Shakespeare and Modern Culture
by Marjorie Garber
Published by Pantheon Books
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Reviewed by Beth Cummings
There is no doubt that Marjorie Garber is an expert Shakespearean scholar. Her previous book, Shakespeare After All, won both awards and the “Newsweek Magazine” designation as one of the five best non-fiction books in 2004. She is a Professor of English and American Literature and Language and Chair of the Department of Visual and Environmental Studies at Harvard University. Her newest work, Shakespeare and Modern Culture should garner similar accolades.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Each of the ten chapters deals with a different Shakespearean play and the way in which the plays have brought specific terminology and philosophical ideas into today’s culture. For example, the second chapter discusses ”’Romeo and Juliet,’ or the Untimeliness of Youth” by comparing elements of the play to the various movies that have been made and what they emphasize. One of the points she makes is that the word “romeo” is now a common noun with a well-known meaning instead of just an unusual name in a play. Garber’s knowledge of current cultural trends is equal to her knowledge of the play and critical writings about it. Each of the chapters demonstrates a wide breadth of both historical research and up-to-the-minute cultural acumen.
In this book Garber covers the following plays: “The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet, Coriolanus, Macbeth, Richard III, The Merchant of Venice, Othello, Henry V, Hamlet,” and “King Lear.” She has found ways to point out the relevance of each for our time and has done it in a way that is both informative and enjoyable to read.
For me, reading this book was like sitting down with an extremely well informed friend and listening to her expound in conversational language about a subject she obviously loves. I would definitely recommend the book to anyone who has an interest in American studies and literature – particularly in Shakespearean plays.
Armchair Interviews says: Perfect book for someone who loves to understand the works of Shakespeare better.