humanodon Here's my answer to your question.
Macbeth. If you've never studied any Shakespeare before, start with Macbeth. It's short, it's easy, it's spooky. It's a compelling read. The reason it is considered the "unlucky" play is that theatre companies used to put it on when business was bad, because they could guarantee a sell out show with Macbeth.
I cannot recommend my first exposure to Shakespeare, the musical production of Hamlet on the Gilligan's Island show, enough. (And they said that television is a cultural wasteland!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4qRWsgxssA
If you think murdering your boss (literally or figuartively) is the way to get ahead -- choose MacBeth
If your wife (or husband) is pressuring you to murder the boss -- choose MacBeth
If you are hearing the voices of witches on the heath making great promises to you -- choose MacBeth (and know there is a price to pay for those promises coming true). If you enjoy fantasy, choose Midsummer Night's Dream.
If you enjoy history, Henry IV Parts I & II I agree with starting in the theatre -- either by going to see a play or by acting in one. We did Twelfth Night in high school and it remains one of my favourite plays.
And of course The Tempest is always good.
SirToby Belch! If Sir John Falstaff had an apprentice, he would be Sir Toby. I was thinking of favourite quotes in my future blogs on this theme, as well as a word on memorized passages. I imagine I'll lose my hubski readership if I continue on this thread too long. When my unfollowers start to pile up like bodies at the end of Hamlet, I'll have to move on to a new topic.
If you feel like your friend just stabbed you in the back, read Julius Caesar. "Et tu brute" is one hell of a moment in literature. So much is packed in to those three words.
Good one, I should add it to the official list. Caesar's next line in the play, "Then fall Caesar," means - If you Brutus are also part of this conspiracy, then what's the point of living any longer. So, for example, if thenewgreen unfollowed me, I would look up to the screen and say, "Et tu Novo Viridis?" whoops, I better check and make sure you're still following me.
I always thought that maybe, just maybe Caesar thinks to himself, "if Brutus thinks I'm this horrible... maybe I am." and then dies. But the internal struggle Brutus has had and is going to have is summed up in this line too. That's a haunting thing to hear if you're Brutus. By the way, when I was a kid I tried to emulate Mercutio; Hilarious, ladies man the kind of guy you want at a party. I always thought I'd some day name my son Mercutio but nope, not even in consideration. I wouldn't dream of naming my son that now.
Mercutio - Thanks for that. In these various posts, I'm trying to express a lifelong relationship with Shakespeare. It seems you have one too. As far as naming your son, Mercutio is out, but August is still in the running? I met an August yesterday - Augustus actually - a 10-year-old boy from Argentina. He seems to like his name just fine. Here's a line I often thought about when I was breaking off with someone, also from Brutus:the internal struggle Brutus has had and is going to have is summed up in this line too. That's a haunting thing to hear if you're Brutus.
Between the acting of a dreadful thing
And the first motion, all the interim is
Like a phantasma or a hideous dream.
oooo, that Brutus line reminds me of The Stranger by Camus or Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevsky. -Two books I that I think have a great deal in common. edit: As for names, it seems that Atticus is leading the pack.