Hello my iTalki friends! I have a question for you!
What do you think of Shakespeare?
In the UK we regard Shakespeare as a literary hero and we are so very proud of his work. We regard Shakespeare along side other national heroes such as Churchill, Darwin and Dickens. His words hold such poetic weight that I would consider some of his quotes to be literally perfect, my favorite being; “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.” from "<em>A Midsummer's Night Dream</em>". It is perfect! Not only does it slip so effortlessly off the tongue, I believe that it is also as true as it was in 1596 as it is in 2014; it is timeless.
So, I have three questions;
1) Have you read Shakespeare?
2) Did you read it in your mother tongue? or English?
3) If you DID read it in your native language, did it have the poetic beauty that it does in English?
This is something I am very interested in knowing, so please reply!!! :)
George
The poetic beauty of Shakesperare's works is well perceived even in translated variant, I suppose that's why Shakespeare is so recognised throughout the world.
When I read something in original I feel a little less distant between the authur. The same was with Shakespeare's sonnets. It's the only difference I had.
I think that reading poetry in translation we miss something, but in Russian, we have some perfect translations that were made by Pasternak and Losinsky.
I believe Shakespeare's dramas together with so many stories around the world represents a set of codes and messages from our unknown past. The Globe theater is our planet (not a building) because we came to the act on this "play" of life inside the theater of "Gaia". His stories and dramas are either the reflexions of human life, or the truths that follow some paths and the power of choice that we all have. There are many interpretations and versions of his tragicomedies, but only those who had explored the stories, the legends and myths behind libraries and books; can perceive the beauty or the darkness of those ancient tales.
He was a good guy
