Shaw on Shakespeare: Applause Books

George Bernard Shaw was one of the most prolific and influential playwrights of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was also a trenchant critic of William Shakespeare, whose work he both admired and disdained. In his book Shaw on Shakespeare, Shaw offers a unique and provocative perspective on the Bard's plays, characters, and themes.

Shaw on Shakespeare (Applause Books)

by George Bernard Shaw

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3155 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	312 pages

FREE

Shaw's criticism of Shakespeare is often harsh, but it is always insightful. He argues that Shakespeare's plays are often poorly constructed, his characters are often shallow, and his language is often obscure. However, Shaw also acknowledges Shakespeare's genius, and he praises the Bard's ability to create memorable characters and to write powerful and moving dialogue.

One of the most interesting aspects of Shaw on Shakespeare is Shaw's discussion of Shakespeare's female characters. Shaw argues that Shakespeare's women are often more complex and interesting than his men. He praises Shakespeare for his ability to create strong and independent female characters, such as Rosalind in As You Like It and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing.

Shaw's criticism of Shakespeare is not limited to his plays. He also takes aim at Shakespeare's sonnets and poems. Shaw argues that Shakespeare's sonnets are often repetitive and formulaic, and that his poems are often obscure and difficult to understand.

Despite his criticism, Shaw ultimately admires Shakespeare's genius. He writes: "Shakespeare is the greatest of all dramatists, and the most wonderful of all poets. He is the only man who has ever combined the highest qualities of both kinds of art."

Shaw on Shakespeare is a must-read for anyone interested in Shakespeare or in Shaw's own work. It is a challenging and thought-provoking book, but it is also a rewarding one.

Table of Contents

2. Shaw's Criticism of Shakespeare
3. Shaw's Praise of Shakespeare
4. Shaw's Discussion of Shakespeare's Female Characters
5. Shaw's Criticism of Shakespeare's Sonnets and Poems
6. Shaw's Ultimate Admiration for Shakespeare

George Bernard Shaw was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1856. He began his career as a journalist, but he soon turned to playwriting. His first successful play, Widowers' Houses, was produced in 1892. Shaw went on to write more than 60 plays, including such classics as Arms and the Man, Major Barbara, and Pygmalion.

Shaw was a brilliant wit and a master of satire. He was also a strong advocate for social justice. His plays often tackled controversial topics such as poverty, inequality, and war.

Shaw was a lifelong admirer of Shakespeare. He wrote: "Shakespeare is the greatest of all dramatists, and the most wonderful of all poets. He is the only man who has ever combined the highest qualities of both kinds of art."

However, Shaw was also a trenchant critic of Shakespeare. He argued that Shakespeare's plays were often poorly constructed, his characters were often shallow, and his language was often obscure.

In his book Shaw on Shakespeare, Shaw offers a unique and provocative perspective on the Bard's plays, characters, and themes.

Shaw's Criticism of Shakespeare

Shaw's criticism of Shakespeare is often harsh, but it is always insightful. He argues that Shakespeare's plays are often poorly constructed, his characters are often shallow, and his language is often obscure.

For example, Shaw argues that Shakespeare's plays often lack a clear and coherent plot. He writes: "Shakespeare's plays are not plays in the sense that they have a beginning, a middle, and an end. They are rather a series of scenes, loosely connected by a common theme."

Shaw also argues that Shakespeare's characters are often shallow and one-dimensional. He writes: "Shakespeare's characters are not real people. They are types, or caricatures. They are not complex or well-developed."

Finally, Shaw argues that Shakespeare's language is often obscure and difficult to understand. He writes: "Shakespeare's language is often so obscure that it is impossible to understand what he is talking about. He uses words in a way that is confusing and misleading."

Shaw's Praise of Shakespeare

Despite his criticism, Shaw ultimately admired Shakespeare's genius. He writes: "Shakespeare is the greatest of all dramatists, and the most wonderful of all poets. He is the only man who has ever combined the highest qualities of both kinds of art."

Shaw praises Shakespeare for his ability to create memorable characters and to write powerful and moving dialogue. He writes: "Shakespeare's characters are unforgettable. They are real people, with all the strengths and weaknesses of human beings. They are complex and well-developed, and they stay with us long after we have finished reading or seeing his plays."

Shaw also praises Shakespeare for his ability to write powerful and moving dialogue. He writes: "Shakespeare's dialogue is some of the most beautiful and moving ever written. It is full of wit, wisdom, and passion. It is a joy to read and to hear."

Shaw's Discussion of Shakespeare's Female Characters

One of the most interesting aspects of Shaw on Shakespeare is Shaw's discussion of Shakespeare's female characters. Shaw argues that Shakespeare's women are often more complex and interesting than his men. He praises Shakespeare for his ability to create strong and independent female characters, such as Rosalind in As You Like It and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing.

Shaw writes: "Shakespeare's women are not the simpering, swooning creatures of popular fiction. They are strong, independent, and intelligent. They are capable of great love and passion, but they are also capable of great wit and wisdom."

Shaw also praises Shakespeare for his ability to write about female sexuality in a frank and honest way. He writes: "Shakespeare is the only playwright who has ever written about female sexuality in a way that is both truthful and respectful."

Shaw's Criticism of Shakespeare's Sonnets and Poems

Shaw's criticism of Shakespeare is not limited to his plays. He also takes aim at Shakespeare's sonnets and poems. Shaw argues that Shakespeare's sonnets are often repetitive and formulaic, and that his poems are often obscure and difficult to understand.

For example, Shaw argues that Shakespeare's sonnets are often full of empty flattery and conventional language. He writes: "Shakespeare's sonnets are full of the most fulsome flattery and the most conventional language. They are not sincere or heartfelt. They are simply exercises in rhetoric."

Shaw also argues that Shakespeare's poems are often obscure and difficult to understand. He writes: "Shakespeare's poems are often so obscure that it is impossible

Shaw on Shakespeare (Applause Books)

by George Bernard Shaw

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3155 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	312 pages

FREE