In a recent TV production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream", the dialogue was altered, removing suicide threats by female characters. Was this a good thing, or bad interference in Shakespeare's works?

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3 Answers

Ancient Hippy Profile
Ancient Hippy answered

I guess it's part of the new politically correct trend. To me, it's blasphemy to alter the Bard's work.

Tom  Jackson Profile
Tom Jackson answered

Well, you must admit that Shakespeare could have saved himself a lot of time if this speech had been just shortened to "Charge!"

And the message was "charge," so why not shorten it.

(My hands rebelled at typing the above since it is so far from what I think---even though I'm being sarcastic.)

"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead!
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility:
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard favoured rage;
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect.
On, on you noblest English!
Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof;
Fathers that, like so many Alexanders,
Have in these parts from morn till even fought,
And sheathed their swords for lack of argument.
And you, good yeomen,
Whose limbs were made in England, show us here the mettle of your pasture.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit; and upon this charge
Cry "God for Harry! England and Saint George".

(Henry V - Henry urges his men into the attack at the Siege of Harfleur)


5 People thanked the writer.
Ray Dart
Ray Dart commented
A friend of mine, whilst learning the part for an AmDram production of Henry V, took to practicing that speech in all sorts of odd places, including on one occasion to a lot of sheep in a field. He was startled to find that others had been watching and listening to him. He reckoned he got more applause for that performance than he did for the actual play.
Tom  Jackson
Tom Jackson commented
LMAO

Sometimes the most heartfelt performances are given without knowing there is an audience presence.

I must admit I have silently reread that speech at least 5 times since I posted it.
robert williams Profile
robert williams answered

Shakespeare was writing at the time, for the time. AMND was written towards the end of 1596, when he was at his most prolific and inventive. The fascination for withcraft, (Oberon, Puck, Titania,) was with him all of his life, and comes up in Hamlet (the ghost), Macbeth, (the witches) and TheTempest ( the sorcerer magician Prospero). Everybody then knew of witches and devils etc, so were easily swayed in such Shakespearean productions. So, if the Bard included threats in the narrative, for the time, then they should stay there! 

1 Person thanked the writer.
Ray  Dart
Ray Dart commented
Macbeth, is of course the greatest (if one of the shortest) of all Shakespeare's plays. I have seen it many times, including at The Globe a year or two ago. I see something new in it every time.

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