As a small child I lived in Scotland between Aberdeen and Inverness and not far from Forres. This is Macbeth country. After school, we would fight each other in fatal battles with branches from trees and bellow at our opponents “Lay on Macduff, and dammed be him who first cries, Hold. Enough ” We screamed “How far to Forres?” without knowing why! I learned about a King being murdered in Inverness Castle. My Mum took me there, but I never saw the blood from King Duncan’s assassination. But from my friends blabber I still recall that strong rhythm. “The Thane of Fife had a wife.”
How did I get to know this drama? We got our little knowledge it from bigger brothers and sisters who studied Shakespeare at college. The Sweet Swan of Avon taught me about life and still does. I am close friends with Macbeth, Antony and his lover Cleopatra and those bewildering lovers Romeo and Juliet. I am forever in the mind of my close friend Hamlet, the Existentialist. I too have often been extremely depressed… but perchance to dream!!!!! Poor Romeo and Juliet. Youth makes mistakes, but these teenagers paid the ultimate price. No need for carefully planned suicide. Emotions ripped through them. Older people meant well but failed the teenagers. Fate took its toll . A message undelivered to Romeo sealed his life.
I have been rereading a book by a Kiwi, Eric Partridge, called “Shakespeare’s Bawdy” it is a dictionary and glossary and essays to illuminate the layers of meaning in Shakespeare’s language blotted by time. As our view towards sex changed and language evolved Partridge argued that restoring this understanding was essential for a full appreciation of Shakespeare’s characters, humour, and psychological insight.
So Erica – as Minister of Education dealing with William -Sweet Swan of Avon…who knows what might come up with teaching Shakespeare. Murder of kids in the Tower of London and more murder by kings and leaders. Acceptance of adultery by numerous characters, that’s commonplace. Stealing of property -yes. Belief in magic realism. You bet. Teenagers getting access to dangerous drugs by the clergy as in Romeo and Juliet.
Wow! Should we allow the Sweet Swan of Avon into the heads of our teenagers?