What do you visualise when you read Shakespeare?

Question

I know when you read a novel it's like a movie going on in your head, but what when you read Shakespeare? Is it like a movie, a modern production, an Elizabethan production, or what?

Answer 1

In terms of visualizing the characters, their dress etc, it never has occurred to me! I guess I don't work in long wide shots in my head! What I do is 'feel' each specific image created by the language and it creates an emotional response. (Sounds all a bit freaky/pretentious I know but it's true!)
For example:
'I have cause and smile at no man's jests, eat when I have stomach and wait for no man's leisure, sleep when I am drowsy and tend on no man's business, laugh when I am merry and claw no man in his humour.' ( Much Ado) Makes me a bit aggravated and frustrated.
'Sir, believe this,I had rather give my body than my soul.' (Measure for Measure) Quite bizarrely makes me feel stern and pious!

When characters, like Lear, go 'fruit loop' I picture the image they are raging about rather than the individual's actions whilst doing it; 'Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow!'

NB None of this is done intentionally, it just happens.

Thanks for this question: it's something I've never thought about. I think I need to go into therapy! It's no wonder I don't tend to read the tragedies...I was an emotional wreck after reading Richard the Third!

Answer 2

It depends on the story. When hamlet says "you are a sponge" to his sponger friends, it makes me think of one of my old professors who sat around doing nothing all day.

With Merchant of Venice, I really felt bad for the Merchant, and I couldn't really visualize the story as it appeared. I just kept on making up my own version in my head.

With some of the sword fights, I try to imagine action that it doesn't say.

Altogether, it's almost a dream like state. More modern than Elizabethan, and sometimes timeless fantasty.

But sometimes I try to imagine the era and location of the story rather than the play. I love Orson Well's Macbeth, the atmosphere. But not the costumes.
Unless of course I'm rehearsing to play one of the characters, then I try to feel what they do.

I never really read novels though, but I imagine it would be the same type of thing if I did. If I read it thinking "this is Shakespeare" I get bored. I just read it like any other play.

Answer 3

I visualise it as a stage setting, "Midsummer's Nights Dream"
very colourful and misty.

"King Henry 1V" sepia.

The best bit is to come, in "Coriolanus" part of the setting, is a street in Rome, then changing scene, to a field of battle.
I can visualise him being carried off at the end of the play, in half the time, cutting out some of the chat! Yeah, you' ve guessed,
"Coriolanus," not my favourite...

Regards Cassandra

Answer 4

I Imagine it in the globe theatre, where Shakespeare's plays used to be performed. I can imagine Midsummer night's dream is the easiest to visualise.

Answer 5

Next to the sleeping place i always put a Shakespeare book.

Answer 6

I try to keep to the historical setting but give little thought to costumes and such.
What i like to do is read the play first, then watch a production/film of the play then read the text again.
I find this really rewarding and seem to improve both on my first reading and the film etc..

Answer 7

A very luscious production. Like a film, but on a stage. Where anything can happen, special effects wise. But always on a stage.

Answer 8

despair/hopelessness/hatred of Elizabethan playwrights

Answer 9

a skull

Answer 10

men in tights