Over time you will come across find snippets on my website about William Shakespeare. I’ve been interested in the playwright and bis plays since childhood. As a small child I lived in Scotland between Aberdeen and Inverness and not far from Forres. This is Macbeth country.
I was seven years of age when I arrived in the north of Scotland.. After school was over, we would fight each other in fatal battles with branches from trees and bellow at our opponents “Lay on Macduff, and dammed be him who first cries, Hold. Enough ” We shouted “How far to Forres?” without knowing why! I learned about a King being murdered in Inverness Castle. My Mum took me there, but I never saw the blood from King Duncan’s assassination. From friends blabbering I know that strong rhythm. “The Thane of Fife had a wife.” It is still with me in my old age.
How did I get to know all this drama? I can only assume that we small kids got our half understood knowledge it from bigger brothers and sisters who studied Macbeth at college.The Sweet Swan of Avon has taught me about life and still does. I am close friends with Macbeth, Antony and his lover Cleopatra and those bewildering lovers Romeo and Juliet. I am forever in the mind of my close friend Hamlet. I too have wished for sleep… but perchance to dream!!!!!
Poor Romeo and Juliet. Youth makes mistakes, but these teenager’s paid the ultimate price. No need for planned suicide. Emotions ripped through them. Older people meant well and failed the teenagers. Fate took its toll . A message undelivered to Romeo sealed his life.
So Erica – as Minister of Education dealing with William -Sweety Swan of Avon…who knows what might come up when she wants teachers to teach about Shakespeare . Murder of kids in the Tower of London and abuse of people by King Richard, the Third. Acceptance of adultery by numerous characters. Stealing of property. Belief in magic. Teenagers getting access to dangerous drugs by the clergy as in Romeo and Juliet.
