Reviews for The Meaning of Shakespeare, Vol. 1

The average rating for The Meaning of Shakespeare, Vol. 1 based on 2 reviews is 5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2016-10-16 00:00:00 James Grider If you're into stuff like this, you can read the full review. Shakespeare Downheartedness:"The Meaning of Shakespeare" by Harold C. Goddard (2 volumes) "Shakespeare led a life of allegory: his works are the comments on it." In "The Meaning of Shakespeare" by Harold C. Goddard "Art is given us to redeem us. All we are in the habit of asking or expecting of it today is that it should please or teach-whereas it ought to captivate us, carry us out of ourselves, make us over into something more nearly in its own image" In "The Meaning of Shakespeare" by Harold C. Goddard "'King Lear is a miracle,' wrote a young woman who had just come under its incomparable spell. 'There is nothing in the whole world that is not in this play. It says everything, and if this is the last and final judgment on the world we live in, then it is a miraculous world. This is a miracle play.'" In "The Meaning of Shakespeare" by Harold C. Goddard

Review # 2 was written on 2008-03-22 00:00:00 Paul Long This is one of the best books to read while going through Bard's plays. There other classics such as Hazlitt's on Shakespeare's characters, Bradley's on the great Shakespearean tragedies. And then there is always of course the good doctor (Dr. Johnson) and H. Bloom (Shakespeare: Invention of the Human). The first two are not as comprehensive as this book; while it is impossible to really criticize Johnson I can say that it is too much of an effort to find his criticisms in different sources (I simply could not find a one volme compilation); finally for Bloom even though I like it a lot I find it too derivative and his comments sometimes too tangential to the topic (he talks on and on about what he calls the "Schools of resentment" (which is a term I loved by the way), New Historicists etc. ) and sometimes repetitive (about the Falstaff, Hamlet). Goddard's book is invredibly useful. He gives one the imression that he really could get under the skin of Shakespeare. Not only his great comments about the plays but his ideas on democracy (when he is talking about Bottom in A midsummer night's dream), or plays (Hamlet, Henry the Fourth (wonderful comment about peace/war/play) ) , or individual vs. the crowd (Coriolanus) are unforgettable. He gives me the impression of a good old teacher (who is not a moralist) that you can talk about anything under the sun and you would not be able to surprise whatever you say since he knows human nature so. Such a refreshing persn such a refreshing book. There are a few points that I do not agree with Goddard. Especially on his dislike of Mercutio and his sympathy towards Romeo; his comments about the end of King Lear that Cordelia actually lives (what do you actually mean Harold??? this does not make sense) . Again if you are going to console yourself with Shakespeare at some point in your life keep this book handy. This could be one of the books that can change the way you look at life.