One of the main reasons for the unfortunate continued resistance to Shakespeare’s works by some Guyanese readers might be the difficulty of the language he uses. The important thing to remember when dealing with the language in Elizabethan plays, such as those written by Shakespeare, is that the plays themselves are written in English, albeit an archaic

form of it. Therefore, the language of Shakespeare’s time might be somewhat incomprehensible when read on its own, but can become entirely comprehensible when read alongside the explanatory notes that often accompany the newer editions of Shakespeare’s plays. It is important not to be daunted by the language. If the reader is scared away by that then the reader is only denying him/herself the chance to experience some of the finest tales in the history of literature.
Take Macbeth, for example. Inspired by real historical sources, it is one of Shakespeare’s most widely staged plays. This is no doubt due to its ability to entertain audiences with its devious characters and tragic plot containing betrayal, murder, witches, war, prophecies, sexual puns, etc. It is also perfect for the reader who is new to Shakespeare, as it is one of his shortest plays and there are not too many subplots within the play so as to make it too complicated.
In the play, Macbeth – the hero or the anti-hero, depending on how you look at it – is a thane (a Scottish nobleman) and warrior who is greatly trusted and admired by the King of Scotland, Duncan. After a battle, Macbeth is returning home with his friend Banquo when they come upon three witches who prophesy that one day Macbeth will be King of Scotland and that Banquo’s descendants will be kings, although Banquo himself will not. What follows is Macbeth’s ambition, rising up like a coiled serpent, and slithering through the entire play, as Macbeth bends to his own lust for power and murders Duncan in a bid to bring to life the witches’ prophesy that he would become king.
Also aiding Macbeth in his schemes, and also as ambitious as Macbeth himself, is his wife, Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is a storm of a woman and is one of the most famous characters Shakespeare created. She has been played by many generations of actresses, from Judi Dench on stage, to Tabu in a Bollywood adaptation of Macbeth, to Marion Cotillard in a fabulous 2015 film adaptation. Lady Macbeth is the kind of role actresses fight each other to play. She has a remarkably strong presence in the play, spurring on the murderous thoughts of her husband, forcing him to act by questioning his masculinity, guiding him in the murder of King Duncan and then, ultimately, dooming herself to madness and suicide brought on by the guilt of everything she has done.
Aside from the fascinating plot, characters and the way the play lends itself to literary analysis, I am also in love with Shakespeare’s beauteous use of poetic language. When he writes about life: “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, / That Struts and frets his hour upon the stage / And then is heard no more. It is a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing”, you can’t help but immediately stopping everything and just marveling at the brilliance of his words.
This year commemorates four hundred years since the death of William Shakespeare, the greatest playwright who ever lived.