Shakespeare is an important literary canon in literature. Not only do literature scholars and researchers know him, everyone is aware of his name. do literature students or researchers know about him, everyone knows about him. His works created great sensations after his death.
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India and Shakespeare
In India, Shakespeare is famous for his plot structure and theme. He has offered a lot of content to the current cinema. His works emotionally attract the audience. Not only in his period, but he also has an audience and readers from different generations. During his age, the groundlings play an important role. Groundlings are the people who occupy the front row. They are the front audience, who watch the drama irrespective of luxury.
Everywhere
Yet Shakespeare is everywhere in contemporary culture. His presence is not confined to the ‘official’ locations of classrooms, universities and theatres. Popular mass media such as cinema, television, tabloid journalism, computer games, pop music, comics and advertisements celebrate him. Shakespeare’s face sells products and is familiar to millions. Many of whom may never have read or seen his work. recognize him.
Shakespeare’s plays are sympathetic. This makes the current generation watch the adapted versions of his work. They have often inspired works of Shakespeare on the huge screen. For example, in Polladhavan (a Tamil movie), the scene where Ravi stabs Selvam shadows a Julius Caesar’, written by Shakespeare.
Did Shakespeare know India?
Many countries know his name and work now. Did he know a place called India or Asia existed in the world? The answer is “Yes, he knows.” He knows that India existed. He also uses it in a few plays. Shakespeare belongs to the Elizabethan age. That age is the age of discoveries and Voyages. Being Queen’s favourite, Shakespeare might have received vague ideas about the whereabouts of Voyage and exploration details.
Shakespeare has used names of a few places like Africa or Asia to grasp the audience’s attention. In ‘Antony and Cleopatra’, he talks about Africa and Egypt. In dialogue, he uses the name, ‘India’. He uses it as a symbol of gold, wealth and sunshine. Trade has been an important part of India. Countries explored and later exploited for the same. Portuguese came to India from the 13th century to the 14th century. Later England set up their factories and began its trade. India became the Centre of agriculture – grains and spices, Jewelry – Gold, medicine plants.
Shakespeare denotes India as a nation of ‘Wealth’
- In the play, King Henry VI – Part 3, King says that his crown is very much decorated with diamonds, along with precious stones from India.
- In the play, Merchant of Venice, Bassanio refers to India as a trade centre point.
- In the play, Twelfth Night’ Shakespeare compares Olivia’s quality to Indian gold. These plays are part of Shakespeare’s Final Stage’ Eventually, they fall around the year 1600
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