2011.Book #7.MACBETH

Of course I've read MacBeth before.  Several times before.  At one time in my life, I even had certain passages from the play memorized.  I wish I could say that I still do.  It's always interesting to me, though, to come back to a book/play and re-read it after not having anything to do with it for a while.  I've always said that MacBeth is one of Shakespeare's better plays and that it's definitely at the top of my list as one of my favorite Dramas of Shakespeare's.  It's difficult to forget not just the story, but the imagery within this play.

Lady MacBeth is one of the most amazing characters ever in a play.  If I ever got involved in the stage, there are two characters (women) I've always said I wanted to play:  Aunt Abby in Arsenic and Old Lace--I'd love to run around on my tip-toes and to pout as I'm being told it's WRONG to kill!!!--and Lady MacBeth--her scene where she's trying to rub the blood off her hands even though she's only imagining the blood is one that is absolutely unforgettable.  It's also pretty amazing when she does the whole "unsex me" soliloquy.  I admit that I would have a difficult time with that part.  In that scene, she's essentially selling her soul to the devil and, even though I would be acting, even acting something like that feels wrong to me!  (LOL.)  Besides, it's a given that she's grabbing her female parts as she's saying these things and that wouldn't be fun to do........I'm not going any further with that.....!!!!

Anyway, in re-reading MacBeth, I am reminded again of how amazing this story really is.  I've found it interesting that I'm underlining or highlighting something on every page of the play!  I'm having to FORCE myself to put my pen/highligher down and just read the story!  There are so many great lines and so much wonderful imagery and symbolism....and amazing details within this story!!!  The subtleties that I'm catching and seeing now that I'm an older adult and have read the play several times previously make me wonder how in the world I missed them when I was younger and read the play!

I remember listening to my professors at ECU talk about this play in a manner similar to the way I am now, but back then, I had the same look on my face as my students do now...."Huh?  What are you talking about?  I didn't get/see that in the story!" 

It is a wonderful reminder of why I don't mind reading books more than once.  I'm often asked why I don't just use the library when I read certain books; why do I have to buy them [from Barnes & Noble]?  Because I read my books more than once.  There are very few books in my collection (and it's quite a large collection--4 6-foot tall bookshelves + 2 of the bookshelves with 9 squares that's 4-feet tall AT HOME and then several bookshelves at school--yes, mostly full of textbooks for school, but still a lot of novels and such!--(back to what I was saying) that haven't been read more than once.  I don't read books several times because I don't have anything else to read.  I always have something new to read.  In fact, right now, I have about 5 books in line to be read (not for school) that are new books that I've never read before. 

But, just as I love to watch some movies over and over again and again, I love to read my books over and over and again and again.  And every time I read them again, I get something different from the story that I didn't get the first time.  Every time the book is an adventure that makes me love the story even more than when I read the book the first time!

MacBeth is certainly a story/play that everyone should read more than once.  Definitely, everyone should read it either in high school or college, but then everyone should read it again 20 years or so later.  We have our preconceived ideas of the story when we re-read it, but that doesn't take away from find new treasure within the story!!!!

One book I hope never to read again, after saying all that, is Old Yeller.  I still remember the ending of that book as if I read it just yesterday....and I was younger than Samuel is now (he's 9 and a half) when I first read it.  I remember that I finished the book on the bus ride home from school.  I was sobbing so hard as Travis grabbed the gun and ran outside to.....oh, wait a sec.....not everyone has read the book or seen the movie!!!!!  Anyway, I was sobbing so hard, I almost missed my bus stop.  Thank goodness I had an older brother who actually cared whether or not I got off the bus!  (Thank you, Kenny!)  There's no way I'll ever read that book again unless I just have to.  I've been keeping it away from Samuel.  He's so tender-hearted.  When we watched the movie Garfield and Odie went missing, he bawled like a baby!  When we went to see Toy Story 3, last year, his shirt was soaking wet from his tears!!!!  Maybe he's ready for it, but I don't know if I'm ready for him to read it yet....

Of course, my MWF British Lit class chose to read Frankenstein this semester and I'm SOOOO happy!  This is one book that NEVER gets old!  I'm having so much fun!!!  My poor students.....!!!!!!  What is adding to my excitement about it this semester is the fact that Young Frankenstein:  the Musical is showing in Charlotte this March, so I'm going to try to get a group together and go!!!  Yahoo!!!  How cool!



I know.  I'm weird.  And..........?????????????