That famous phrase

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them

originated from altogether demotivational motives. It was actually intended to trick a silly character into believing himself greater than he really is. So, it wasn't quite meant as an inspirational slogan as one might initially think.

And

That that is is

Could this be the first recorded use of "It is what it is"? :)

Along with Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night is among my favorite Shakespearean comedies. The characters are truly delightful. Well, except for Toby, who's a right bastard! I must admit, I have a partiality for the word "twelfth" because it contains "elf" in it.

Regarding adaptations: In the BBC audio version, Malvolio is the star role, superbly played by David Tennant, whose Scottish accent is like music to my ears. However, in the 1996 film, it's the fool, played by Ben Kingsley, who steals the entire show with his outstanding performance.

[May 2014]

This is merely the third Shakespearean comedy that I have reviewed. I do not consider "The Merchant of Venice" as a comedy; rather, I classify it as a Shakespearean problem play. And my feelings towards this play are truly mixed. On one hand, I'm not overly fond of romantic-comedies or rom-coms. This poses a problem since Shakespeare had a penchant for rom-coms, and this play is the quintessential rom-com. On the other hand, this play may boast the best and most complex female character among all the Shakespeare plays I've read thus far. I thought Beatrice of "Much Ado About Nothing" and Portia of "The Merchant of Venice" were remarkable, but Viola is wittier and more balanced (all things considered) than both. She and Feste are by far the smartest and most cunning characters in this play, captivating every scene they're in.

Just like in "Much Ado About Nothing", you have the typical romantic or rather unrequited couple, Orsio and Olivia, who are dull and serve merely as plot devices to introduce the romance. Fortunately, the plot of deception, especially the sub-plot involving Malvolio, brings the humor in abundance. I feel that the way Shakespeare crafted these characters would make them more fitting for a suspense thriller, specifically the interactions between "Cesario" (Viola in disguise) and Feste. Again, the Malvolio sub-plot could have and should have been its own standalone pure comedy play, but we had to have love triangles and unrequited angst – which come with the romantic territory.

So, with all that being said... I actually really like this play. Although I initially wanted to rate it as average because others did and I did nitpick, I really ended up enjoying it as the play progressed. "Much Ado About Nothing" will still be my favorite of the Bard's slapstick for now, but this play was not that bad. For reference, I read from "William Shakespeare: Complete Plays", and for a visual experience, I watched the 1988 television adaption of Kenneth Branagh's 1987 stage adaptation of the play.

A Great while ago the world begun,/With, hey, ho, the wind and the rain:-/But that's all one, our play is done,/And we'll strive to please you every day.

Theatre is a captivating genre that one can explore whenever the mood strikes. It is truly a delight to discover a genre that one loves to read, especially a classic like Shakespearean theatre, which serves as a paragon in this field.

Here, the scenes are filled with engaging themes such as cross-dressing, misunderstandings, revenge, cunning, and of course, love. Who wouldn't want to immerse themselves in the complex and convoluted world crafted by this master?

The characters are archetypes, yet they also hide the richness of the drama. As is often the case, we particularly relish the outbursts of the madman, which are imprinted with many profound truths, leading to a happy ending.

It is a play that can be easily scanned, a story with twists and turns that evoke smiles and emotions. Shakespeare's works continue to enthrall audiences and readers alike, transporting them to a world of imagination and wonder.

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.”

This was indeed a fun exploration. The fact is that comedies truly come alive and are even more enjoyable on a stage. And interestingly, the same holds true for tragedies. Shakespeare crafted a highly entertaining story filled with love, confusion, and foolishness. There is an abundance of genderbending, cross-dressing, and what could be called "homosexualitating" (albeit, I'm aware that's not a proper word). It's quite a queer and unique tale. However, in the end, everything and everyone is neatly resolved, and no one marries beneath their station. To be honest, it was a bit of a letdown for me. Especially since this doesn't quite align with how I envision true love. But oh well, sometimes we can just relax and simply relish in the experience.

I must confess that I had a greater affinity for A Midsummer Night's Dream. However, I'll admit to being a bit biased as I was involved in a production of this play. Additionally, I also prefer Richard II more. This is because I had a better understanding of its cultural context and found the relationship between Shakespeare's Richard and the actual historical king, who is long dead, to be quite captivating.

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This was truly an enjoyable experience, albeit a somewhat chaotic one. It seems to be the literal embodiment of everything that my shelf "love-webs" represents, with the addition of that one jester dude.

To be honest, I firmly believe that Viola and Olivia should have been the endgame couple, rather than Olivia ending up with Sebastian. I'm 100% convinced that Olivia married Sebastian solely because he is the male version of Viola. And Viola ending up with Orsino? Well, I don't approve of that, but Shakespeare didn't consult me before writing this play, did he? Additionally, I'm quite certain that there was some unrequited love situation between Antonio and Sebastian. Don't even attempt to convince me otherwise.

Anyhow, despite being a bit confused at times, I had a great deal of fun reading this.

#therapyformalvolio (he might have been annoying and a pompous arse, but he didn't deserve what he got)

I have read and watched this play countless times.

It never fails to captivate me.

The theme of love is simply wonderful.

Everyone and everything seems to be at cross purposes, yet they explore and enjoy different roles and genders.

This time, I paid particular attention to how the characters on the "losing" side handle their losses with grace and a certain practical wisdom.

That's the right way to deal with a loss.

Don't panic!

A loss is just the start of your next adventure, like the pit in a delicious cherry.

Just spit it out or, even better, plant it and see what grows.

And then there are the twins.

Who doesn't love twins?

When I first saw this play as a teenager, I developed a longing for twins in my heart.

Even though I had no intention of getting married and all that.

Guess what?

They're perfect.

A boy and a girl.

They also love this play and promise not to freak out if one of them goes missing.

They'll just head to the docks to look for any unexpected surprises that might wash ashore alive and of the opposite gender.

Anyway, it's another 5 stars for Wm. Shakespeare.

I can't wait to see this at OSF this season!

The genius of Shakespeare was not merely about his ability to think and toy with gender identity, sexuality, and gender roles in the 17th century and somehow manage to avoid serious consequences.

Rather, it was in how he had the remarkable talent to allow people to immerse themselves in their concealed fantasies within the realm of a pretend game for a few hours.

During this time, his works stealthily slithered into the very crevices of their minds, captivating and enchanting them.

Shakespeare's plays were like portals that opened up a world of limitless possibilities, where audiences could explore their deepest desires and emotions without judgment.

He had a unique way of making the characters and stories so relatable that people could easily lose themselves in the drama and forget about the outside world for a while.

In this way, Shakespeare's genius lies not only in his literary prowess but also in his ability to touch the hearts and souls of people across generations.

Only Shakespeare has the extraordinary ability to make the concept of falling in love with someone and then marrying their nearly identical sibling seem sophisticated and refined. It's truly a remarkable feat of his literary genius.

Anyway, this particular play is a delightfully light and enjoyable one. It is filled with an abundance of crazy tricks that keep the audience on the edge of their seats. The misunderstandings that occur add an element of confusion and hilarity, making it all the more entertaining.

The shenanigans that take place throughout the play are also a major highlight. They bring a sense of chaos and excitement, making it a truly engaging and enjoyable experience for the viewers. In many ways, it is fairly typical of Shakespeare's works, with its complex characters, intricate plot, and masterful use of language.

Overall, this play is a must-see for anyone who loves Shakespeare or enjoys a good light-hearted comedy. It's a great way to spend an evening and will leave you laughing and entertained from start to finish.

We went to see a Cambridge University production of this last night. The setting was in a similar period to the production of As You Like It that we saw earlier this year.

Zak Ghazi-Torbatt was absolutely hilarious as the perpetually drunk aristocrat Sir Toby Belch. Subtlety is definitely not the strong point of this play, and he played it to the hilt. He worked extremely well with his sidekick, Sir Aguecheek, who was ably played by Ryan Monk. Ben Walsh’s Malvolio was a perfect example of how to not overplay comic creepiness. Megan Gilbert seemed like an experienced actress in the role of Maria. It’s one of the best female roles, and she did it justice.

The setting, in my opinion, was not crucial to the play. It neither detracted from nor added to the overall experience. However, the fifties music and song, with the line “If music be the food of love, play on,” worked really well. But then, the director, in that modern way that seems to be forced upon us, decided to do her part in denying gender. To this end, two changes were made to the play. One was the role of Antonio, which was changed to Antonia and played by a girl. This was not only inexplicable in terms of the desire to mess around with gender – after all, Antonio is a boy in love with a boy – but it also made the relationship with Sebastian seem ridiculous. There can be no valid explanation as to why Sebastian can’t accept the love of Antonia. And in a play with a happily-ever-after ending, it doesn’t make sense to have this one person left inexplicably bereft. Needless to say, if it were a male character in love with a heterosexual male, we would at least understand why Antonio couldn’t be part of the happy ending. I really wish that we hadn’t been denied the chance to watch that doomed love. Instead, we watched a girl carrying around a bloke’s suitcases for three months, wondering who she was going to end up with.

Rest here:

https://alittleteaalittlechat.wordpress.com/2015/12/09/twelfth-night-by-william-shakespeare/

\\n  \\n    Book Review\\n  \\n

4 out of 5 stars to Twelfth Night, a captivating comedy penned in 1601 by the renowned William Shakespeare. There are countless reviews about Shakespeare, and it seems there's no end to what can be said. So, this isn't your typical review. What I will state is this: Whether you love him or not, Shakespeare had an extraordinary talent for crafting brilliant plots and memorable characters. In "Twelfth Night," we have twins, mistaken identities, tomfoolery, and even a touch of witchcraft. The web of love and confusion is so intricate that it's like a never-ending "who's on first" game. But that's precisely what makes it so wonderful. It's uproariously funny. However, if you're not accustomed to Shakespeare's unique style and rhythm, this might not be the first play of his that I'd suggest starting with. Or, if you're determined to read this one, it could be beneficial to watch a film version first to get a handle on the complex plot. It's more convoluted than any soap opera I've ever seen, and believe me, I've watched nearly all of them. This play has a little bit of everything. If you can witness it unfold first and then read it, it'll have an even greater impact as you can focus on the beautiful words and the vivid images that come to mind, rather than struggling to figure out which person is in which disguise at any given moment. I can only imagine that Shakespeare talked to himself a great deal while writing this, adding different voices and character traits just to keep track of all the madness!


\\n  \\n    About Me\\n  \\n

For those who are new to me or my reviews, here's the lowdown: I'm an avid reader, I write prolifically, and now I also blog extensively. First, the book review makes its way onto Goodreads, and then it gets sent over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com. There, you'll find not only book reviews but also TV and film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge, and plenty of blogging about my travels around the world. You can also find all my social media profiles to get the full scoop on who I am, what I do, when and where I do it, and even see my pictures. I'd love to hear your thoughts, so leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings too. Thanks for taking the time to stop by and visit my little corner of the internet.

Personality swapping again and again!

I'm gradually coming to the conclusion that Shakespeare had only this one idea for his comedies and used it in all of his comedic presentations.

Each time, the characters find themselves in situations where their personalities are exchanged, leading to humorous and often chaotic scenarios.

This concept allows for a great deal of exploration into the nature of human character and how different traits can interact and conflict with one another.

It also provides a framework for the development of complex and engaging storylines that keep the audience entertained from start to finish.

Whether it's through mistaken identities, cross-dressing, or other means, the swapping of personalities is a central element of Shakespeare's comedies and one that has endured over the centuries.

To be honest, I'm really confused now. On what basis should I give the score?!!! I want to show my own feeling and also consider the literary work from the perspective of its position in literature....

In short, I considered the taste that I gave to myself and gave two stars.

I didn't like it at all, but now I don't want Shakespeare to be starless either. In short, don't take it too seriously. Maybe I was just being too picky.

Maybe I didn't choose a good translation either.

Even in Persian, its literary type was difficult, and although it was said to have a humorous language, I had very few insights when reading it, maybe only in a few small places.