Shakespearean mood
Shakespeare in Love is a relatively fictional account about the life and love of William Shakespeare. Not much is known about the “real” Shakespeare, therefore, Tom Stoppard had the liberty to include some ideas of his own to present William Shakespeare’s persona. But Shakespeare in Love is more than just a tale of one of the greatest writers of all time; it is about the greatness of theatre, the power of love, the magic of poetry, and the pain of life.
The film takes us to England 400 years ago where Queen Elizabeth I controls everything including theatre. We can see the spiteful Aristocrats and the dirty commoners begging for something to lighten up their day, something that will allow them to scream and laugh. What they wanted was entertainment. Philip Henslowe, the owner of the theatre, is intimidated by the theatre’s creditors to present a play and earn some profits. Henslowe immediately supplicates talented writer William Shakespeare to deliver a play. Love and lust towards Viola inspire young Shakespeare to transform Romeo and Ethel into tragic Romeo and Juliet. It seemed as if the people were anxious for entertainment. Even today humanity is desperate for entertainment to escape the troubles and pains of real life.
I believe the most interesting aspect of the film was its ability to convey a Shakespearean mood. We are immersed into this Shakespearean world of language, poetry, swordfights, dishonesty, romance, action, comedy, tragedy, and all the essentials that make Shakespeare so unique. Watching Shakespeare in Love lets the viewer appreciate even more the artistic and splendid style of William Shakespeare.
Jimmy
posted by Anonymous @ 9:48 AM
1 comments
1 Comments:
I'm not sure I agree with Michael when he reduces the success of the film to the profit motive; Shakespeare has long been regarded as box office poison. Why, then, would producers willingly back a film built to "convey a Shakespearean mood," as Jimmy puts it? If today's people are as anxious for entertainment as Elizabethan "commoners" were, why this historically and intellectually challenging choice of material?
... and what sort of entertainment? Note that in the film, Henslowe has a very specific idea of what his audience wants: clowns, and a dog. Does the show that Shakespeare ultimately delivers (in the film) provide an escape from "the troubles and pains of real life"?
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