"...it does not, of course, necessarily follow that Shakespeare's audience would have valued individual rights over the interests of the state, or would have associated political obedience with the abuses of facism (Yachin 40)"
I think it is good to remember that the facts of history do play a huge part in interpreting a text. It doesn't necessarily have to be the only way, nor should it, but to fully comprehend the deeper meanings and issues of a text history should be acknowledged. There is always the possibility of making an historical piece of literature our own, but we miss the implications of its past, and our own, if we completely ignore the time inwhich it was written. The original audience is relevant to the understanding of the work. Shakespeare was writing for his peers and the audience of 1611, not for the audience of 2009. The political connotations of today are not the same as they were then. I think sometimes it is difficult for us to remember that, because we have become so ingrained in our own culture and political circumstances.
Comments (3)
Bethany's blog contained a similar response. I believe that it is important to understand the time period that the author was writing in. An audience during 1611 would have had a completely different approach than we have now (2009). As a result, we should review and study facts from the past and then show critics of the 21st century what we believe a piece of literature was intended for. Our culture has changed many meanings of literature and this has changed how we view it. This can be seen through movies and plays that change parts of a work to meet the needs of modern society.
Posted by Derek Tickle | February 10, 2009 8:36 PM
Posted on February 10, 2009 20:36
You make a really good point Mara, especially when you talk about how Shakespear was writing for his time, not for ours. I agree with you, I think the historical context is just as important as the writng.
Posted by Katie Vann | February 12, 2009 5:04 PM
Posted on February 12, 2009 17:04
I find it hard to pull a text away from the historical time in which it was written. There is a reason any text was written at the time it was and not during a different period. At the very least, a Shakespearian play written now might carry the same messages, but would they be presented in the same way?
Posted by james lohr | February 14, 2009 1:25 PM
Posted on February 14, 2009 13:25