This is one of five (5) adaptations of Shakespeare's plays, the others of which are Macbeth, Hamlet, King Lear, and Othello, completed in that order following Romeo and Juliet. I iterate that these are not attempts to replace the brilliance of the bard but to complement what cannot be replicated. The process started many years ago in the middle ages of my teaching career. My students asked why Shakespeare did not write his plays in English, to which I responded and affirmed that he did. To resolve the subsequent problem of their not understanding the ENGLISH in which the plays were written, I endeavored to rewrite them in such a way that the meaning was clear while not sacrificing, where possible, the rhyme, rhythm, and reason of the original text. It has not been tedious work but rather an act of love of language and its implications that sparked the initial flame. My deepest appreciation and thanks must be offered to Richard Armour whose books I read and reread (and still read for enjoyment) for their unique and ubiquitous humor, specifically, Twisted Tales from Shakespeare, English Lit Relit, and A Short History of English Literature . . . . By no means do these labors of love purport to be authoritative references or sources of irrefutable pedagogy. They are meant to be read for enjoyment as well as for informational responsibility, that is, they are meant to reveal what one person, with the help of others, believes these hallowed words to mean. If by reading these lines, you better understand what was originally written nearly five centuries ago, then my efforts may be deemed a success. If not, there are other options out there in the literary world, ones with which I hope not ever to compete: No Fear Shakespeare (any title), and Sparks Notes versions (again, any title), which have modernized interpretations of the texts. If my texts bring tears, it is unintentional; if they bring smiles, then I smile, too, for that is one of the goals. Read and enjoy.
