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Apocalyptic Midsummer
Jun. 21st, 2009 10:14 amI recently read a book for review titled _Apocalyptic Shakespeare_, which is a collection of academic essays that examine the apocalyptic images and themes in Shakespeare's plays.
Various real-world incidents have gotten me to thinking what a seemingly apocalyptic time we seem to be living in: pandemics, North Korea rumored to be aiming nuclear weapons at Hawaii, and the usual riots, wars, and assassinations. The unemployment rate hasn't been this high since 1983 and, what with the other events, I'm having flashbacks to the Ronnie Raygun era, which leaves me longing for some good punk music to listen to.
Possibly the thing which seems most creepy to me lately however is the weather. Have you ever noticed that Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is preoccupied with weather, constantly returning to the unseasonably autumnal weather, the storms and the images of the natural world in revolt, but no one ever does that version of the play?
I feel that's the version of midsummer I'm currently living through.
Various real-world incidents have gotten me to thinking what a seemingly apocalyptic time we seem to be living in: pandemics, North Korea rumored to be aiming nuclear weapons at Hawaii, and the usual riots, wars, and assassinations. The unemployment rate hasn't been this high since 1983 and, what with the other events, I'm having flashbacks to the Ronnie Raygun era, which leaves me longing for some good punk music to listen to.
Possibly the thing which seems most creepy to me lately however is the weather. Have you ever noticed that Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is preoccupied with weather, constantly returning to the unseasonably autumnal weather, the storms and the images of the natural world in revolt, but no one ever does that version of the play?
I feel that's the version of midsummer I'm currently living through.
