For a play long considered the greatest love story ever told, Shakespeare ironically weaves into it just about everything possible to reduce its inherent romantic atmosphere. He dampens the romanticism with scenes replete with bawdy jokes; he has Romeo in love with another girl before his fateful encounter with Juliet; and he furnishes Juliet with…
The purpose of the long Trojan war speech in Hamlet is to amplify a key theme of the play: the immoral nature of seeking vengeance. It depicts Pyrrhus, who is the avenger, as being like a messenger from hell inflicting widespread death and destruction. Halfway through this long Trojan war recital, Polonius makes a curious remark about…
How Shakespeare meticulously crafted his plays to convey sage messages to humanity, using the techniques of cohesive unity, thematic resonance and focused allegorical scenes. Learn more. Posts discussing how Shakespeare meticulously crafts his plays to convey sage messages can be found here: The Mystical Art of Shakespeare Learn more. Buy Book. Learn more. Buy book. Learn…
There is great irony in Hamlet’s reaction to the actor’s emotional rendition of the Trojan war speech. Let us examine why. The Trojan war speech is Shakespeare’s commentary on the horror of revenge. The last part of the player’s speech focuses on the terrible toll vengeance exacts on the innocent. 1st Player. But who—ah, woe!—had seen…
Shakespeare conveys the central meaning of his plays through the three techniques of cohesive unity (of the entire play), thematic resonance, and focused allegorical scenes. Cohesive unity refers to the fact that every part of the play (with no exception whatsoever) contributes to its central meaning. This includes all the scenes that do not move…
The Meaning of Twelfth Night & Macbeth Shakespeare’s plays are poetical masterpieces that not only mesmerize us with their lyrical beauty but also convey sage messages critically important to humanity. This means that Shakespeare is a greater literary genius than previously thought, and his plays more profound than previously imagined. The Mystical Art of Shakespeare…
The entire final scene from Act I of Romeo & Juliet plays out like a carefully crafted dramatic symphony, its deep meaning heavily imbued with passion. This is true mystical theatre, fulfilling the ultimate purpose behind the esoteric art of the mystery play—a play enacted as a form of initiation, where the spiritual message is transmitted to…
Shakespeare begins Romeo and Juliet with a Prologue summarizing the entire play: Chorus. Two households both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene From ancient grudge, break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;…
The reason for the long swearing ritual in Hamlet, occurring after the ghost had already given an adequate account of his murder, has previously puzzled critics. It is certainly not needed to move forward the play’s action. However, if we understand the effect of the ghost’s injunction on Hamlet, the reason for this scene is…
The reason for Hamlet’s delay in his revenge has haunted critics for four centuries. Different authors have presented differing reasons for the delay, which, in itself, raises another question concerning this puzzling aspect of the play: Why does Shakespeare give so much prominence to the delay without clearly presenting the reason for it? The answer…