Modernising Shakespeare

Modernizing Shakespeare:

Modernizing Shakespeare makes the world look at the social aspects of that time period to provoke social discussion. The language might not change but the universal themes will remain the same for example the theme of:

• Evil
• Good
• Wealth
• Sex
• Love
• Power
• Poverty
• Greed
• Death
• Hate
• Life
• War
• Loyalty

And so on, The definition of a universal theme is a theme that is shared among many stories, but the stories are all independent of each other. For example, there are many love stories but yet they are all different. Universal themes are themes that we as humans can reflect on and be able to relate to on a social context. In Hamlet there are many different themes such as death, relationships, murder and also relationship competition. I did some further research into all of these themes that occur in other Shakespeare plays and fount some similar plays such as 'A Shakespearean Love' 'Midsummer Night Dream' and 'Macbeth'.

Shakespeare In Love:

Shakespeare in love stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes this is a play written by William Shakespeare. It is a 1998 British romantic comedy drama film directed by John Maden. The play involves a love affair that was written during the time that Shakespeare was also writting Romeo and Juliet. However this story is fiction but some of the characters are based on real people many of the character lines plot devices and have a lot of similarities to other Shakespeare plays.  His idea for the play, which should be completed, is a pirate comedy entitled Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter. But Will is stuck, his shrink asks him how long it has been since he has been with a woman and advises him that that is

what he needs. Auditions are held since the players' troup is out on tour. All the not so actors are pitiful. Except for Thomas Kent, the alias given by Viola, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Women at this time are not allowed on stage in public. After Shakespeare shows interest, this character runs away to her estate where a party is being held. He

follows Thomas into this party to later find love at first sight in Viola. Thomas once again shows up to receive her part in the play as Romeo. While Will and Thomas are talking, Shakespeare pours his heart out, telling about this wonderfully beautiful woman, Thomas's cousin. Somehow, they end up kissing. Now that Will has this woman, his writers block is cured, he goes on to write Romeo and Juliet through his true-life actions in his affair with Viola. At the end of the movie they put on the play through all the hardships, in the company of Queen Elizabeth. 

After doing some research about Shakespeare in Love I then went back to the play that i am currently performing 'Hamlet' and notice there a lot of similar themes and motifs and plot devices that occur in this play such as:

• Testing as a love motif - Going through Shakespeare in love i notice there was a similar theme that is also shown in Hamlet which is the test of love. There are many times that proving their love was shown in both plays. In Shakespeare in love Viola learns that she is to be married to Wessex with the Queen's approval, she writes Will to tell him to break it off. He, however, discovers that Thomas Kent is really Viola, and pursues her in spite of the almost- certain loss that will follow. In taking this chance, he follows his heart despite everything, this is proving his love. Similar to Shakespeare in love, the theme of love is also shown in Hamlet. Love is seen to be complex as Queen Gertrude Hamlets mother marries Hamlets Uncle after the death of King Hamlet things start to get complicated as she believes she is in love and doesn't follow any instruction and follows her heart. Shakespeare in Love was played in 1998, and was well broken down and modernized so it could appeal to a younger audience, the modernized version include such themes as this because the younger generation are able to relate because it is simplified and easier to understand. During these times late 90's teenagers were seen to be wanting to grow up quickly and not really understanding the true meaning of love, however in Shakespeare in love we are shown the real passion and true meaning of love and what being in love can make you do, this as an audience makes us re think our actions before doing such things for a loved one. We are also able to understand that sometimes not everyone in life will like your decision or something that you want to do, but if something feels right you should go ahead and do it. We are able to see in Shakespeare in Love Viola is told that she has to marry to Wessex, however she tells the queen to break it off even though after he finds out that Thomas Kent is really viola even though of the consequences he may face he still pushes himself and does everything to prove his love towards her. This is also linked in with Hamlet, as Hamlets brother also does all he can to peruse Queen Gertrude.  

Midsummer Night Dreams:

I did some research on Midsummer Nights Dreams and was able to find a modernized version that came out in 1999, Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Stanley Tucci, Christian Bale, Rupert Everett, and Calista Flockhart star in this modern remake of the Shakespearean classic. Two couples who are wrongly in love are finally brought rightly together as the fairy trickster Puck administers a powerful love potion that causes the lovers to mix and match with outrageous results. I noticed that Midsummer Nights Dream and Hamlet have both similar themes motifs & symbols such as:

• Theseus and Hippolyta:  Shakespeare has used both Theseus and Hippolyta as a symbol of order and stability to contrast with the uncertainty, instability, and darkness of most of the play