Macbeth

Alan's class spent last month reading Macbeth. I felt like I should read it since I myself never had (which as an English major, writer, and avid reader seemed a bit of an embarrassment). And yet for weeks I just couldn't bring myself to pick up Shakespeare during my leisure reading time, which is so sparse and precious these days. Then I learned I would be subbing in his classroom, which meant that I would have to teach the play. With a sigh, I picked up the play and began to read.

It was, of course, good. I mean, there is a reason these plays are still read, performed, and discussed several hundreds of years later. And yet, I'm not a big fan of reading plays, adding on the additional burden of riffling through the language. But the copy of the book I read was the No Fear Shakespeare, which has the original text with a side by side modern translation, making it more accessible. (No, I'm not afraid or too proud to admit that.) I'm glad I read it and not only because Alan's students asked if I had read it and I could honestly tell them yes, I had. [Last week, in fact.] After combing the text, we watched a film adaptation of the scenes we had just read and the contrast between the enjoyment of watching the play being acted out, as it was intended, and reading the play aloud was stark. I walked away thinking I really should read more Shakespeare (then run out and watch the film adaptations). But I also know it'll be a long, long time before I actually do.