Note: this was originally posted to Fisch and Chips on October 8, 2013. A few changes, mostly grammatical, have been made.
It’s been nearly two days since my previous nervous post, and, fortunately, things seem to be looking up for me. I’ve already turned in my OIE assignments, and I’m all but done with my Shakespeare paper. Even my history and economics papers don’t seem so terrifying. At this rate, I just might be able to sightsee this weekend!…or maybe that’s just wishful thinking on my part…
Anyhoo, I was in for a real treat last night: seeing my favorite Shakespeare play, The Tragedy of Macbeth, at the Globe! For those unfamiliar with Macbeth, it’s a dark, short play involving witches, a ghost, hallucinations, sleepwalking, a drunken porter, and a whole lot of murder. It’s my favorite Shakespeare play because: 1) it has incredibly rich imagery in almost every scene, 2) it has an intriguing history of being political propaganda for King James I of England, and 3) it was the first Shakespeare play that I ever read, all the way back in high school, where I first learned of the Globe…which, I would like to remind you, is where I was. This production was highly entertaining, employed great acting, and as an added bonus, featured Billy Boyd (who played Peregrin Took in the Lord of the Rings movies) playing Banquo. All in all, another wonderful excursion to the theater!
As this week continues, I certainly have a fair amount to be nervous about. Even though they may seem doable, my papers are certainly going to take quite a bit of time and effort. Furthermore, I have obligations on Wednesday and Friday, limiting my window of opportunity for working. As a result, I may have to work late into the nights of the coming weekend, forcing me to concentrate like never before and testing my paper-writing skills like never before.
However, none of that matters in the big picture because: I. Saw. MACBETH. AT. THE F***ING GLOBE!!!
Seriously, I don’t know how I’m going to top that for a while! And so, like Macbeth preparing for his final duel, I must set about completing my schoolwork; unsure of the conclusion, but confident in action.
Lay on, Macduff;
And damned be him that first cries, “Hold, enough!”
Present observations:
In a year as fantastic as 2013, where I studied abroad, embarked on a host of adventures, and became a more independent adult, seeing Macbeth at the Globe remains the arguable highlight of the whole year. The whole experience really was that amazing, and that's genuine glee in the photo above. My classmates and I saw six Shakespeare plays (and The Magic Flute) over the course of the semester, and most of us agreed that this was the best show of the semester. It's experiences like this (things you love at culturally significant places) that make studying abroad all the sweeter.
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