What was William Shakespeare's style known to contribute?

What was William Shakespeare's style like for you?

For me, it was not easy to read - I had to reread everything and still did not understand adequately, much like trying to grasp string theory in a physics lesson but not knowing the 'dimensions' referred to meant literally "spatial dimensions" different than length, width, and volume.

People were studying and believed education could produce better citizens.

And humanist ideals are prevalent therein. When we understand 'masonry' in its definition, we are talking about stonework.

But what is it to carve into stone?

I think the Renaissance wanted to build civilization with the understanding that it isn't something that can be done again from the beginning.

There isn't a new beginning unless everyone begins again. And one person can diverge and resist, but the majority will continue.

 

Maybe so! But perhaps it's like the time warp on Monty Python - Let's do the time warp again! =) Or was that Rocky Horror? >=)

Well, if I'm introducing the Shakespearian, I will be sure to tell my assembly we're talking in their terms and on their timeline - that probably makes it more relevant today AND more understandable - “Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow!” - King Lear; William Shakespeare

 

It’s funny, I always felt like reading Shakespeare was less about understanding the words and more about listening to them. Like the rhythm hits first, and only after a few lines your brain starts catching up with what the heart already got. The iambic pentameter thing everyone mentions – sure, it’s structure, but it’s also heartbeat, breath, timing. He made language feel alive, not just written.

Sometimes I think his “style” wasn’t style at all, more like a mirror. He captured the way people contradict themselves, how love and cruelty exist in the same sentence. That’s why it can feel confusing; he doesn’t clean it up for you. You’re supposed to sit in that chaos and find your own balance.

And yeah, you’re right about the humanist part – he wrote like someone who knew we were all figuring out how to be human again, after centuries of being told what to think. “there isn’t a new beginning unless everyone begins again” – that line of yours hit me. Maybe Shakespeare’s trick was showing that rebirth doesn’t come from erasing the past but from arguing with it until it changes shape.

Also, small side note – definitely Rocky Horror, not Monty Python. Though both feel like something he’d laugh about if he were around now.

 

Shakespeare was Jim Henson and Frank Oz combined but, of course, Dark Ages Style! Cracking too many jokes can get you killed to this day, but Shakespeare's audience and troop knew the subject was tongue-in-cheek salty humor that the wealthy would tolerate. For all the drama, even Oedipus Rex can easily be interpreted as humor, along with all of Freudian psychology if you want. The only problem is, jokes cost conservatives money.