Tang Xiaoxian: Revisiting the life and works of Shakespeare (pictures)

Tang Xiaoxian: Revisiting the life and works of Shakespeare (pictures) – Commemorating the 45th anniversary of the birth of the British playwright and poet William Shakespeare…

– Commemorating the 450th anniversary of the birth of the British playwright and poet William Shakespeare Phoenix City Tang Xiaoxian

>Tang Xiaoxian

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) William Shakespeare, also known as Shakespeare in Chinese, was born on April 23, 1564 in the Julian calendar and died on April 23, 1616 in the Julian calendar or May 3, 1616 in the Gregorian calendar. He was 52 years old. He is the greatest dramatist and poet in the history of British literature, one of the most outstanding writers in the history of Western literature and art, and one of the most outstanding writers in the world. My collection of "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, by HarperCollins Publishers" contains 37 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems and other poems. This year marks the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth. From late April to the end of November, the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing, China will hold a tribute! Shakespeare’s series of performances lasted for more than 7 months, with 8 plays from different countries, languages, and themes successively staged. Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, a small town in Warwickshire, England. His father, John Shakespeare, was a wealthy merchant who ran a wool and leather business and served as chief alderman. When Shakespeare was young, he went to the grammar school in Stratford Town and received a good Latin education. When he was 18 years old, he married Anne Hathaway, a farm girl who was 8 years older than him. The two had three children. Around 1585, Shakespeare arrived in London and began his theater career. Before 1992, little was known about his experience in London. It is said that he managed horses in the theater and worked as a footman. By 1592, he was already famous as a playwright and actor. For the next 20 years, he worked as an actor, adapted scripts, and wrote scripts. He didn't seem to be very successful in acting, but his genius in writing plays was recognized. He had a successful career and became a shareholder of the famous Globe Theatre. He was also a partner in the Chamberlain's Theater Company, which was later renamed the King's Theater Company. He returned to Stratford from time to time for visits and bought a spacious home there. Around 1613, he left London and returned to his hometown to spend his old age. After his death, he was buried in Stratford Church, which has become a holy place for literary lovers. In 1584, Shakespeare's first play "The Comedy of Errors" was published. It belongs to the traditional "academic drama", that is, drama written and performed in middle schools and universities. The period from 1590 to 1613 was the golden age of Shakespeare's creation. Early tragedies and comedies include "Romeo and Juliet" and "The Merchant of Venice." "Romeo and Juliet" (1595-1596) is his earliest successful tragedy. The story is taken from Italy and takes place in Verona. This tragedy reveals the internal struggles in the ancient feudal society and the unreasonable relationships between people. The Merchant of Venice (1596-1597) is a popular comedy. The story is also taken from Italy and takes place in Venice. This comedy depicts various characters in society at that time and exposes human evils: greed, viciousness, racial prejudice, money worship and cruelty. The historical plays written by Shakespeare in his early years (1590-1599) include "King John" and "Richard II", "Henry IV" Part 2, "Henry V", "Henry VI" Part 1, Middle and Part 2 and "Richard III". The following series of plays are all about the struggle between the York family and the Lancaster family. By 1600, Shakespeare's creation seemed to be under a cloud. He began to observe life deeply and thoroughly, ruthlessly exposing the social contradictions of the Elizabethan era. From 1601 to 1605, he created four major tragedies: "Hamlet", "Othello", "King Lear" and "Macbeth". The main plot of "Hamlet" is the son Hamlet's revenge on his father's murderer uncle, which is taken from the Danish legend in the thirteenth century. Hamlet attempts to resolve the contradiction between the inner world and the outer world, but fails tragically. The script reveals human motivations and passions with great insight, revealing the terrible forces that destroy both the innocent and the guilty. All this makes Hamlet one of the greatest tragedies in the world. Shakespeare wrote sonnets according to the fashion of the time. During the Renaissance, most poets wrote sonnets, which were nothing more than pouring out their hearts to their sweetheart, complaining about her indifference and fickleness. But Shakespeare expressed his true feelings in many sonnets. He feels that his intelligence is superior, but he also feels that his status is low. Please read his 29th sonnet: Lamenting the bad luck that everyone despises, I cry alone because I am drifting in the world; I blame the sky for not hearing my call in vain, I look at my shadow and pity myself and curse the cruel fate; I wish that I have a bright future like others, or a handsome appearance or a crowd of friends, with this person's opportunity and that person's ability, but not satisfied with my own merits; blindly complaining about myself, self-destruction, and self-destruction, But when I think of you occasionally, I am like a skylark, flying from the gloomy earth to the heaven in the clouds at dawn and singing endlessly; recalling your feelings is like finding a treasure, I would rather be in trouble than to be king in the south. (Translated by Sun Liang) The following lines, taken from Sonnet 110, express his troubles as an actor and playwright: Alas, I did often run here and there, Dressing up as a spotted clown for everyone to see, Selling treasures against my will, Offending old friends for new ones. (Translated by Liang Zongdai) In addition, among Shakespeare's sonnets, the 18th, 30th, 55th, 65th, 66th and 106th are the most famous. From 1593 to 1594, when theaters were closed due to the plague, Shakespeare published two narrative poems with sexual themes: "Venus and Adonis" and "Lucrece", dedicating them to Henry Wraysley, Earl of Southampton. Figures in the history of British literature have received mixed reviews over hundreds of years, with mixed praise and criticism. There are only two people whose evaluations are always positive. One is Shakespeare, the tumbler; the other is Jane Austen (1775-1817), a female novelist who preceded the three Bronte sisters (Charlotte, Emily and Ann Bronte).