Shakespeare

I can't think of any other playwright throughout history or around today that even comes close to the caliber of story teller that Shakespeare was. After all he was called, simply, "the Bard" for a reason. He was far and beyond an absolute master of the craft of writing. He created entire worlds with the strokes of his pen, and he captured the hearts of his audiences as they became invested in the characters in the tales that he told. There are far too many of his works to list as my favorites in one blog post but I'll do my best to try. Of course I appreciate, as well as everyone else, his classics. Othello, Hamlet, Macbeth, a Midsummer Nights Dream, Romeo and Juliet, the Merchant of Venice, and so on and so on. There are simply too many to say with absolute certainty which I would consider to be my favorite. Not only are the stories he told spellbinding in nature, the countless interpretations of his works that exist throughout history further add to the vast universe that he created. During my time in England I had the rare and distinguished privilege of attending various performances at the world famous Globe Theatre in London. I'll never forget the performances I saw: Macbeth, a Midsummer Nights Dream, and Othello. The professional performers depicted the classical plays in a manner that will stick with me for the rest of my life. I also had the unique opportunity to visit Shakespeare's home; Stratford-Upon-Avon and see yet another rendition of Hamlet but instead of being set in Denmark, this version took place in a war torn African nation. I have to admit, it wasn't the best rendition I'd ever seen. The troop seemed to rely more heavily on special effects than on the real meat of the story and the depiction of the characters. Still, I shouldn't say that I didn't enjoy it nonetheless. To say that Shakespeare was anything but a landmark cultural icon should be a criminal offense in my opinion. The sheer volume of culture that the one single man known as William Shakespeare gave to the world outweighs the contributions of millions of other playwrights. William Shakespeare was nothing short of the greatest writer in the history of the English language and the greatest Dramatist in history. There is absolutely no exaggeration in saying that, everyone would agree. If I had even a millionth of a fraction of the talent that William Shakespeare had, I believe I would still be one of the most prominent writers of my time. Alright, I know I'm pretty much worshipping the ground that he walked on, but throne sniffing aside, when it comes to this particular figure, it's definitely deserved. Shakespeare died in 1616 but he will live on forever, immortalized in his works that will last forever. You can't truly be exposed to the true beauty of the English language without being introduced to Shakespeare. His spellbinding words have captivated the hearts of millions of people throughout history and to this very day, and they will continue to do so for all generations yet to come. I'll close this entry with one of his most famous quotes; "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts." Certainly wise words to live bye.