Although
this is a reprint of his 1990 volume, originally titled “No More Heroes,” O’Toole’s introduction
to Shakespeare and his great tragedies is yet one of the most helpful retakes on why we need to return to the original
plots (in both senses) of the author. O’Toole arms teachers, individual readers, and potential directors with
insights that will restore excitement to the experience of Shakespeare.www.RichardPinneau.com See more at:
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“Shakespeare Is Hard...”
Title:Shakespeare Is Hard, But So Is Life: A Radical Guide to Shakespearian Tragedy Author:O’Toole, Fintan Editor:- Review in brief:
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Full review:
Although this is a reprint of his 1990 volume, originally titled “No More Heroes,” O’Toole’s introduction to Shakespeare and his great tragedies is yet one of the freshest retakes on why we need to return to the original plots (in both senses) of the author. O’Toole arms teachers, individual readers, and potential directors with insights that will restore excitement to the experience of Shakespeare.
O’Toole is obviously as enthusiastic about his subject as Harold Bloom is, but his writing is careful, witty, and well thought out, with specific examples to back up his “radical” guide. Even the beginning Shakespearean will easily follow O’Toole’s important placement of The Plays within their Elizabethan context: a turbulent time of social upheaval and personal insecurity (easy to appreciate early in this 21st Century). More experienced readers and teachers will (hopefully) enjoy being challenged to expand the narrow boxes in which recent generations have attempted to capture Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, and Lear. The ”tragic hero“ and his “tragic flaw” (for example) are seen to be unnecessary distortions imposed by Victorian lenses. “See farther” - as Shakespeare might say.
You may want to quibble with some of the author‘s interpretations, but you’ll come away respecting O’Toole’s honesty and clarity, and will no doubt savor new insights into many details of the play (it was not just for show that toads, nails, and witches are included in the dramas). Both little details and long-disected classic overarching issues (e.g., “Why did Hamlet delay?”) come into brighter light.
Warning to teachers: O’Toole will incite your students to think outside the boxes that have usually facilitated pat answers to essay asignments.
Eminently readable and engaging.
© Richard Pinneau, 2003 Your feedback is appreciated: rp(at)richardpinneau(dot)com |
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