive, and entertaining list of how to watch every (seriously every) Shakespeare play there is all from the comfort of your bed, couch or wherever you choose. Some cost a few dollars while many of them are free of charge, especially if you have an Amazon prime account. The Globe Theater in London is also making many of their performances available for free in the next month.
The Witches’s Brew from Macbeth is More Accessible than You Think explains an in-depth account of the recipe from the first, and one of the most famous, scenes of Macbeth. The ingredients, such as “eye of newt” are instead the traditional ‘folk names’ of herbs, making the brew available, but not recommended to make, in your own home. Without spoiling the entire recipe, Shakespeare is simply taking traditional herbs popular from his time, creating a gross brew of poisoned madness to rid yourself of your enemy, but not recommended.
As an avid Shakespeare fan myself, having read Hamlet at least four times and writing on it every chance I get, I was eager to seek out TheMarySue’s expertise. I have a unique experience with Shakespeare. Although I was forced to read his works all throughout high school and college, I not only was able to visit the Globe, but I also had the opportunity to take a class with inmates on Shakespeare. Here, I was able to learn how Shakespeare’s plays were relatable to their own lives, having experienced a much different environment than that of which I’m used to. Shakespeare, as I have learned from my own experience, allows you to understand where people truly come from, their upbringing. Human connections with reality that you could never imagine being impactful can shine through each line for another being.
His writing means more to me than simply pretty language and unique metaphors that are difficult to read or understand in today’s terminology. It allows for people, no matter the background or upbringing to come together, to relate to situations that, at first might seem nonessential, but, in fact, it showcases a message that delves deep into the soul of the personal. In these times of panic and pandemic, we should look beyond what is going on in the world and turn to the mind and wonder of William Shakespeare to remind us of the beauty of literature.
https://www.themarysue.com/welcome-to-shakespeare-month-on-the-mary-sue/
https://www.themarysue.com/where-to-watch-every-shakespeare-play/
https://www.themarysue.com/witchess-brew-macbeth-plants-and-herbs/