Puck’s closing monologue in A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a baller move, honestly. Shakespeare wrote a raunchy fantasy and ended it with a character going “if you’re offended by this horny-ass story, good news: IT IS FAKE. THIS IS A FAKE THING I WROTE FOR HORNY PURPOSES. THE HORNY FAERIES ARE NOT REAL AND THEY CANNOT HURT YOU”
WAIT WE LEARNED ABOUT THIS IN SHAKESPEARE CLASS
basically. the church super hated theater. they kept trying to close down theaters because they considered all of it ‘immoral’
both puck’s monologue at the end, and the bit where the guy’s like “I may look like a lion, but I’m just a guy dressed as a lion. I’m not a real lion. please don’t be scared. I’m actually just a human guy” are digs at the church, and shakespeare’s way of saying “y'all really can’t differentiate fiction from reality. If you don’t like what’s going on in a play, that’s a you problem.”
and the audience of the time 100% understood shakespeare’s intended message. and they found it hilarious
Yep, exactly! Also why so many plays are set abroad, particularly the ones that discuss suicide and more direct criticisms of power. It’s plausible deniability so he could be like “I’m not writing about England when I’m talking about tyrannical power, I’m writing about *Rome* and there definitely isn’t any commentary going on here”
OH
I never noticed that but yeah
shakespeare’s beef with the church and government will always be admirable <3
I saw your tags for the first reblog, and I totally get your class feeling unproductive, but I hope Shakespeare connects with you down the line the same way it did with me! It wasn’t until college that it fully took hold, and that was largely because I saw every play live that I read for that class. It’s said so often but not reflected enough in most schools that Shakespeare is meant to be seen/heard and not read. It really is like learning a new language and it’s hard as hell when it’s all theoretical on the page.
I also highly recommend the TV show Slings and Arrows. It’s wildly good, very funny, and also unlocked a lot of understanding for me.
Not to pressure you too much into liking Shakespeare, I’m just passionate about him 😂
my guy I’m a shakespeare blog
this is a shakespeare blog
I’m not mad this is so funny
my bio is something like “I read shakespeare and make memes”
dw my guy I feel no pressure at all to like shakespeare,, I’m out here liking him for fun :) on purpose :D