When I read a Shakespearean play, I read it for the language, for the magic that the Bearded Bard weaves by his words. The ethereal quality of his writing is impossible to replicate and leaves behind it's own mark, it's own brand. However there are some plays that possess an invaluable script in addition to remarkable wordsmithery. And those are the ones that entertain one and all: the novice and the not so novice. In fact, these are the plays that provided me with the initial incentive to forage into Shakespeare's works. Here's a list of the top 3 plays that everyone with a basic understanding of English should read.
1. The Comedy of Errors: Deals with the lives of twin brothers who have twin slaves. Both pairs of twins get separated during a sea voyage. The plot revolves around the tumult and perplexities caused when their lives get entangled again, without them realizing it.
It's a hilarious piece that has been reproduced in movies like The Boys from Syracuse(1940), Big Business(1988) and closer home in Angoor(1982) and Ulta Palta.
2. The Taming of the Shrew: Describes the Herculean efforts of a husband to tame his unwillingly bride into wifely submission. The real flavor of the play lies in the dialogues between Katherina and Petruchio (our loving bride and groom respectively). Some really clever and witty writing (that can't help but captivate the readers) makes this piece a must read.
Adapted in Ten Things I Hate About You, Kiss Me Kate, Deliver Us from Eva, McLintock and The Taming of the Shrew(1908, 1929, 1967)
3. Othello: This one with it's tacit twists and turns is a display of the fatal powers that a seed of mistrust possesses. One of the best tragedies that Shakespeare has penned, Othello is a graffiti of emotions. Love, hate, desire, jealousy with a hint of pride and cruelty in the mix.
This riveting tragedy has been featured in around six movies with the name Othello along with movies like All Night Long, Catch My Soul, A Double Life, Eloise, Omkara and many more.
That's my top 3 folks. However the magic doesn't end here. It's a whole universe out there, waiting to be discovered, to be read. Hope this gave you at least a minimal amount of impetus towards the exploration of all things Shakespearean. Bonne Lecture!!
1. The Comedy of Errors: Deals with the lives of twin brothers who have twin slaves. Both pairs of twins get separated during a sea voyage. The plot revolves around the tumult and perplexities caused when their lives get entangled again, without them realizing it.
It's a hilarious piece that has been reproduced in movies like The Boys from Syracuse(1940), Big Business(1988) and closer home in Angoor(1982) and Ulta Palta.
2. The Taming of the Shrew: Describes the Herculean efforts of a husband to tame his unwillingly bride into wifely submission. The real flavor of the play lies in the dialogues between Katherina and Petruchio (our loving bride and groom respectively). Some really clever and witty writing (that can't help but captivate the readers) makes this piece a must read.
Adapted in Ten Things I Hate About You, Kiss Me Kate, Deliver Us from Eva, McLintock and The Taming of the Shrew(1908, 1929, 1967)
3. Othello: This one with it's tacit twists and turns is a display of the fatal powers that a seed of mistrust possesses. One of the best tragedies that Shakespeare has penned, Othello is a graffiti of emotions. Love, hate, desire, jealousy with a hint of pride and cruelty in the mix.
This riveting tragedy has been featured in around six movies with the name Othello along with movies like All Night Long, Catch My Soul, A Double Life, Eloise, Omkara and many more.
That's my top 3 folks. However the magic doesn't end here. It's a whole universe out there, waiting to be discovered, to be read. Hope this gave you at least a minimal amount of impetus towards the exploration of all things Shakespearean. Bonne Lecture!!
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