I have a love-hate relationship with William Shakespeare. I, like most other high school students, was first introduced to him in the ninth grade via Romeo and Juliet, his widely-known and recognized play, and continued to deepen my relationship with his works in every high school grade after that, some titles being A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Othello, and Macbeth. I didn’t particularly enjoy any of these plays, if I’m being entirely honest, and found the language to be ridiculous and entirely unnecessary in this day and age.
When I began my first year of university, one of the expectations for my English program was enrolling in at least two Shakespeare classes. I wasn’t thrilled about it, but because I didn’t have much of a choice, I signed up for two and hoped for the best. Surprisingly, these two courses were some of my favourites in my entire university career, and my professor, Dr. Marten, was brilliant. It is thanks to him that I was introduced to Titus Andronicus, and if you think Shakespeare is boring, do yourself a favour and read that play. It’s fucking wild.
My mom asked me if I would like to go to the theatre to see Hamnet, and I enthusiastically agreed. I knew the film was about Shakespeare’s life and his family to some extent, but that was about it.
My mom and I saw Hamnet this past weekend, and I haven’t been so deeply moved by a film in a considerable time. I’m not here to spoil anything for anyone who wishes to see it, but allow me to say that the knowledge I had of Shakespeare prior to seeing Hamnet has entirely changed, and drastically so. I learned more about the man himself from watching this movie than I have anywhere else, and his story is absolutely worth knowing.
Check back tomorrow for part two.
ontheedgeofeverything 