The Original Shakespeare Blog

Over nearly two decades, the Shakespeare blog known as Shakespeare Geek has produced over three thousand posts celebrating everything Shakespeare. Of course, we have the expected analysis of the plays and sonnets as well as book and product reviews and pop culture references. But we’ve also been busy creating original Shakespeare jokes, games, and educational material. We’re here to prove that Shakespeare makes life better.

The Original Shakespeare Blog

In 2005 I went looking for a place online where I could talk about all things Shakespeare. Maybe I saw a reference in a movie, or heard a funny joke. Or maybe I had a question, or an interesting interpretation of a scene that I wanted to share. At the time, I couldn’t find that place. So I created it here.

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Recent Posts

  • I asked an AI what happens to Caliban after the events of The Tempest. While it's not exactly Shakespeare, I'm still pretty impressed by its first effort.
  • A significant portion of my traffic – I’m talking strong double digits here – is related to my collection of Not By Shakespeare posts. Once upon a time, I started collecting those social media posts that you see all the time with quotes like “When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled […]
  • Hamlet is typically seen as a study of father/son dynamics. You’ve got Hamlet avenging his father, Laertes/Polonius, Fortinbras, and his father. However, my interpretation of the play has always been more concerned with his relationship with his mother. “It’s oft been my contention that was ultimately spurs Hamlet to action is the death of his […]
  • If every "boy and girl can't be together" story is Romeo and Juliet and every "son avenges the father" story is Hamlet, then I contend that we can go through old movies and make our own leaps to Shakespearean conclusions.
  • This is a fun one. I asked ChatGPT to create a word search using words Shakespeare invented. Like most queries, no matter how convoluted or unusual, it happily says, “Sure! I can do that.” It even corrected my assumption, saying “credited with inventing” rather than “invented.” Nice. Here’s what it gave me: T Y O […]
  • Most of the following isn’t going to make sense unless you’re caught up on part one! The big day arrived! I’d chosen the 8 am spot, first thing in the morning. It dawns on me immediately that I have not anticipated the layout of the room I’d assumed rows of desks. Nope. More like an […]
  • A funny thing happened a few months ago. A scary, exciting thing. My two oldest are off to college now, and my third is heading into his final years of high school. His English teacher wrote to me, inviting me to come to speak in her class. Since all three of my kids went through […]

Shakespeare Makes Life Better

The expression “Shakespeare makes life better” refers to the enduring popularity and relevance of William Shakespeare’s plays and poetry. Despite being written over 400 years ago, Shakespeare’s works continue to captivate audiences around the world with their timeless themes of love, power, ambition, and morality. His characters, such as Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Lady Macbeth, are iconic and have become part of the cultural lexicon.

Shakespeare’s plays are not just entertainment, but also offer insight into the human condition, providing commentary on social and political issues that remain relevant today. They have been adapted and reinterpreted in countless ways, from film adaptations to modern retellings, demonstrating the universality of his work.

Moreover, Shakespeare’s language and poetry are celebrated for their beauty, complexity, and versatility. His mastery of language and the human psyche have influenced countless writers and artists throughout history.

Overall, Shakespeare’s works continue to enrich our lives and offer us new perspectives on the world around us, making us laugh, cry, and think deeply about our own lives and experiences.