Shakespeare -- and one of his most brilliant interpreters
William Shakespeare, Hamlet
Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice
And could of men distinguish, her election
Hath seal’d thee for herself; for thou hast been
As one, in suffering all, that suffers nothing,
A man that fortune’s buffets and rewards
Hast ta’en with equal thanks; and bless’d are those
Whose blood and judgment are so well commingled
That they are not a pipe for fortune’s finger
To sound what stop she please. Give me that man
That is not passion’s slave, and I will wear him
In my heart’s core, ay, in my heart of heart,
As I do thee. Something too much of this.
There is a play to-night before the king…
What we love about this passage...
Hamlet's declaration of friendship to Horatio goes straight to the heart of his love, yet--as with any true friend--also shows his embarrassment at revealing his feelings and his fear of seeming sentimental. Genuine friendship, in other words, is hard to define or express. This is why we've included those final lines where he abruptly cuts himself off and, rather gruffly, says 'Something too much of this'. It's what makes Hamlet's words so believable and human, rather than lofty, abstract, and idealizing.
A famous Shakespearean actor
Ira Aldridge (1807-1867) was an African-American actor who emigrated to Britain at the age of 17. He became the first Black actor to play Othello on a West End Stage when, in 1833, he was suddenly called on to take over the role from the renowned actor Edmund Kean who was gravely ill. Aldridge also played many other Shakespeare roles, including Hamlet, Macbeth, Shylock, and King Lear. Although audiences loved him, he initially faced racially-motivated hostility from the press. His career finally blossomed through his exceptional talent and sheer determination. His handsome villa on the aptly named Hamlet Road in London now bears a Blue Plaque marking his fame and his lasting contributions to British culture.
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/aldridge-ira/
A play was recently written about Ira Aldridge by Lolita Chakrabarti, called Red Velvet; it featured Adrian Lester in the leading role of Ira.
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Writers Make Worlds: https://writersmakeworlds.com/
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Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/
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