Today, 18th April, is Shakespeare's Birthday, and it is celebrated at The Globe, the reconstruction of the theatre built for his company, although this one is not in the exact location of the original. Click on the picture on the right to read about its history.References to Shakespeare and his works my appear anywhere and at any moment in the English speaking culture. An example:
In the the musical "Hair", at the moment in London, also a film, one of the songs is "What A Piece Of Work Is Man" and the lyrics come from Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (Act II, Scene II). It is a beauftiful although not very uplifiting passage (Hamlet is a tragedy and this quotation summarises Hamlet's melancholic mood at a certain point).
The song is also beautiful and it is sung at a critical moment in the musical.
The lyrics
What a piece of work is man!
How noble in reason!
How infinite in faculties!
How infinite in faculties!
In form and moving how express and admirable!
In action how like an angel!
In apprehension how like a god!
In apprehension how like a god!
The beauty of the world!
The paragon of animals!
...
I have of late--but wherefore I know not--lost all my mirth,
This goodly frame, the
Earth, seems to me a sterile promontory,
Earth, seems to me a sterile promontory,
This most excellent canopy, the air, you,
This brave o'erhanging firmament,
This majestical roof fretted with golden fire,
Why, it appears no other thing to me
Than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.
...
...
What a piece of work is man!
How noble in reason!
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (Act II, Scene II)
HAMLET
I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation
prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the king
and queen moult no feather. I have of late--but
wherefore I know not--lost all my mirth, forgone all
custom of exercises; and indeed it goes so heavily
with my disposition that this goodly frame, the
earth, seems to me a sterile promontory, this most
excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave
o'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted
with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to
me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.
I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation
prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the king
and queen moult no feather. I have of late--but
wherefore I know not--lost all my mirth, forgone all
custom of exercises; and indeed it goes so heavily
with my disposition that this goodly frame, the
earth, seems to me a sterile promontory, this most
excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave
o'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted
with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to
me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.
What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason!
how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how
express and admirable! in action how like an angel!
in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the
world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me,
what is this quintessence of dust? man delights not
me: no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling
you seem to say so.
If you want to read Shakespeare's works, this is an excellent site:
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how
express and admirable! in action how like an angel!
in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the
world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me,
what is this quintessence of dust? man delights not
me: no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling
you seem to say so.
If you want to read Shakespeare's works, this is an excellent site:
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
