Shakespeare, a Postmodern Analysis. Qualities of Good Christian Plays
The Bard and dramatist born in Stratford upon Avon continue to be a towering figure in the lessons of schools in the colonized continents of Asia and Africa. In this essay, I would like to decolonize the texts of Shakespeare. Decolonization would proceed along the grounds politics, society and culture, psychoanalysis, gender roles and post-structural deconstruction and also aesthetic appreciation.
What would be the Politics of Shakespearean drama? Bigg Boss 16 Today Episode Shakespeare supported an autocratic monarchic regime. Courtly life is politicized as regimental rule and supported as an ideal form of government. Yes in Shakespeare’s time monarchy was the prevalent regime. Royalty was a narcissistic fetish brought into eloquent depiction for pleasing mass consumerism. Let’s take the play of Julius Caesar. The imperialism of Caesar is relegated to the background and Caesar is portrayed as an idealistic entity. Shakespeare is crafty when he manipulates the politics of assassination as ideal for the perpetrators as well as the opponents. The politics of Shakespearean drama revolves around colonization. Such a kind of conceived production, no doubt is the trait of an inherent genius. In the Tempest the ideal of monarchy in its denouement is fertilized with royal soil of a utopia.
How can we analyze Shakespearean drama from the point Bigg Boss 16 Today Episode of view of Society and Culture? It’s true that Shakespearean drama is a theater for the culture of the masses. Courtly intrigues dominate the underpinnings of his plays. Romance a melancholic symptom becomes obtained as an ideal in his comedies. Shakespearean drama depicts the culture of the bourgeoisie. Nobility is given a higher vein and its culture is interpreted as elegant, sophisticated and the ritualistic. Courtly customs and manners dominate the plays and become addictive symptoms for the proletariat. Culture is colonized as the monarch as the noble as the queen.
Psychoanalyzing Shakespearean dramas is an intellectual task. I would like to take the character of Shylock the Jew who is portrayed as the racial other or the inferior. Class and race become vicious dissecting tools in probing the mind of the foreigner or the cultural other. Hamlet is an Oedipal Other, a narcissistic melancholic who is unable to fulfill the role of an avenger. Witch Sycorax is a pathologically deflated feminist and questions Shakespeare’s integrity in portraying women.
A good Christian play, apart from the obvious theme and message, needs to have certain other qualities to entice the audience and arouse interest in them. Play scripts shouldn’t be monotonous or tinged in monochrome. Audience appreciates different shades that remind them of their everyday life and its struggles and dilemmas. There are a few characteristic traits that connect all good Christian plays, written for churches, theaters and school groups.
Christian drama scripts usually have family values at their core. Whether it is the relation between husband and wife or parents and children, there are strong family ties at the heart of the play. There are drama scripts that can be used to perform even at community theaters where the audience appreciates sound family values and emotions.
It is not always possible for play scripts to satisfy everyone. One size doesn’t fit all. Good Christian plays on the contrary are tailor-made towards a target audience and are written to carry the message to its specific audiences. That is why certain drama scripts cater to gender restrictions, age restrictions and restrictions of cast, subjects touched or even length. Christian plays are not necessarily drenched only in family or emotional drama. There is a touch of mystery, drama and comedy as well to keep the audiences engrossed through the 60 – 90 minutes that it usually lasts for.
This is the defining aspect of Christian plays. The playwrights have a thorough understanding of Christian principles and try to elucidate it through the challenges faced by the characters and the choices they take. The script is highlighted by the tough situations and problems faced by the characters and how they wade through it without really breaching their Christian principles. If anything, the play scripts focus on how the best of people struggle in life and how they can still come out with flying colors without really sacrificing their principles. A very vital attribute of the script also lies in how dear ones offer strong support and courage to the individuals to help them see through the tough situation.
Given that the drama scripts are staged generally during holidays, a lot of scripts also cover Easter and Christmas or use Christian heroes and the story of their faith. A very recurrent theme in Christian plays is history. Apart from historical stories like that of Abigail Adams, there are Biblical plays too, like the story of Esther. These are perfect for dinner theaters organized during Christmas festivals or holidays. Short stories, scripts on shepherds and the three Magi, fantasy stories woven with Christian characters, etc. are also commonly on offer.
The Bard and dramatist born in Stratford upon Avon continue to be a towering figure in the lessons of schools in the colonized continents of Asia and Africa. In this essay, I would like to decolonize the texts of Shakespeare. Decolonization would proceed along the grounds politics, society and culture, psychoanalysis, gender roles and post-structural…