Category Archives: Shakespeare on Sex & Gender Roles

All Shakespeare entries on sex are PG-13. They are a bit like bikinis – what they reveal is suggestive, what they conceive is vital

Shakespeare on Apologies from a Charming Woman

“Thou mak’st faults graces that to thee resort. As on the finger of a throned queen, The basest jewel will be well esteemed.” (Sonnet 96) Comment. Answer with these lines after whatever incident or occurrence that caused her to say ‘excuse me’. And given that flattery is the infantry of negotiations (Oscar Wilde), you have Read More

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Shakespeare, Antony, the Roman Empire and the American Empire

“Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch Of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space.” (Antony and Cleopatra, act 1, sc. 1) Comment. When assessing empires it pays to compare the Roman with the American Empire. The Roman Empire subdued other nations, in particular Greece. But the Romans had almost a reverential Read More

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Another St. Valentine, another Shakespearean Compliment

“The field’s chief flower, sweet above compare, Stain to all nymphs… More white and red than doves or roses are” (Venus and Adonis) As a curiosity item, here is a letter from an illustrious and historical character to his Valentine of the time – when the Internet was the stuff of improbable miracles or of Read More

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Shakespeare and Original Ideas for St. Valentine

“Verona’s summer hath not such a flower” (Romeo and Juliet, act 1, sc. 3) Comment.  According to Oscar Wilde, “Women are never disarmed by compliments. Men always are and that is the difference between the sexes.” Be it as it may, the hyper-commercial festivities of St. Valentine need not deter you (us) from extracting a Read More

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Shakespeare on Love, Money and Valentine’s Day

“’t is deepest winter in Lord Timon’s purse; That is, one may reach deep enough, and yet Find little”. (Timon of Athens, act 3, sc. 4) Comment.  Admitting straitsness of means does not imply necessarily a loss in your romantic credit rating. The key is to admit to the condition but elegantly. This applies especially Read More

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Shakespeare and Eliminating the High Cost of Education

“Study is like the heaven’s glorious sun That will not be deep-search’d with saucy looks… Small have continual plodders ever won Save base authority from others’ books” (Love Labour’s Lost, act 1, sc. 1) Comment. Biron’s ambivalence about the value of education may be kept in mind by those young men (and especially ladies), eager Read More

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Shakespeare, Love Quotes for him, Love Quotes for her (more to come)

“Here comes the countess: now heaven walks on earth.” (Twelfth Night, act 5, sc. 1) Comments. We must, we should, we have to change the subject of political elections. If not else, in an attempt to forget that millions of well-intended citizens will go to vote in the totally unsupported belief that their vote will Read More

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Shakespeare on Age and Aging Romeos

“… One that is well-nigh worn to pieces with age to show himself a young gallant.” (Merry Wives of Windsor, act 2, sc. 1) Comments.  The character of the aging Romeo has been the subject and the butt of a large number of novels, plays and comedies, in the major European languages and (probably) in Read More

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Shakespeare on Love at First Sight, take 4

“O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first, Methought she purged the air of pestilence! That instant was I turn’d into a hart; And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds, E’er since pursue me.” (Twelfth Night, act 1, sc. 1) Comments. A curious and original air-purifying effect of love at first sight. There are Read More

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Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra and a Romantic Greeting Liable to Misinterpretation

“…He’s speaking now, Or murmuring ‘Where’s my serpent of old Nile?’ (Antony and Cleopatra act 1, sc. 5) Comments.  Should you greet your girlfriend or significant other with “Where is my serpent of the Nile?” – or of the Potomac, the Missouri, Mississippi, Colorado river or equivalent – you should ensure that the said lady Read More

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