Introduction...

[eleanoranne.livejournal.com]

Hi! I just joined the community. My name is Eleanor, and I graduated from college last December, with a double major in History and Dramatic Literature. This fall I'll hopefully be applying to grad schools, with the eventual goal of getting a PhD in some Theatre Studies/Theatre History/Dramatic Literature type program. Of course, that depends on me figuring out where to apply, so if anyone has any insight there, it'd be welcome.

I've always loved Shakespeare (well... since I was 10 or so, but that seems like always), and given my interest in history (particularly British history) I guess it's not very surprising that I especially love the history plays. My favorite has got to be Henry IV Part 1. Aside from the fact that I love it in general, it was the first one I ever saw (an amazing production at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival back when I was in high school). Ever since that production, I've had a massive crush on Hal. I also can't stand Falstaff, which means Harold Bloom thinks I have no soul ; ). Richard II is probably my second favorite, although many others are up there. Other than that, the most interesting thing about me as a Shakespeare fan is probably that I don't actually like Hamlet all that much. Especially not when compared to some of the other tragedies. Non-history plays I DO really like, however, include King Lear, The Tempest, Othello, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Winter's Tale.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to being a member of this community, and sharing in the geekery!

Comments

[eleanoranne.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think you're absolutely right. Hamlet is definitely good theatre, but I just don't get excited about it in the way that I do about some of Shakespeare's other plays. Also, I reached it pretty late in my Shakespeare career, and by that time I'd heard so much about how brilliant it is, and how it defines what it means to be human, or something like that. That's an awful lot for any play to live up to, and so (although I think it's a very good play), I always feel like I should be enjoying it on some super deep level that I just can't get to. *shrugs* oh well. There are still plenty of other plays for me to enjoy!