My Earliest Shakespeare Memory
Someone asked me the other day what my earliest Shakespeare memory was. The question really threw me! “Do people really have childhood Shakespeare memories,” I wondered.
To my surprise, everyone could identify that first moment that Shakespeare resonated with them. Some early in life, others in their adulthood. Some from reading in class, others from a theater visit.
When I cast my mind back, I was surprised to find a real “thunderbolt” moment that I had completely forgotten about.
We were coming towards the end of studying Macbeth at school and we were reading aloud the “tomorrow” speech. I remember suddenly realizing that Macbeth was a real character full of complexity – this was not the Macbeth from the start of the play, but a fearless man that lived by the sword. Although it was a long time ago, I remember admiring Macbeth at this moment; perhaps because he is prepared to fight on even through he knows that all is lost.
Interestingly, this forgotten memory has had a huge influence on me – to this day Macbeth remains my favorite play. Now I know why.
So what happens when you cast your mind back to your earliest Shakespeare memory? What first touched you? Why not share your earliest Shakespeare memory with me and your fellow About.com readers?
Comments
I was 11 or 12 and, at the movies, they had a short film of John Barrymore standing on a mountain of bones and doing the “Now is the winter of our discontent” soliloquy. I was hooked for life and “gentle Will” became a lifelong obsession.I’ve been to Stratford and own all of the plays. There is no cure.
Oh, I was 13, and I’ve came across Hamlet. I was utterly fascinated, it was like discvering a whole new world. I fell in love with Shakespeare and from that moment on my life changed. I got a B.A. in English Literature and doing my Master degree now actually, only becuase of my love for him and his wonderful works. And Hamlet still my fav. play.
I was in 7th or 8th grade, it was my turn to stand up and read. We were reading The Tempest. I could see that when it got to me I would be reading: “Where the bee sucks, there suck I…”
I became embarrased and sexually aroused; but when I actually stood up it was O.K.
That was over 60 years ago.
I was in the Navy, it was 1947 and a Gunner’s Mate would walk around deck spouting Shakespeare. I had dropped out of school in the 8th grad and I was not familiar with the Bard’s work. That sailor got my curiosity and I started reading Shakespeare. Went on and got my GED and completed college in 4 years on the GI Bill. I am devoted to Shakespeare and to the memory of that Gunner’s Mate whose name is forever “time out of mind.”