Journal 14
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 02/02/2010 - 16:38
I think that in directing the play, the "offensive parts" should be left in. They are not in the play to demean groups of people, but as a character study. No matter who the audience is, yes, anti-semitism occurs, yes, people are gay, yes, racism exists, and that is just as true today as when Shakespeare wrote the play.
Not including these things in the play doesn't make them go away, and so it is better to provide an accurate portrayal of the characters and society.
You said it far better than I could ever have!
I know that this is a small response, however there isn't too much more that I can add to your journal other than that I completely agree with you, in every way. To change Shakespeare's work in any way would erase any meaning to his play simply because it deprives us, as a society, from the opportunity of understanding our own biases and fears, and our capability of addressing and examining them. Veronica Sparks
"Offensive Part"
I definitely agree that these ideas are just as relevant today as in Shakespeare's time and don't deserve to be left out. We would not being doing justice to this play to leave out these whole character traits just for the sake of a few people who don't like to hear the truth.
I agree...
I think that the play would suffer greatly if these so called "offensive parts" were to be left out. If these traits were to be taken out of the play, the characters would be rather boring. It would not be worth going to if it is made to appease close-minded people.