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Pericles: to taste the fruit of yon celestial tree;

sweetsilentsessions.blogspot.com glennlouisfeole@gmail.com Other blogs: readingthedictionaryztoa.blogspot.com (essays on reading the dictionary) artbyglennfeole.blogspot.com Pericles    This is one of Shakespeare’s later plays and, interestingly,  the first two acts were thought to not be written by Shakespeare.   I have read thirty-four of his thirty-seven plays at this juncture and, amazingly to me, I do seem to  have a feel for his mellifluous voice…and it is missing during these acts.   It is like a missing relationship, a substitute; things are just not quite right; they don't click or resonate.   On closer look, t he poetry, the sensitivity, the insights and aphoristic thoughts are missing.         Although the plot is convoluted and fantastic, Harold Bloom mentions that the scenes in Act 4 about the brothel are among Shakespeare’s funniest and the reunion of Pericles with his daughte...
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Richard III: Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer; a reeling world indeed

sweetsilentsessions.blogspot.com glennlouisfeole@gmail.com Other blogs: readingthedictionaryztoa.blogspot.com (essays on reading the dictionary) artbyglennfeole.blogspot.com Richard III         I was not prepared for the devastating depravity, the lust for power and overt murderous intent that this play portrayed.   Whatever your political persuasion, I was reading it during the divisive presidential election and a kindly, older social worker, when he saw what I was reading, said, “That’s appropriate.”          There was n ot much in a redemptive vein except a painful education in the ways of the world.   Ironically, the peaceful, loving music of Earth,Wind and Fire is referenced here with the phrase “shining star”…but in a pejorative sense.         Of course, the opening words of Richard III are beautiful and memorable: “Now is the winter of our discontent made glori...
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Richard II: forget, forgive; I taste grief, need friends; mount, mount my soul

sweetsilentsessions.blogspot.com glennlouisfeole@gmail.com Other blogs: readingthedictionaryztoa.blogspot.com (essays on reading the dictionary) artbyglennfeole.blogspot.com Richard II      Amid the struggle for power, the usurpation and greed of these battles for the throne, suddenly, almost imperceptibly, emerge the wise words of gentle John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster.   A light in the dark.        I was filled with sadness when they announced his death in Act II, the death that   King Richard yearned for.   It reminded me of the death of a gentle, beloved uncle, no longer able to murmur words of encouragement: “Look at what thy soul holds dear, imagine it”; his reference to the sun as “the eye of heaven” and to England as “this precious stone set in the silver sea”; and the equanimity of “The setting sun, and music at the close, As the last taste of sweets is sweetest last.”   Only a poet or philo...
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Much Ado About Nothing: His May of youth and bloom of lustiness; with gray hairs and bruise of many days

sweetsilentsessions.blogspot.com glennlouisfeole@gmail.com Other blogs: readingthedictionaryztoa.blogspot.com (essays on reading the dictionary) artbyglennfeole.blogspot.com Much Ado About Nothing     This was a  wild journey through the vicissitudes of love.   I recall, as I’m sure many of you can as well, that girl in our youth who had loud, guttural, caustic language and sarcasm towards any matters romantic.   Yet inside was a gentle heart of gold.   The reality of Beatrice’s vivacity and likability flash out from her being despite the barbs she flings at Benedict.   I have heard critics call this play “Beatrice and Benedict” or “Much Ado About Beatrice and Benedict” and I can see why.     A fitting title.   Of course there is also the romantic subterfuge and the parallel romance of Claudio for Leonato’s daughter, Hero.        The iconic phrase catch “my drift” may have an or...
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The Two Gentlemen of Verona: love is blind; the swift course of time; clothe my age with angel-like perfection

sweetsilentsessions.blogspot.com glennlouisfeole@gmail.com Other blogs: readingthedictionaryztoa.blogspot.com (essays on reading the dictionary) artbyglennfeole.blogspot.com  The Two Gentlemen of Verona      This play, similar to The Merry Wives of Windsor , is one of Shakespeare’s least popular according to Harold Bloom.   Initially, t here seemed to be a paucity of passages (to use some Shakespearean alliteration) that moved me, and this has been so unusual as I read through these eloquent plays.   Of course, this is probably a short-coming on my part.   Actually, as I reread my notes and summarized the quotes that I liked, there were many wonderful passages on love, youth, aging and the passage of time as seen below.      The edition I am reading is from The Cambridge University Press, first edition printed in 1921, and states that this play is “a graceful story charmingly told,” and “The diction is melodious, ...
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The Merry Wives of Windsor: middle earth, In love the Heavens themselves do guide the state

sweetsilentsessions.blogspot.com glennlouisfeole@gmail.com Other blogs: readingthedictionaryztoa.blogspot.com (essays on reading the dictionary) artbyglennfeole.blogspot.com The Merry Wives of Windsor     I have to agree with the consensus of critics that this is not a very laudable play…among the weakest to be politic.   Falstaff, according to Harold Bloom, is not even truly Falstaff here.   The witty, irresistible Falstaff is reduced to a lusty buffoon… and Bloom was not amused.        In any case, it was a hard read for me until, thankfully, I got to the very last page.   And there it was: a beautiful passage on love.   It was as if, finally, the true Shakespeare emerged with all his poignancy and poetic insight.   It is one of only three quotes that I will list from this play, if that says something… “In love the Heavens themselves do guide the state. Money buys lands, and wives are sold b...
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