Jonson's "To the Memory of My Beloved, The Author, Mr. William Shakespeare, and What He Hath Left Us"
Zeus, Apollo, Hermes, Shakespeare. Not often is the Bard included in a list of mythological gods. In fact, he is rarely thought of in connection with Greek and Roman mythology at all. Today, Shakespeare is hailed as one of the great playwrights of the English language, and is perhaps the most prominent, most studied of the English playwrights. But this was not the case in 1623, when Ben Jonson wrote his poem, “To the Memory of My Beloved, The Author, Mr. William Shakespeare, and What He Hath Left Us.” Shakespeare died in 1616, and despite his popularity as a playwright of his day, he was hardly a household name, and had certainly not achieved the position of admiration which he holds today. Jonson’s poem is one of the first attempts to take Shakespeare beyond merely a popular playwright. His respect and esteem for the Bard is made plain in the poem, but Jonson has written much more than just a eulogy for his deceased friend. Through the style of his poem, and the various comparisons and the images used, Jonson attempts to immortalize Shakespeare, mythologizing him and bestowing upon him a god-like status.
Jonson was obviously close friends with Shakespeare. He had so much respect for Shakespeare’s talent that he feels grossly inadequate in praising him, and he states that “no man or muse can praise [Shakespeare] too much” (l. 4). Praise is clearly the purpose of this poem, however, and despite his professed inadequacy, Jonson intends to try his hand at extolling the great writer and giving him the recognition which he says all men can agree that Shakespeare deserves. He doesn’t mean to do this in...
... middle of paper ...
... Contrary to some opinions, Jonson feels Shakespeare’s talent is remarkable, so remarkable that it deserves to be remembered on the highest level possible, that of the gods.
Shakespeare’s flight and immortalization as a constellation is somewhat bittersweet, for although it awards Shakespeare the recognition Jonson feels he deserves, Jonson laments the absence of Shakespeare’s inspiring talent, saying “since thy flight from hence, hath mourned like night, / And despairs the day but for thy volume’s light” (l. 79-80). Jonson recognizes agelessness in Shakespeare’s writings that he feels is on the same level as the Greek and Roman myths which have lasted for centuries. It is on this recognition that he bases his argument for Shakespeare’s status as a god. Jonson sums up this argument in line 43 of his poem. Shakespeare is “not of an age, but for all time”.
Shakespeare, William, Stephen Greenblatt, Walter Cohen, Jean E. Howard, Katharine Eisaman Maus, and Andrew Gurr. The Norton Shakespeare. Second ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 1997. Print.
William Shakespeare has become landmark in English literature. One must be familiar with the early days of English literature in order to comprehend the foundation of much of more modern literature’s basis. Shakespeare’s modern influence is still seen clearly in many ways. The success of Shakespeare’s works helped to set the example for the development of modern dramas and plays. He is also acknowledged for being one of the first writers to use any modern prose in his writings.
Shakespeare, William. "Shakespeare Study Guides - Spark Notes - Spark Notes: Today's ...." spark notes. John Heminges, Henry Condell, 1 Jan. 2014. Web. . .
Dutton, R., & Howard, J.E. (2003). A Companion to Shakespeare’s Works.(p. 9) Maiden, MA: Blackwell Pub.
William Shakespeare’s sonnets are considered to be some of the most beautiful poems in English literature. Although little is known about the poet, many seem to put their focus on Shakespeare’s inner life; wondering why he wrote the things he did. William Shakespeare is mostly known for his plays; however, he did accomplish a lot in poetry. William Shakespeare was powerful with his words, and knew how to express things in great depth. Why or who he wrote about is still a mystery. Scholars only know so much about his life, and are still trying to put the unknown pieces together.
...ays him. He tricks himself into believing that he and his friend are such kindred spirits that they are truly one in mind, body and spirit, when in fact, they are not. The final line of the sonnet begins with an initial spondee, "Sweet flattery" (14) in which Shakespeare himself is admitting how sweet delusion really is, and ends in a terminal spondee, "me alone" (14) showing that the young man and Shakespeare were really never more than acquaintances that loved the same woman.] Through a figment of his imagination, he developed a mythical relationship with the young man when in fact, the only really loving relationship he had was with his own pretentious subconscious.
Although William Shakespeare is considered to be one of the most revered and well-renowned authors of all time, controversy surrounds the belief that he actually produced his own literary works. Some rumors even go so far as to question the reality of such a one, William Shakespeare, brought on by paralleling the quality of his pieces with his personal background and education. With such farfetched allegations, it persuaded others to peek into the person we all are taught to learn as “Shakespeare”, but who is actually the person behind these genius works of literary promise and enlightenment? To some, Shakespeare is as much accredited to his works as frequently as you see his name placed. To others, Shakespeare is a complex enigma into which we the people are supposed to unravel; the true author behind a falsely-given pseudonym. The debate pertaining to the true authorship of William Shakespeare’s works are still questioned in today’s society.
“Shakespeare Really Was that Talented” States News service 1 Nov. 2011. Expanded Academic ASAP. Web 31 Oct. 2013.
The impeccable style and craft of Shakespeare’s writing has always been looked upon with great respect, and it continues to serve as an inspiration to writers and thinkers today even as it did when it was being first performed in London. Shakespeare’s modern audience, however, is far less diverse than the one for which he originally wrote. Due to the antiquity of his language, Shakespeare’s modern readership consists mostly of students and intellectuals, whereas in Shakespeare’s own time, his plays were performed in playhouses packed with everyone from royalty to peasants. Because of this, Shakespeare was forced to write on many different levels, the most sophisticated of which appealed to his more elite audience members, while the more straightforward and often more crude of which appealed to his less educated viewers, and the most universal of which still appeals to us.
James, D.G. (Excerpt from a series of lectures delivered in 1965 at University College, London.) The Shakespeare Criticism Volume 8. Gale Research Inc., Detroit. 1989: 429-434.
Scott, Mark W. Shakespearean Criticism: Volume 8, Excerpts from the Criticism of William Shakespeare's Plays and Poetry, from the First Published Appraisals to Current Evaluations. Detroit, MI: Gale Research, 1987. Print.
Shakespeare Studies 11 (1978): 53-76. MLA International Bibliography. Web. The Web. The Web.
After overcoming the troubles of becoming an actor and a playwright, William Shakespeare has become well renowned. His works reach to people all around the world despite the language barriers and different races and cultures. For centuries, the popularity of his work...
Print. Honan, Park. Shakespeare: A Life. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. Print.
William Shakespeare’s life has brought much curiosity to many. This is natural as he is considered to be the greatest figure of English Literature. William Shakespeare, in terms of his life and work, is the most written-about author in the history of Western civilization. His works include 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and 2 epic narrative poems, the First of which was published after his death in 1623 by two of Shakespeare's acting companions, John Heminges and Henry Condell. Since then, the works of Shakespeare have been studied, analyzed, and enjoyed as some of the finest work of art in the English language.