Top 10 Greatest Shakespeare Plays
Published on July 10, 2008 - 269 Comments
There is no doubt that Mr Shakespeare is the greatest writer of modern English to date - his plays have been made into movies, his sonnets have appeared in books and music, and his works translated in to hundreds of different languages. His contribution to the English language is probably larger than that of anyone else. If you have not read all of the plays below, you should certainly try - I definitely will be [JFrater].
This tragedy is believed to have been written in approximately 1603. The work revolves around four central characters: Othello, his wife Desdemona, his lieutenant Cassio and his trusted advisor Iago. Attesting to its enduring popularity, the play appeared in seven editions between 1622 and 1705. Because of its varied themes — racism, love, jealousy and betrayal — it remains relevant to the present day and is often performed in professional and community theatres alike. The play has also been the basis for numerous operatic, film and literary adaptations.
This comedy is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1594. The play begins with a framing device in which a drunkard is deceived into thinking he is a nobleman who then watches the “play” itself, which depicts a nobleman, Petruchio, who marries an outspoken, intelligent and bad-tempered shrew named Katherine. Petruchio manipulates and “tames” her until she is obedient to his will. The main subplot features the courting of Katherine’s more conventional sister Bianca by numerous suitors. The content has become the subject of considerable controversy. The play has been adapted numerous times for opera, stage, screen and musical theatre.
This play is named after the Twelfth Night holiday of the Christmas season. It was written around 1601 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. Like many of Shakespeare’s comedies, this one centers on mistaken identity. The leading character, Viola, is shipwrecked on the shores of Illyria during the opening scenes. She loses contact with her twin brother, Sebastian, whom she believes dead. Posing as a man and masquerading as a young page under the name Cesario, she enters the service of Duke Orsino. Orsino is in love with the bereaved Lady Olivia, whose brother has recently died and decides to use “Cesario” as an intermediary. Olivia, believing Viola to be a man, falls in love with this handsome and eloquent messenger. Viola, in turn, has fallen in love with the Duke, who also believes Viola is a man and who regards her as his confidant.
This tragedy is believed to have been written in 1599. It portrays the conspiracy against the Roman dictator of the same name, his assassination and its aftermath. It is one of several Roman plays that Shakespeare wrote, based on true events from Roman history, which also include “Coriolanus” and “Anthony and Cleopatra.” Although the title of the play is “Julius Caesar,” Caesar is not the central character in its action; he appears in only three scenes and is killed at the beginning of the third act. The protagonist of the play is Marcus Brutus and the central psychological drama is his struggle between the conflicting demands of honor, patriotism and friendship. The play reflected the general anxiety of England over succession of leadership. At the time of its creation and first performance, Queen Elizabeth, a strong ruler, was elderly and had refused to name a successor, leading to worries that a civil war similar to that of Rome might break out after her death.
The play is an unflattering depiction of the short reign of Richard III of England and is believed to have been written in approximately 1591. The play is sometimes classified as a tragedy (as in the earliest quarto); but it more correctly belongs to the histories, as classified in the First Folio. It picks up the story from Henry VI, Part III and concludes the historical series that stretches back to Richard II. After Hamlet it is Shakespeare’s second longest play and is the longest of the First Folio, whose version of Hamlet is shorter than the Quarto version. The length is generally seen as a drawback, for which reason it is rarely performed unabridged. It is often shortened by cutting peripheral characters.
This is among the best-known of Shakespeare’s plays and is his shortest tragedy, believed to have been written between 1603 and 1606. It is frequently performed at both amateur and professional levels and has been adapted for opera, film, books, stage and screen. Often regarded as archetypal, the play tells of the dangers of the lust for power and the betrayal of friends. For the plot Shakespeare drew loosely on the historical account of “King Macbeth of Scotland” by Raphael Holinshed and that by the Scottish philosopher Hector Boece. There are many superstitions centred on the belief the play is somehow “cursed” and many actors will not mention the name of the play aloud, referring to it instead as “The Scottish Play.”
This romantic comedy was written sometime in the 1590’s and portrays the adventures of four young Athenian lovers; a group of amateur actors; their interactions with the Duke and Duchess of Athens, Theseus and Hippolyta; and with the fairies who inhabit a moonlit forest. The play is one of Shakespeare’s most popular works for the stage and is widely performed across the world.
Believed to be written in 1599, it’s based on the life of King Henry V of England and focuses on events immediately before and after the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Year’s War. The play is the final part of a tetralogy, preceded by “Richard II,” “Henry IV, Part 1″ and “Henry IV, Part 2.” The original audiences would thus have already been familiar with the title character, who was depicted in the “Henry IV” plays as a wild, undisciplined lad known as “Prince Hal.” In “Henry V,” the young prince has become a mature man and embarks on an attempted conquest of France.
This play is an early tragedy (and likely Shakespeare’s first) about two teenage “star-cross’d lovers” whose “untimely deaths” ultimately unite their feuding households. The play has been highly praised by literary critics for its language and dramatic effect. It was among Shakespeare’s most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with “Hamlet” is one of his most frequently performed plays. Its influence is still seen today, with the two main characters being widely represented as archetypal young lovers. This is the singularly greatest romance ever written and has been continuously adapted to each generation in musicals, cinema and the theatre.
Written between 1599 and 1601, this play is set in Denmark and recounts how Prince Hamlet exacts revenge on his uncle Claudius, who murdered the King, takes the throne and marries Hamlet’s mother. The play vividly charts the course of real and feigned madness — from overwhelming grief to seething rage — and explores themes of treachery, revenge, incest and moral corruption. “Hamlet” is Shakespeare’s longest play and among the most powerful and influential tragedies in the English language. During his lifetime the play was one of Shakespeare’s most popular works and it still ranks high among his most-performed, topping, for example, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s list since 1879. It has inspired writers from Goethe and Dickens to Joyce and Murdoch and has been described as “the world’s most filmed story after ‘Cinderella.’” The title role was almost certainly created for Richard Burbage, the leading tragedian of Shakespeare’s time. It’s arguably the greatest drama ever written and in the four hundred years since, it has been played by the greatest actors and sometimes actresses, of each successive age.
This article is licensed under the GFDL because it contains quotations from Wikipedia.
Contributor: Heroajax
Related ListsTop 10 Shakespeare Misquotes33 Funny Exam Answers Top 10 Books of All Time 10 Rhetorical Figures |
SubscriptionsLike this article? Subscribe to the RSS feed to keep 'em coming, or subscribe via email: |
If you find this site helpful, please leave a donation so you can enjoy the spirit of giving too.
Email This Post
1. Tempyra - July 10th, 2008 at 3:57 am
Another interesting list from Heroajax :-).
I’ve never been able to bring myself to read anything by Shakespeare. How barbaric of me…
2. jfrater - July 10th, 2008 at 4:00 am
Tempyra: try Macbeth - it is not a hard read and it has some great moments - I think a lot of people just presume shakespeare is hard without trying him - he isn’t - you just need to concentrate.
3. xdarkhorsex - July 10th, 2008 at 4:17 am
Hamlet is quite easy to follow as well I do believe, it was one of his first works that I read, along with Macbeth
4. j.walk - July 10th, 2008 at 4:18 am
Great list - I absolutely love Shakespeare’s work!
I only wish Taming of the Shrew was higher, but then again that is coming from a past Katerina.
5. jfrater - July 10th, 2008 at 4:20 am
Actually - this raises another good point that would make another great list - who is the ABSOLUTELY most awesome character in a shakespeare play? I would consider that maybe Shylock is it (sadly missing from this list) - he really made the Merchant of Venice come alive for me.
6. sue - July 10th, 2008 at 4:25 am
Love Shakespeare.I’m a sucker for romance,I love Romeo and Juliet…….
7. j.walk - July 10th, 2008 at 4:26 am
jfrater: I think I’d say Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet, he’s always been one of my favorite Shakespearean characters.
8. Iain - July 10th, 2008 at 4:29 am
The best Shakespeare experience you can have is in the theatre. A really good production can even make the Comedies seem funny.
9. DarrenG - July 10th, 2008 at 4:32 am
I’m so glad I chose to study Shakespeare for English Lit, I really believe he is the best writer there has been or may well ever be.
Macbeth is my favourite play of his but they’re all brilliant in their own way
10. jfrater - July 10th, 2008 at 4:36 am
Iain: funnily enough - one of my greatest experiences in life was at an outdoor show of a Shakespeare play - it was in the grounds of Arundel Castle in England. It was pouring with rain, I was 16 and on my first international holiday. I was drinking hot mulled wine and wearing a cheap plastic coat (that all the people watching got because the downpour was unexpected) - the show had to be cancelled because of rain on the stage - but I will never ever forget my lost experience of a shakespeare play!
11. Tempyra - July 10th, 2008 at 4:37 am
jfrater and xdarkhorsex: The reason I haven’t read Shakespeare is more to do with me thinking of his writing as likely to be boring and over-romantic than ‘hard to read’ :-). I’ve just been too lazy so far to find out by how much his work will exceed my expectations
12. stugy - July 10th, 2008 at 4:43 am
Great list, although I have to agree I miss seeing Merchant of Venice, I really enjoyed that one. But you do have my two favorites, Hamlet and Julius Caesar.
13. Jen - July 10th, 2008 at 4:55 am
Tempyra (et al.): For people who haven’t read any Shakespeare yet, you might want to start with something like A Winter’s Tale. It’s a short, easy read, and isn’t quite like his other work. If nothing else, you should read it for the stage direction: “Exit, pursued by a bear.”
14. jfrater - July 10th, 2008 at 5:06 am
Jen: hahaha - love that stage direction. It is similar comments in the manuscript that make me love the American composer Charles Ives so much. In his concorde sonata for piano he directs the player to play so loud that they wake up the old ladies in the audience who have fallen asleep.
15. jfrater - July 10th, 2008 at 5:07 am
Tempyra: you will love it - honestly. Give him a try - you won’t regret it.
16. slipstick - July 10th, 2008 at 5:12 am
My friend and I had a discussion about something posted at another site. The poster said that the man who created and wrote Babylon 5 was a better writer than Rod Serling. I was of the opinion that there are very few writers who are in the realm of Serling, among them Shakespeare. He argued that Shakespeare is in a tier higher since 400 years from now, they probably won’t give Serling’s work another thought, but they’ll still be performing Shakespeare’s works.
Thinking about it that way, I had to agree with him.
17. Tempyra - July 10th, 2008 at 5:13 am
Maybe I’ll read Macbeth on the plane/at the airport tomorrow (I’m going to NZ! Yay!). Now, where to find a copy…
18. Peri - July 10th, 2008 at 5:13 am
I remember more than 20 years ago, my sister and I drove across Ontario, Canada and stopped for the night in Gananoque. The local reperatory theater was performing “The Comedy of Errors” that night and, with nothing else to do, we went to see it. It was probably the best live performance of a Shakespeare play I’ve ever seen and remains one of my fondest memories of that trip.
19. astraya - July 10th, 2008 at 5:18 am
Oh great! I haven’t even started to read any of the epic poems. I haven’t investigated any obscure religions. I’ve looked at a couple of clips of children’s movies and now you add 10 Shakespeare plays to my “things to do” list! Fair go, mate!!!! Lucky for that Mark Twain is so concise. Maybe I should spend my spare lessons reading literature and not LU. (I brought my complete works of WS to Korea with me.)
Another stage direction is “Enter Mariners, wet”. (The Tempest act 1, scene 1; I got that far.)
20. Dan - July 10th, 2008 at 5:21 am
Can’t argue with any on that list. I think Macbeth should be higher than Romeo and Juliet however.
21. dangorironhide - July 10th, 2008 at 5:26 am
I had to read Merchant of Venice, Julius Caesar, Midsummer Nights Dream and Romeo & Juliet in various English classes at school, and I was quite surprised at the time to find I enjoyed them, especially Romeo & Juliet.
People should check out the recent film of Romeo & Juliet, starring Leonardo di Caprio, it’s a really good watch.
22. jfrater - July 10th, 2008 at 5:28 am
slipstick: Considering that he lends so much to modern English and was one of the most prolific writers in it at the time, it is no surprise that Shakespeare will be around for a long time
I wish we had a living shakespeare now - it is hard to find ANYONE who even comes close.
Tempyra: excellent - where in NZ are you going?
Peri: isn’t it amazing that 400 years after he died, he can still give us our fondest memories? That is a true mark of genius!
astraya: maybe tomorrow I can do a “top 10 things you shouldn’t bother with” - just to help balance things out
23. Late O’Day - July 10th, 2008 at 5:31 am
Good lord … not only did you miss #1 (”King Lear”) but you left it off the list entirely. You know less than squat about Shakespeare.
24. bucslim - July 10th, 2008 at 5:37 am
I just attended King Lear this past weekend at Shakespeare on the Green. I have to admit my first love is Henry V and have shouted my approval from the audience like a drunk rouge at a baseball game. (after the rousing Agincourt speech) Not real proud of that, but it gets me going. After that it’s almost a dead tie between Hamlet and Richard III. I also have to admit my love for these is mainly because of Kenneth Branaugh’s treatment of Henry and Hamlet. Branaugh’s production of these plays is not to be missed. But I have gotten into the habit of seeing these plays at various local festivals as well.
I saw Henry V in Kansas City a couple of years ago. It was 100 degrees at the time the play started and the cast was dressed in traditional garb. It amazes me that they even finished the play it was so damned hot.
25. bucslim - July 10th, 2008 at 5:42 am
As for characters, I almost always liked the villians - Richard III, Iago, but Hamlet’s got to be the greatest.
And if any of you out there really like Hamlet, you must, must, must find a copy of “Rosencranz and Gildenstern are Dead” with Gary Oldman, Tim Roth, and Richard Dreyfus. It will blow you away.
26. Shadow - July 10th, 2008 at 5:45 am
Late O’Day - If you want to create a list of *your* personal top ten plays by Shakespear, by all means - try. Otherwise, kindly keep your opinion to yourself, instead of breaking wind and allowing it to foul the air in here.
Anyway, I’ve never been too big on plays, though I have read Goethe, and Shakespeare both. I have to say “Faustus” sticks out as one of the best plays ever in my opinion.
27. Tempyra - July 10th, 2008 at 5:45 am
jfrater: Skiing, there’s 2metres + of snow at Turoa! Then back up north to Whangarei. I have about 9 hours to kill at the airport so I was just wondering what to read and then this list came along, fortuitous timing don’t you think?
28. jfrater - July 10th, 2008 at 6:00 am
bucslim:that sounds very familiar - Tim Roth is awesome - he was brilliant in Pulp Fiction - so pathetic and yet so awesome!
Tempyra: excellent! Enjoy the snow for me - I don’t think I will be getting any skiing in this year!
29. Randall - July 10th, 2008 at 6:02 am
This is a fantastic list, and I agree with it 100%.
Many, many years ago, when I was a lad, my mother bought me, for my 15th birthday, an amazingly beautiful Cambridge University massive tome of the collected works of Shakespeare–green leather bound, padded, with gold leaf edgings and exquisite logo-like illustrations for each play. Fantastic book. I’d already read a few plays at that time, but I decided I’d start reading them ALL, one by one, working my way through the book.
I confess that somewhere along the path to “The Winters Tale” or “Timon of Athens” I stopped, and started to skip. I’ve still never read or seen those plays, nor a handful of others. But I’m proud to say I read most of them. And of all of them, even after the love I found for King Lear, for Henry V, for Hamlet… to this day my favorite Shakespeare play remains A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It combines so many charming and wonderful touches… the play just breathes with life.
I was happy, also, to see Twelfth Night here, another play of ineffable charm that I always loved.
Shakespeare was a master in a class very nearly by himself… and this is not hyperbole but simple fact. His only peers are the masters of Greek drama and comedy: Sophocles, Aeschylus, Euripedes and Aristophanes. It took one thousand years for another member to join that exclusive club–it’ll probably be at least that long before another member is allowed in.
30. Randall - July 10th, 2008 at 6:04 am
My favorite Shakespeare character is Falstaff. If I had to vote for a greatest, I’d pick him.
31. Mac - July 10th, 2008 at 6:08 am
I agree that The Merchant of Venice should be included. I think it’s his greatest work, more than any other play it balances comedy with tragedy, and has so many interesting aspects that are still socially relevent - on race, justice, wealth etc.
Never had much time for Hamlet or Romeo and Juliet. King Lear was a far superior tragedy, I think (and Midsummer Night’s Dream the best comedy).
(Shakespeare’s greatest characters would be a great list! Lady Macbeth and Falstaff surely should feature, I think.)
32. mregan - July 10th, 2008 at 6:08 am
actually, it’s almost TWO thousand years from Aeschylus to Shakespeare.
It would actually be harder to list Shakespeare’s ten worst plays. As You Like it and Much Ago would certainly appear on my own ten best.
I’ve directed Comedy of Errors and Merry Wives (twice) and well-done, they each get more belly laughs than any other.
33. jfrater - July 10th, 2008 at 6:10 am
Randall: a nice assessment - do you think that anyone has come even CLOSE to the same level of skill? I am wracking my brain to find someone but there is always a stumbling block to the people I pick. I would love to be able to include a beatnik in there - and if I did it would be Ginsberg for Howl, but some of his later stuff probably excludes him.
34. jfrater - July 10th, 2008 at 6:13 am
Mac: Lady Macbeth is, indeed, outstanding. What an astoundingly brilliant part to play for any actor! It is no wonder it inspired such a great literary (Leskov) and operatic (Shostakovich) work as Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District!
35. Randall - July 10th, 2008 at 6:27 am
jfrater:
Jamie, I respect you and love you, man… but Ginsberg? Are you kidding me? Please. I know people love the beat generation poets (I’ve never been able to fathom it myself, except that it’s a parallel as to why people think The Grateful Dead–gack–are the greatest rock band in history.. i.e., it’s more about the image than the actual product) but Ginsberg anywhere NEAR Shakespeare? No… sorry, not while I breathe to have something to say about it.
No, there quite simply is no one even close to Shakespeare in any shape or form except the aforementioned Greeks. If you bring it down to just the level of poetry, MAYBE Eliot and Yeats get kinda close, but it makes me swallow hard to even utter that. There was something mythically powerful in Joyce, but again–nothing like Shakespeare. Tolstoy, Rabelais, Dostoeyefsky… they drift in Shakespeare’s direction… but no, they ain’t anything like Shakespeare.
Nope, Shakespeare is on his own, far and away. His gift was unique, and the power of his soul was immense. He was the first poet in English who really stared into the abyss of modernity… as Kenneth Clark said about him, he was perhaps the first instance in the West when a great poet was without religion. And he found all the words for us later moderns, to face that emptiness. No one has or will have his power, for quite some time to come.
36. Kreachure - July 10th, 2008 at 6:29 am
I love Hamlet! But who doesn’t, really…
“Ghost cries under the stage.” (Act I, Scene 5)
Pure awesome!
37. Randall - July 10th, 2008 at 6:29 am
…but thanks for the compliment, Jamie… I’m sorry I got my back up about Ginsberg. I liked “Howl,” but my opinion always was that G. shot his bolt with that one, and there was nothing worthwhile after.
38. MelClev - July 10th, 2008 at 6:31 am
AH!! A list after my own heart. I was a student of The Poet in college. Many, many hours spent pouring over dusty texts. I fell in love with the work though, that was quite unexpected. I had no idea in my youth that Mr. S was so… worldly(?).
I have to admit that I’m disappointed. Far too many histories on this list for my taste. And Henry V so high up! Tsk Tsk. Merchant was very much overlooked and The Scottish Play should be much higher! Also, there is no reason I can think of for Othello to be at number 10. It should be higher! Perhaps I would list them all as #1?
I think my favorite character to play was Ophelia. Wonderous madness! And Lady Mac, such sumptious guilt. /sigh
You’ve made me miss my actor days….
39. Randall - July 10th, 2008 at 6:31 am
mregan:
Good god! How could I make such a silly error… thank you for correcting me.
I plead early morning and haven’t had my coffee yet… sheesh.
TWO thousand years. Not one.
40. Mom424 - July 10th, 2008 at 6:38 am
Great list. I read many of these in school, and I am of the age where you had to memorize lines. Generally a poignant soliloquy. Of all the Shakespeare I memorized the only one I can recite to this day is Portia’s - “The quality of mercy is not strain’d. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven, It is twice bless’d,,,” - thus my disappointment in it’s omission. The Merchant of Venice is still my favorite. With MacBeth a close second. I aced MacBeth too, did an essay positing Lady MacBeth as the 4th witch.
41. warningdontreadthis - July 10th, 2008 at 6:41 am
Once again a reminder of how stupid and uncultured I am. I tried reading shakespeare once but it was a bit strange to read a play. I should think its better to see the plays then read them or?
I did see Romeo and Juliet on film and thought it was great.
Good job on the list Heroajax.
42. JLo - July 10th, 2008 at 6:44 am
I am sure this point has already been made, but I will second or third or fourth the point - King Lear should be on this list, and/or near the top.
43. mofleminator - July 10th, 2008 at 6:51 am
greatest writer ever? yeah right, try Dr. Seuss now there’s a writer
44. DiscHuker - July 10th, 2008 at 7:04 am
being an actor in my formative years i got the opportunity to do several stage versions of shakespeare. having to dig that deeply into meaning opened up the intricacy of his speech that i otherwise never would have discoverd. brilliant man.
my faves…
comedy…much ado about nothing
tragedy…hamlet
history…henry v
sonnet…#23
best character? wow, what a question. either hamlet (mel gibson’s version was surprisingly good) or benedict or beatrice (much ado)
and kenneth branaugh has definately found his life’s work in directing and acting shakespeare. brilliant man.
45. Bob - July 10th, 2008 at 7:13 am
Wonderful list. It’s hard not to go right with Shakespeare, right?
Hey, who wants to start up the Bacon/Shakespeare controversy? haha not me!
Randall: I agree, Falstaff is absolutely the best character in all of the plays. Who doesn’t love a corpulent man with a taste for sack?
46. Quiana - July 10th, 2008 at 7:31 am
I love Macbeth, its a few on here i havent even heard of that I must go pick up. Romeo and Juliet always makes me sad : (
47. Jackie - July 10th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Why is The Taming of the Shrew so controversial?
48. Bob - July 10th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Jackie: Because it’s a guy putting his wife in line, and at the end she is glad to be submissive (despite what some modern readings/enactings of the play may present). You know, hierarchy is such an evil thing.
49. scarlettangel - July 10th, 2008 at 7:59 am
I am so glad to know that my love of Shakespeare is shared by so many. Reading his words always has a calming effect. I was horribly distraught this year to hear that some high school are
no longer requiring students to read the original text, but are using “modern day English” instead. They still call it Shakespeare!
Personal favorite would have to be the Rape of Lucrece. I also used Sonnet 47 in my wedding in place of scripture.
50. stlouisrams81 - July 10th, 2008 at 8:02 am
What about “As You Like It”
51. romerozombie - July 10th, 2008 at 8:05 am
I hate Shakespeare. He was the cause of too many endless summer afternoons stuck in a classroom. If I could, I’d go back in time like Rowan Atkinson and hurt him.
52. PineappleSundae - July 10th, 2008 at 8:14 am
I’m probably gonna be murdered for writing this, but I think Hamlet is grossly overrated. Yeah, the writing’s colourful; yeah, the characters are (generally) convincing, but look at the ending. Just look at it. The story arc resolves itself by … SPOILER AHEAD … killing every single main character. What a cop out. I wonder if Shakespeare was familiar with the term ‘Deus Ex Machina.’
And anyone pretentious enough to tell me that the denouement massacre is “the whole point,” please. Don’t. Because it’s not.
Don’t get me wrong, I think Shakespeare was a great poet, probably the best in the English language (along with Blake and Milton) but if any of his plays were translated to today’s standard prose, their awful plotting would float to the surface like a piece of crap in a toilet bowl.
Take away the poetry, and he’d have nothing on Pinter et al, or even Bruckheimer, which is why I just can’t understand why Hamlet is the 2nd most reproduced play of all time.
I welcome anyone who feels like telling me I know nothing of
Shakespeare, and can explain Hamlet’s popularity to me.
53. Bob - July 10th, 2008 at 8:24 am
It’s amazing the lenghts some people will go to in order to reveal their ignorance to the internet, isn’t it?
54. PineappleSundae - July 10th, 2008 at 8:29 am
You talking about me Bob?
55. Randall - July 10th, 2008 at 8:29 am
PineappleSundae:
You…..are…..a…..freaking…..moron.
56. PineappleSundae - July 10th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Oh here we go. I thought commnts were for people to share their opinions. Obviously not.
Why exactly am I a moron Randall? Because I don’t share the same opinions as you?
57. PineappleSundae - July 10th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Oh here we go. I thought comments were for people to share their opinions. Obviously not.
Why exactly am I a moron Randall? Because I don’t share the same opinions as you?
58. Heroajax - July 10th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Wow, coming in at comment 50 … I didn’t think this list would spark off this many comments so quickly. Just a few points of advice for everyone who “can’t seem to get into Shakespeare.” 1. Do not ever, ever, ever, ever READ Shakespeare. 2. These are plays, not novels. 3. They are meant to be WATCHED not read. 4. Start with easy modern adaptations of the plays so you can get a feel for what’s being said. It’s easier that way because the visuals are familiar to you even though the language might be confusing. 5. Concentrate and pay attention. 6. If you want to STUDY the Bard, then by all means read, otherwise … watch, it’s a play.
Shakespeare wrote modern plays, they should be adapted to modern times and several directors have done so very succesfully on many occasions.
To help you ease into it, here’s my suggestions for good movie adaptations. Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet with Leo and Claire (pictured above) is probably the best adaptation of the play I’ve seen. There’s a lot of cuts, but it works. Zeffreli’s R&J is good, but a bit too much “puking” of the lines for my taste. Kenneth Brannagh’s version of Hamlet is the finest production and makes all other’s look like high school plays. Every line is delivered (although not always in the order written). Brannagh’s version of Othello is decent as well, his version of Henry V is excellent. 10 Things I Hate About You is a good modern translation of the play Taming of the Shrew. I know I’m going to get flamed to death for this, but I don’t particularly care for any of Olivier’s films. I’ve seen parts of a few of them and I just get the feeling he has no idea what he’s saying. The above movies I provided clearly show the actors knowing what they are doing and saying.
I selected this list and the order I placed them a lot based on the popularity of the plays. Although I agree with several of the previous posters suggestions for many of the same reasons they give, these are the most popular and … well, hence the top 10.
There are a lot of histories here, but he wrot a lot of histories as well. They happen to be some of his best work. I personally would place Julius Caesar in the tragedy column rather than the history column.
As far as my favorite character … I might have to go with Mercutio. Harold Perrineau’s is exactly how Mercutio should be played. Lavish, hysterical, totally over the top. He was perfect.
59. Heroajax - July 10th, 2008 at 8:40 am
@PineappleSundae. I don’t think you’re a moron. That’s your opinion. It’s valid. I disagree with your assessment of the play although I can certainly see how you reached that conclusion. Part of the reason everyone dies in Hamlet was accidental. I don’t think it was Shakespeare’s intention to “cop-out” and at the time it was written, that type of thing was rare. It was supposed to shock you as the viewer. The expectation is that Hamlet will come out on top having avenged his father’s murder, take his place on the throne and reclaim the lands captured by Fortinbras. Which is exactly what doesn’t happen and peripherials got killed in the wake of his revenge.
60. scarlettangel - July 10th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Heroajax- you list was great, but to say that you should never read Shakespeare would be untrue-You should not read the plays, but there are many obscure sonnets and short stories that should surely be read. To miss those would be a travesty-they are some of the best work. They are also good forthose just beginning to read Shakespeare. They are short and relatively easy to understand.
61. Kuma - July 10th, 2008 at 8:47 am
What? No Pulp Fiction?
I mean, it was one of his lesser known works, but come on…
Go here to read it: http://pulpbard.wikispaces.com/
62. scarlettangel - July 10th, 2008 at 8:47 am
mofleminator- I too read Dr. Seuss — to my children!
63. Heroajax - July 10th, 2008 at 8:48 am
ScarlettAngel, I agree, a little mistype on my part. Watch plays, read other stuff.
64. Nelia - July 10th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Bleg, I can’t stand Romeo and Juliet. I like to believe that Shakespeare meant to make those two iconic whiners, rather than lovers. I never understood people swooning all over that story.
Personally, instead of their parents falling all over themselves with regret at the end of that one, I think Juliet should have been sent to therapy and an all girls boarding school early on, and Romeo? Military school or something, anything that would have made a man of him. I suppose that would be boring
I revise my first sentence… I like Romeo and Juliet, I think it is a brilliant depiction of how stupid and hormonal teenagers can be.
I would also have put King Lear on there, but otherwise, I love this list. All great plays. Twelfth Night is a particular favorite of mine, very complicated and clever. the only one on here I haven’t seen or read is Henry V. Sad, I know, I gotta get on that.
65. SlickWilly - July 10th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Fine list, fine list. Shakespeare was always one of my dirty little pleasures. Hamlet, Macbeth and Julius Caesar were my hands down favs…I dont know what I was drawn to the tragedies. I think it was perhaps, more visceral and real to me than the farces, perhaps something a bit more ominous and majestic about them. Maybe I’m just attracted to the pretention of the elegant fall from grace, the beautiful hubris of it all. Either way, truly there are no wordsmiths like William Shakespeare. Great list.
66. courtney - July 10th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Could it be possible to add an “Honorable Mention” section? I thought Titus Andronicus and As You Like It were brilliant…
67. yummy - July 10th, 2008 at 8:59 am
yummy
68. Randall - July 10th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Pineapple:
“Why exactly am I a moron Randall? Because I don’t share the same opinions as you?”
Well yes, to be frank.
But no, that’s just my way. I kid. I tease.
But honestly, Pineapple… did it never occur to that maybe, given that some 500 years of critical analysis and audience fervor has firmly established Hamlet as Shakespeare’s greatest play—that maybe, just maybe you were missing something? Did it not occur to you that the plot is secondary? That like all potboilers, Hamlet uses contrivances and dramatic tricks to further a *larger* aim? What I sense from what you wrote is that you didn’t *understand* Hamlet. The point to it. What it’s REALLY about.
Amongst many other things, Hamlet speaks the modern age for us. And he speaks the inner tragedy of the mind. He is a richly full, amazing character…. plagued with doubt behind his resolve. He is admirable and yet at times despicable. He’s an invention of genius. And his plight is something we can all understand.
69. PineappleSundae - July 10th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Well Randall, please tell me, what is Hamlet REALLY about?
You haven’t really told me a lot.
What I do understand about the play is that it is significant because it depicts for the first time a character who is paralysed by the projected consequences of his actions.
What I also understand is that it uses, and quite adroitly, the device of a play within a play.
And I also understand the beauty of the soliloquies and of the language in general.
But tortured psyches, clever narrative devices, and poetic language can be found in all of The Bard’s plays, so what makes the Prince of Denmark special.
Whatever my inferior mind is missing, I’d really like to know, so please, elaborate.
70. Csimmons - July 10th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Awesome List, I was in a play of Hamlet, so I automatically agree with #1
71. Heroajax - July 10th, 2008 at 9:27 am
@Nelia. In order to completely understand R&J. You must believe in love at first sight. IMHO, regardless of their age or “hormonaly stupid” these are two people who knew the instant they saw each other they were destined to be together. What sucks for them is that they’re supposed to be mortal enemies and just loathe each other, but they don’t love conquers all the hate they must feel for each other. Juliet even says so in the play “My only love sprung from my only hate. Too early seen unknown and known too late.” She’s clearly already in love with Romeo and he her as indicated from his earlier line “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright.”
Now, you could of course make the argument that they’re just in “lust” with each other rather than love, but c’mon we’ve all been in lust with someone. Ask yourself this. Would you die for someone you’re in lust with … or would it take a bit more than that to be willing to surrender your life? Perhaps love? :-p
72. bucslim - July 10th, 2008 at 9:28 am
I think the reason Shakespeare is far and away the greatest poet is because of his ‘universal-ity (leave it to my butchering of the language to describe the best)
He essentially codified the human condition on stage. Love, fear, revenge, madness, all of these emotions and circumstances that we all go through have been examined in his narratives. Others have approached that as well but not with the wit and mastery of the language he possessed.
Can’t make a decision - watch Hamlet. Think you’re getting away with something? Watch Richard III. In love? Romeo and Juliet. Someone pull a fast one on you? Othello. The French taking shit that doesn’t belong to them? Henry V. Think your girlfriend is whoring it up? Much Ado about Nothing. Kids getting too big for their britches? King Lear.
Ok, it takes some perseverance to read some of that stuff, go watch the plays. If it’s done with any style, you’ll get it and you might just enjoy it.
73. mregan - July 10th, 2008 at 9:32 am
I’ll tell you when I got hooked. Sitting in 9th grade study hall after pulling out a copy of The Tempest, laughing out loud at the Caliban/Stephano/Trincullo scene. “A most ancient and fish-like smell”. Any ninth grader would find that funny, I think.
74. ElleMNOP - July 10th, 2008 at 9:38 am
What about the Tempest guys?
“How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, That has such people in’t!”
75. Heroajax - July 10th, 2008 at 9:48 am
@PineappleSundae. Hamlet is significant for many reasons and the plot is continuously repeated even in today’s movies.
Here’s the plot summary. Hamlet is the Prince of Denmark (about 35 yrs old) and next in line for the throne. Two months ago, his father, the king died. Hamlet did not inherit the throne, which you would expect. Hamlet’s uncle actually takes the throne. Not only that, he marries Hamlet’s mother … after the king, Hamlet’s father has been dead … for two months?!?!?!?! Hamlet’s not really happy about this. He feels his mother and uncle should still be in mourning for the dead king, instead they get married rather quickly. Hamlet actually tells the queen and new king this in front of the court in a rather insulting manner. This is essentially how the play opens with the first of Hamlet’s 3 great speeches. Hamlet basically complains about his situation and can’t understand how no one but him seems to be mourning the loss of the king.
In the next scene, Horatio, a school friend of Hamlet’s informs him about seeing a ghost while helping on guard duty the previous night. Horatio tells Hamlet the ghost appears to look like the king. Hamlet agrees to stand watch that night too see for himself. The ghost appears. It’s the ghost of Hamlet’s father! The ghost tells Hamlet his uncle murdered him and charges Hamlet with avenging his death.
So, now Hamlet’s in a pickle. His father’s ghost wants his son to murder his uncle, who is the king now and avenge his death. How does Hamlet go about doing this? He’s reluctant to believe the ghost as it’s not common that brother’s kill each other. Hamlet decides to set up the king and verify the ghost’s claims of murder. He sets up a performance for the king and court. The performance is, of course a murder in which the murder acts in a similar manner to the way the king was killed. “The play’s the thing in which I’ll capture the conscious of the king,” Hamlet claims. He is claiming that if he sees the king react, that will be his evidence the ghost speaks true.
When the king reacts, Hamlet knows he now must murder the king. He’s having trouble doing it though. This is Hamlet’s second great speech … “to be or not to be.” This is Hamlet deciding on what to do, either kill himself for his lack of action or kill the king.
The other deaths in the play are interesting and add to the storyline, but that’s essentially the plot. Hope that helps.
76. janus - July 10th, 2008 at 9:51 am
my favorite is Comedy of Errors.
Hamlet is similar to the Greek myth of Orestes. The Trojan War hero Agamemnon was killed upon his return to Greece by his wife, Clytemnestra and her boyfriend. Orestes works with Apollo to avenge his father’s death by killing his mother. He is accused of murder by the Furies, but is acquitted by Athena.
77. Rosa - July 10th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Aaaahhhh!! Noooo! How can Hamlet be #1? I have read all but one of these (Richard III) and Hamlet was definitely my least favorite. (Either way, you did a great job on the rest of the list, so I’ll just look the other way when I get to #1.
Thanks for a great list, Heroajax!)
78. Heroajax - July 10th, 2008 at 9:53 am
I left Tempest off the list for the (IMHO) lame ass ending. “Let your indulgence set me free.” Pfffffffft. Clap for me and I’ll go home. Uggggh. Laaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmeeeeeeee. It did make me laugh a lot though. I just hated that ending.
79. PineappleSundae - July 10th, 2008 at 9:59 am
heroajax @ 74
I commend your efforts to enlighten me, but the truth is that I’ve read Hamlet twice, and am more than familiar with the plot.
What it is that I don’t understand is why Hamlet is universally acknowledged as Shakespeare’s greatest play, when I found Romeo & Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Julius Caesar, and King Lear more exciting and memorable.
Is the play popular because Hamlet’s inability to act is very human, and thus completely understandable for all of us? Or is there more to it?
80. kris - July 10th, 2008 at 10:02 am
i am glad I have not only read all the books but also was a part of Romeo Juliet play in high school and Merchant of Venice too…
I always love reading Shakespeare’s stories and poems too… I am poet too… and i must i he writings inspired me a lot
———-
jfrater: Do you hate Indians? I am not an Indian I stay here so I found a few interesting things and sent a list on them…
81. kittym - July 10th, 2008 at 10:26 am
“Out … out, damned spot …”
Billy Shake-a-spear proved great entertainment for me during school. I love his plays (except for Julius Caesar, but that is only because of a traumatic experience involving me acting out Marc Anthony’s funeral speech while dead “Caesar” spent the entirety of it lying on the ground looking up my skirt). I love Macbeth, as it was a rather easy read and my first Shakespeare play, and I’m also a fan of Twelfth Night and Merchant of Venice. Excellent list!
82. kittym - July 10th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Oh, I forgot Othello. One of my favourites as well.
83. Heroajax - July 10th, 2008 at 10:50 am
@PineappleSundae. I feel, Hamlet is the best written and most complete of all his plays. Character development is complete, the plot is complete, the storyline is rich, there’s comedy, tragedy … it’s everyting! Hamlet is tortured by his lack of advice as to what to do. There’s no one to advise him what his course of action should be. He’s given some information … from a ghost? C’mon. Who could act on that information and not be thought a complete nutball?
He’s depressed about losing his father, angry with his uncle, tortured by the fact he has to commit murder, but how do you do that? For some people, it’s not an easy thing to do. Then you add on the relative part, the king part, the brother of his father part, his mother, his kingdom… etc. his actions/inaction will have huge consequences no matter how you slice it up. He’s a completely understandable/relatable character. It’s not just that he’s human by his inaction, but more that Shakespeare not only writes all the emotions any person would be feeling in this situation, but you’re caught up with all of Hamlet’s emotions. His fear, his love, his anger, his hatred, his depression, his indecision … all of it is just so completely relatable and is a perfect example of the human condition.
In addition to all of that it’s an extremely well written play. The plot is flawless, the speeches … by all characters … are simply amazing. It’s probably the singularly most important contribution to the English language ever written.
If you have only ever read Hamlet, you’re doing yourself and the play a disservice. You need to watch it. Reading does not deliver the same feelings and emotions as an actor correctly speaking the lines. Rent/Netflix Brannagh’s version. It’s absolutely amazing. The acting is spectacular, the sets are beautiful and it deserved every award it’s ever received.
84. Cyn - July 10th, 2008 at 10:55 am
bouncy, bouncy, follow the bouncing website…uh…er…sorry ’bout that guyz if things come and go. sorting it out w/ sysadmins. please do not adjust your sets…
85. Carma - July 10th, 2008 at 10:56 am
My favourite right now is Othello, but I’m seeing Hamlet next September, and I’ve heard so many good things about it that I’m really looking forward to it.
86. PineappleSundae - July 10th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Heroajax @ 83
Where Randall attempted to have me believe that I was missing the point of the story (with pretentious phrases like “Hamlet speaks the modern age. And he speaks the inner tragedy of the mind” - I doubt if he himself gets the point of the story), you sir, have pointed out something I can’t believe I missed. I have never actually gone to SEE Hamlet!
I’m pretty sure that it’d seem more deserving of the acclaim it’s been given if I just went to see it in the medium for which it was intended. And thanks to you, that’s what I intend to do forthwith.
87. Randall - July 10th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Pineapple:
You call ME pretentious when you come on here and pretend to be oh-so-hip that you just can’t see the relevance or greatness of Hamlet?
Please.
88. Heroajax - July 10th, 2008 at 11:29 am
@PineappleSundae, glad to hear that. I firmly believe (regardless of what any high school English teacher has ever told you) you MUST watch plays. Plays aren’t meant to be read. The only purpose of reading a play is perhaps to study it for the prose, writing or clarify something you missed the actor saying. That’s it. Plays are meant to be watched not read. If you have read anything by Shakespeare and not watched it, that’s just wrong IMHO. You gotta watch ‘em.
89. PineappleSundae - July 10th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Randall:
How can you be oh-so-hip that you just can’t see the relevance or greatness of Hamlet? Wouldn’t it seem more oh-so-hip to pretend to see the relevance?
90. bucslim - July 10th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Pineapple - Huh?
91. mregan - July 10th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Seeing is much better than reading. Doing on stage is even better. I’ve acted in, directed, designed, or teched on more than twenty different full length Shakespeare’s over the years, (not to mention modern adaptations like West Side Story or Kiss Me, Kate) and watching the understanding of the language and emotional depth come upon the performers is always invigorating. Especially once you explain to a young actor that what they are saying is actually funny.
92. PineappleSundae - July 10th, 2008 at 11:46 am
bucslim:
Are you confused about something?
93. Kreachure - July 10th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Randall’s opinion is that Hamlet is great.
PineappleSundae’s opinion is that it’s not.
What’s the keyword here? OPINION.
They’re just that. Opinions. If people didn’t respect each other’s opinions around here, I wouldn’t visit this site at all.
Instead of trying to convince each other that the other one’s wrong and you’re right (which inevitably leads to insults), why don’t you simply take what each other is saying as what they are, OPINIONS!
Any “I compel you to think like me” arguments only belong in religious debates (and even there, they’re VERY ANNOYING).
94. julesw81 - July 10th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
This above all: to thine own self be true.
-Polonius, Hamlet
95. goof_ball - July 10th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
shakespeare is great but sometimes i just dont understand. haha
96. bucslim - July 10th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I had some really awesome and insulting comeback to Kreature’s post, but the server is acting like Crispin Glover with a Dexatrim shunt and a drip of triple espresso.
I thought we were past that.
97. QDV - July 10th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Heroajax: You’ve got me wondering if there’s a name for the gesture we make where we stick out our tongues, make a raspberry, put our thumbs in our ears, and wave our hands. You’re getting one of those for “The Tempest,” my friend!
Seriously, good list, and at least you’re prepared with a response on few that would make my list (like “King Lear”).
I admit it, I like “Titus Andronicus,” but I don’t know that I’d call it “great.” I know that the English majors can and do rip it apart, but for me, it’s one of those “popcorn” plays that you can watch (if you can FIND a performance) or read and not have to think too much on a day when you just need some cheap entertainment from Shakespeare. Titus himself is a loyal guy who’s wronged badly, who seeks revenge in interesting ways, and there’s something of a proto-Iago in the form of Aaron. I’d like to nominate it for one of Shakespeare’s best stage directions:
Enter DEMETRIUS and CHIRON, with LAVINIA, ravish’d; her hands cut off, and her tongue cut out.
As an aside: For those who haven’t seen them, check out Akira Kurosawa’s interpretations of “King Lear” and “Macbeth,” in the form of “Ran” and “Throne of Blood.” These aren’t a bad place to start for folks who struggle with Shakespeare’s language, and it certainly won’t hurt to pick up a copy of “Shakespeare for Dummies” to help out with readings.
98. scarlettangel - July 10th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I believe the point is that both Randall and PineappleSundae both enjoy Shakespeare, they just differ on which is the best.
Kreachure- I agree completely. If people would value others opinions we would not have half the problems in the world. How many wars(and lives lost) have been fought because of people trying to fit everyone into their own personal box? Their god, their politics.Granted a few have been good for mankind, but only a few.
99. Heroajax - July 10th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
QDV.
Ha ha ha. You can raspberry me all you want. I simply can’t justify Tempest being on the list. I did enjoy the play, but it seems to me like Bill phoned it in, especially the ending. Keep in mind this is also a list based on popularity as well as greatness. Interesting, yes, humourous, yes. Great … sorry. No. 
I will completely agree with you on Titus Andronicus. I was blown away by that one. YES!!! Serve up your enemies as dinner to your other enemies!!! OOOOO, soooo Greek. LOVED IT!!!! If you get a chance, see “Titus” with Sir Anthony Hopkins in the title role. AWESOME! English majors can feel free to rip it apart as much as they like. What they can’t do is deny, not only the classical genre presented, the prose, but the overall story of a man hell bent on revenge for being so wronged for all he’s given to his country.
I hemmed and hawed over that or Othello. In the end, I had to give it to Othello due to popularity.
100. SlickWilly - July 10th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Shakespeare essentially invented the modern narrative devices that we see still in use today (at least…he popularized them). One of the things I remember most about Shakespeare from high school English is that Shakespeare almost invariably opens all his plays with one of three elements, designed to grab the viewer’s attention: violence, teenage sex, and/or the supernatural. To this day, these three devices are still among the most widely used in popular entertainment.
101. MelClev - July 10th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Dear Pineapple Sundae,
I have one word for you that should completely clear everything about Hamlet up for you.
…Emo…
People love to see other people in a sad state. Now maybe that’s over simplifying a bit but, really, that’s all it is. We love it, they love it, everyone loves it.
Cept you, of course.
102. Kreachure - July 10th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
bucslim: Well, if your insult to my post is anything like the one towards the server, I wouldn’t bother either…
103. Kiribub - July 10th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
45. Bob
Don’t forget DeVere…
104. kris - July 10th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I agree with Kreachure
105. Cyn - July 10th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
and yes, there have been some status issues. sorry guyz. it is being worked on.
106. warningdontreadthis - July 10th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Haha, romerozombie would you then give him another thing to be famous for? Ball point pen perhaps?
107. reid1201 - July 10th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
How about a list of the best Shakespeares that never get performed? Titus Andronicus….cutting off hand, cutting out tongues, baking the rapist sons into a pie and feeding it to their mom….FUN!!!!
108. Jackie - July 10th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Bob: Oh ok thanks
109. Jackie - July 10th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Ok I hope I don’t get flamed for this opinion…first off let me say Romeo and Juliet is my favorite play. It’s beautifully written (I mean a sonnet within a play, come on!) I even had the entire play on a poster hanging up in my room in high school.
HOWEVER I never understood the idea that two people who’ve known each other for three days could kill themselves over each other. I sort of believe it was mostly lust and not love. It just seemed unrealistic to me…they didn’t even know each other a week!
110. cocololo - July 10th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
oh, i was getting nervous when i didn’t see my romeo and juliet on there…
#2 behind hamlet, couldn’t have made a better choice myself. i’m such a girl, i go weak at the knees for leo dicaprio… don’t even mention titanic. i can quote the whole play. even the parts baz lurhmann missed.
great list jfrater, now i’m gonna go home and watch me some listless tragedies! love it!
111. Arkz_Archduke_of_Geeks - July 10th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
hmm nifty list though my favorite isnt in there.. king lear is lacking
112. ringtailroxy - July 10th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
I was very pleased to see “The Taming of the Shrew” here… it is one of my favorite Shakespearean plays, next to “The Tempest”
my all time favorite line in “Shrew” is this naughty little number…
2. Petruccio: Come, come, you wasp, i’faith you are too angry.
Katherine: If I be waspish, best beware my sting.
Petruccio: My remedy is then to pluck it out.
Katherine: Ay, if the fool could find where it lies.
Petruccio: Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting? In his tail.
Katherine: In his tongue.
Petruccio: Whose tongue?
Katherine: Yours, if you talk of tales, and so farewell.
Petruccio: What, with my tongue in your tail?
This kind of banter reminds me of my man and I… except instead of a wasp, he calls me a bitch. (beware her bark, my friends, the bite is far worse!!)
I call him a jackass.(ignorant, arrogant,stubborn mule!)
it’s all fair in love and war, you know.
(you should hear what we call each other when we are angry…)
rtr
113. Heroajax - July 10th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
@109 Jackie, see my explanation to your question. Comment #71. With the additional knowledge, that neither one was supposed to die. It was a tragic accident. Hence the whole “tragedy thing.”
114. jfrater - July 10th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
kris (80) huh? If you think I haven’t received something, send it again - don’t accuse me of racism!
115. TDavis - July 10th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Great list!
I’d personally move Richard III up a bit, but I quibble.
What surprises me is that after 112 comments, no one has brought up the question of authorship.
(Opening HUGE can o’ worms.)
Myself, I think Billy the Shake wrote the whole lot of ‘em.
Every now and then true genius does appear.
In 400 years I suppose someone will argue that Einstein could not have come up with all of his sublime theories because he flunked math as a child!
116. Kreachure - July 10th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Erm, Kris is talking about the India list, that s/he submitted, and that got removed… remember? The India list? Yeah, that list.
*backs away slowly before all hell breaks loose*
117. MPW - July 10th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Can’t argue with this list. Helluva job!
118. kris - July 10th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Jfrater: NO i haven’t accused u…i won’t do that to anyone… i just asked if you hate them…that’s all!!!
Well I would try to send it again. Did you ever visit Isle of Wight? I would try to make list of that too…as if now I am in India and try to love my stay here
119. MPW - July 10th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Kreachure, wasn’t that list plagiarized?
120. kris - July 10th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Kreachure: how do you know about my list? can you view before they are published? that wasn’t fair as I told I am a British and just came with my dad as he has some business to take care of… I found it through my cousin who married an Indian…BTW I am she
Jfrater: did it get removed accidentally or?
121. Kreachure - July 10th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
(*Sigh* well, since I already stuck my nose where it don’t belong, I might as well get it all the way in…)
kris: The list was posted in the site not so long ago, and then it was taken down because someone found a site (that I can’t find myself to link to it here) which had several of the list items in verbatim (or however you use that word). In other words (oh boy)… your list got taken down because it plagiarized that other site.
Now, may I please go take cover under a table? k thx.
122. Kreachure - July 10th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Oh right, this very issue was discussed in the forums: http://listverse.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1037
123. Kreachure - July 10th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Waitaminute, did you say you FOUND the list????
124. Seven - July 10th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I hate to say it but, I didn’t like Hamlet as much as I liked Macbeth. And I thought King Lear was better than both (this could be because of quality of performances though)
Has any one else seen/read the RSC’s Complete Works? funny stuff, especially the footnotes
125. Charlotte - July 10th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I’d have loved to have seen the Tempst on this list. Its my favourite
126. ciunas - July 10th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Another excellent list, Heroajax – thank you.
Yes, ‘Hamlet’ has to be #1. Surprised ‘Othello’ isn’t nearer the top, & even more surprised ‘Lear’ isn’t there at all. But that’s just going by the critical consensus, perhaps, & as numerous people have said it’s a matter of taste ultimately. The plays I like the best — Cymbeline’, ‘The Winter’s Tale’, ‘The Tempest’: the late romances — don’t appear at all. But there you go.
Personally I prefer reading the plays to watching them performed. You can enjoy Shakespeare’s unique verbal dexterity & his extraordinary ‘negative capability’ at your own pace, without being bothered by the restrictions imposed by the stage or by actors’ OTT performances & directors’ capricious interpretations. (One of my favourite characters from the plays is Malvolio in ‘Twelfth Night’. He always seems to be rendered by actors as nothing more than a pompous prig, & the chilling dignity conferred on him by his response to his mistreatment is lost. Something similar happens with Polonius; just because Hamlet thinks he’s a fool doesn’t mean actor playing him & audiences have to.) Shakespeare, in a sense, just happens to be a dramatist. It’s the words that matter.
127. ciunas - July 10th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Jfrater: ‘Howl’, I have to say, is quite something but generally the Beats produced very little of substance, in my view. When I was at uni, however, I had the opportunity to see Ginsberg, accompanied by Orlovsky, performing Blake’s ‘Songs’ & other stuff. He gave the poems a sort of incantatory power. Unforgettable.
128. alm92 - July 10th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
I hate Shakesspear, but I do not understand him, so I go on Sparknotes.com and read the info. Personally, I think the man is a pervert.
129. jfrater - July 10th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
ciunas: wow - you are very lucky! I have an mp3 of Ginsberg singing Spring by Blake - you can download it online in fact by going here
130. jake ryder - July 10th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
There’s a lot of discussion about reading the plays here but nothing can compare to seeing a production by a world class theatre company. I am lucky enough to live near Stratford ON and do get to see a least one production a year.
Check it out people it’s worth it.
131. ciunas - July 10th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
jfrater:
Cheers, I just had a listen.
He looked almost comically eccentric when I saw him in the mid 80s — bald pate, wild frizzy mane, enormous beard — but I’m sure this added to his considerable stage presence. I’ve always been glad that I had the chance to see him.
132. jfrater - July 10th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
ciunas: I own a first edition signed book by Ginsberg - I just wish it was a copy of Howl - that would be worth a pretty penny now!
jake ryder: I will definitely try that next time I go to England.
133. SarahJ - July 10th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Shakespeare reminds me of sitting at home many years ago with my brother reading it out aloud - I wish I could remember the reason why!!
134. segue - July 10th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
WOW!
There is not one, single, iota of a difference of opinion between Heroajax’s list and my own opinion of Shakespeare’s plays…though I love every one of them.
I love his sonnets too.
**Randall, your description of the book your Mother gave you sounds very like one I still have, got at around the same time. Mine includes all of Shakespeare’s work, not just the plays ..may be a different edition of the same book?
**jfrater, when I was a Uni student I would travel up to San Francisco on weekends just to hang out at City Lights Book Store in case I might run into Ginsberg or Kerouac one of that crowd.
135. ohrmets - July 10th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I am surprised “Much Ado About Nothing” did not crack the Top 10! Beatrice and Benedick are surely two of Shakespeare’s most memorable characters. It is also perhaps the best romantic comedy ever produced!
136. Black Missile - July 10th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
TDavis(115) I for one don’t believe Bill penned all of these. Too much, too little time (it’s not like he had a computer), and too many varied styles of writing, among other things.
137. Kiribub - July 10th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
115. TDavis
Check posts 45 & 103.
138. babygirl2882 - July 10th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Oh I love Shakespeare so much!!! Richard III is such a good play. We did it last season, and man it was so much fun to put on!
139. Moose - July 10th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Pineapple-
I’m not gonna give my opinion on Hamlet, but I will say this. One of the reasons the play was so amazing at the time it was written is because Shakespeare included new medical information. ((Spoiler)) Hamlet’s Uncle kills the king by dribbling poison into the ear. It was a brand spanking new discovery that the ear canal connected at some point to the throat and the rest of the digestive system. Ignoring the rest of the play, that is what I found most interesting.
And if anyone wants to see a fun, musical, animated version of Hamlet…
Go rent The Lion King. =)
140. sasha - July 11th, 2008 at 12:03 am
oh my god this is a horrible list - king lear doesn’t even make the top ten?? henry V and Richard III are placed above othello? did you just pick ten names at random ? here should be the top 5 (the bottom 5 are negotiable)
1. Hamlet
2. King Lear
3. Othello
4. Romeo and Juliet
5. Macbeth
141. kiwiboi - July 11th, 2008 at 12:31 am
I for one don’t believe Bill penned all of these. Too much, too little time (it’s not like he had a computer), and too many varied styles of writing, among other things.
Black Missile - Honore de Balzac’s output was threefold that of Shakespeare. Also, check out Georges Simenon…or Edgar Wallace (who could author a novel in 2 or 3 days). Even John Steinbeck managed in excess of 30 novels. There are many, many more.
Anyways, and notwithstanding the vast chasm in terms of actual talent, at least this shows that Shakespeare’s portfolio of less than 40 plays is hardly prodigious..of course he had time to write them. In fact he, in all likelihood, wrote a bunch more that - like at least one known example - have been lost.
As for “too many varied styles of writing”…the man’s literary genius is unparalled; why should he be incapable of adopting different styles? The collators of the First Folio (who *knew* the Bard personally) wrote : “His mind and hand went together, and what he thought he uttered with an easiness, that we have scarce received from him a blot in his papers.”
These conspiracy theories about the “true authorship” of Shakespeare’s works strike me as being ridiculous.
142. kiwiboi - July 11th, 2008 at 12:46 am
you MUST watch plays. Plays aren’t meant to be read. The only purpose of reading a play is perhaps to study it for the prose, writing or clarify something you missed the actor saying. That’s it.
Heroajax - I fully agree that plays are written for the purpose of dramatic performance…but to say that “plays aren’t meant to be read” seems a little excessive (though I note that you end with a smiley).
143. kiwiboi - July 11th, 2008 at 1:20 am
Hero - sorry…notwithstanding my very minor criticism above (#142) I meant to add that this is an interesting list..thanks!
As for Shakespeare’s “greatest” play, opinion amongst literary critics is typically split between King Lear and Hamlet, and this is difficult to challenge; I’d opt for Lear (which is an intriguing omission from your list).
But I would say Coriolanus is my alltime favourite.
144. Clouds - July 11th, 2008 at 2:03 am
I can’t do my work anymore ‘…out damn listverse, out!’
145. samm - July 11th, 2008 at 3:27 am
I was told by someone once that he never liked reading Shakespeare, that he just hated it. That Shakespeare is not meant to be read, it is meant to be played.
146. Toolhead - July 11th, 2008 at 4:42 am
I’m sick of how kids these days will spit and plays, we had to
study romeo and Juliet for school and everyone was a fucking mess. Seriously plays aint that bad
147. Poisie - July 11th, 2008 at 6:00 am
I loooove Shakespeare’s works! I totally agree with Heroajax … you should watch the plays rather than just read them. Or, even better, act them out! They’re wonderful.
As for favourite characters, I’d have to say Dogberry fom Much Ado About Nothing… he’s just so random. I got to play a female version of that character two years ago and it was lots of fun. Also, I have to admit that I love Juliet’s character. But that’s probably because I got to play that part last summer. At first, I wasn’t particularly thrilled to play her, but after a while she really grew on me. Playing this part was the most intense acting experience I’ve ever had… it started messing with my mind. After a week of perfomances I was in a really bad state… physically and mentally… and I loved every second of it… you go through so many emotions. Well, I think it’s hard to grasp that from only reading the play, but still, you have to realize what a genius Shakespeare was.
148. Heroajax - July 11th, 2008 at 6:02 am
@kiwiboi. Read my whole comment. It’s only necessary to read the play if you want to study it. If you are just casual about your Shakespeare, then only watch them. It makes it much more enjoyable.
@Toolhead. Yeah, I remember that while in school too. It’s unfortunate kids come into Shakespeare like that. A ton of that comes from parents and teachers forcing kids to read what should be watched. Banning Cliff’s Notes and other study guides which would help greatly. Too many teachers are just morons when it comes to HOW they teach Shakespeare. Most certainly know their stuff, but it’s how they teach him that’s the problem.
149. kris - July 11th, 2008 at 6:59 am
I just came from shopping bought a book called : A complete work of William Shakespeare by Wordsworth edition (spent my entire month’s pocket money) it includes all the poems and Plays. I must mention As you like it is a good Play too!
=====
All: M sorry for talking something not related this list…
and thanx a million Kreacher: I found means Patrick-my cousin gave it to me…coz I keep talking about things of this site during B’fast, lunch and dinner…. Well I didn’t know that was a stolen list…or may be it was forwarded one… if i have to write a list personally about India I wouldn’t know anything…and about my town Isle of Wight of then YES!!! and oh yes i can write 15 weird things or customs I have seen in India (oops if my cousin’s wife comes to know this she wouldn’t take me out)
but i have doubt again-hmmm! we do copy things or take help from Wikipedia don’t we? is that come under plagiarized…
Jfrater: R u angry with me? Its me Evelyn aka Kris
n m sorry if u felt bad; but i would be glad if you respond… thanq
150. Taranis - July 11th, 2008 at 8:39 am
At a shakespeare festival in NJ our school took parts from Romeo and Juliet and Taming of the Shrew and set them both in a truck stop bar. It was so awesome, and so much fun! Our teacher always said ‘If you hate Shakespeare, you weren’t taught it right.’ and Shakespeare was my favourite class.
151. kiwiboi - July 11th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Read my whole comment. It’s only necessary to read the play if you want to study it. If you are just casual about your Shakespeare, then only watch them. It makes it much more enjoyable.
Heroajax - I did read your comment, and I stand by my response to it. You did not originally say that “It’s only necessary to read the play if you want to study it”; you said “The only purpose of reading a play is perhaps to study it for the prose, writing or clarify something you missed the actor saying. That’s it.”
Which is an entirely different issue.
I, for one, occasionally read Shakespeare for the pure pleasure of it.
152. kris - July 11th, 2008 at 10:36 am
there’s no new list today!!!
153. kiwiboi - July 11th, 2008 at 10:40 am
but i have doubt again-hmmm! we do copy things or take help from Wikipedia don’t we? is that come under plagiarized
kris - plagiarism, whilst actually difficult to define precisely, is basically about using somebody else’s work without acknowledging the fact. It gets worse when you *deliberately* pass the work off as your own. There are various degrees of “severity”.
Wikipedia, to which you refer, for the most part has no problem with you using its material - so long as you acknowledge it in accordance with their requirements. Listverse lists almost always make this declaration (at the bottom of the list, before the comments). That not only avoids charges of plagiarism, but is the fair and proper thing to do.
It seems, reading your comment, that you did not realise you were doing anything wrong. Fair enough…but it *is* still *wrong*.
However, I am guessing that you are relatively young? I’m sure that if you appeal to jfrater’s sense of compassion, he will likely forgive you
Though he might ask to you provide that list about the Isle of Wight as a suitable “punishment”
154. Duane - July 11th, 2008 at 11:22 am
You include Shrew but leave off King Lear? Yikes. Why not substitute Two Gentlemen of