Macbeth: Shakespeare Appreciated: (Unabridged, Dramatised, Commentary Options)
Category: Books,Arts & Photography,Performing Arts,Theater
Macbeth: Shakespeare Appreciated: (Unabridged, Dramatised, Commentary Options) Details
Experience Macbeth as a powerful full-cast drama with entertaining and enlightening commentary that explains what's what and who's who as the plot unfolds. To help you get the most out of Shakespeare, the narrator offers historical insights and background information, so you can enjoy the jokes, appreciate the references, and get a real sense of Shakespeare's world. This unabridged drama is also presented without commentary. If school turned you off Shakespeare, find out what you've been missing all these years with this beautifully crafted audio presentation. From the creators of SmartPass audio education study guides, voted third in a national poll to find the UK's favourite audiobook (2008). Winners of 3 Spoken Word Awards for Best Drama (2004), Best Original Audio and Best Publishing Initiative (2005).
Reviews
As a tiny child I loved reading books and poems. Then I went to school. Don't get me wrong. I love reading. I can consume a paperback novel in an evening. I HATED English class. We were force fed books in obscure older English dialect. These concerned topics that really werent fodder for young children. Teachers had small children, too young to be in their first real romantic relationship, reading for example about the psychological dynamics of adultery. It wasn't revelant to us at that age, and was too abstract for developmental level. Literature had to be scowered for hidden symbolic meaning, which was a guessing game as to what the teacher would LIKE for concrete objects to symbolize depending on her personal biases. The rules of that search changed each year as we changed teachers. As odious as all that was...then there followed an essay, a public speaking assignment, AND a test. All of which, as you remember, are dismally unpopular with children. If teachers wanted us all to HATE English literature, they would have gone about it in EXACTLY that way. Still there is a curiousity about Shakesphere. What is all the hype about? People rave about that guy. If it was ONLY English teachers saying this I would run far far away from this material. And yet...there are actual nonEnglish teacher types that are saying this. Thus I make a hesitant forray back into the deep dark forest that is "classical" literature. What is the family dynamic like if a husband and wife are murders? Once you have murdered, now what? Toss into this mix witches, a ghost, battles, friendship, betrayal, guilt, jealousy, love, hate, and a good bit of insanity, and you have this story. If your an English teacher looking for a tedious set of commentaries with which to prod your next class into a snore fest, don't look here. This set is for beginners to Shakesphere...that managed to ditch their English classes whenever possible. If your already fluent in old English please go away. If you want a friend who typically asks..."why are we learning THIS stuff?" to tell you whats going on, then give this program a listen. The narrator explains about Shakesphere and the time the play was written. The actors talk using Shakesperes original words. When there is a pause in the dialog, the narrator explains in modern English what just occured and the meaning of Old English words and terms uesd. The narrator also tells the stage directions. It makes sense for the narrator to say "the kings son walks up and puts his arm around a soldier...and then the kings son speaks". Then when you hear the actors voice, you understand who is talking and the context. I have listened to the audio version of the Cliff's notes. That summarizes the plot in modern English. At some point, if the desire is there to actually read the book, the reader has to get used to the original words. This program assists in that transition. My understanding is that later in the program there is a version with NO commentary so that the play may be heard without interruption. Bear this in mind when buying study aids. Hold off on buying a full recording of the play with NO commentary until after you listen to this entire program. It may be ALL that you need. Well of course you at some point want a written copy of the play...but you can get a copy of the Kindle version of the ENTIRE works of Shakesphere for not much money. I havent completed listening to the program yet. I started listening to it and found myself ENJOYING Shakesphere and the narrator / teacher of this program. I guessed that others looking for a possible way to begin studying Macbeth would want to know this program is out there, so I tromped over to my computer and began writing this review. Dont miss this one. Oh about every few years, say on Haloween, you may want to relisten to this one with witches, a ghost, murders, and people going insane.If a problem occured and somehow I lost this file, I would purchase it again if that were necessary. Amazon / Audible allows unlimited redownloads as the need arrises for these audio files. The sound level COULD be MUCH louder. I have the kindle at MAXIMAL volume and it comes out at normal volume. This is fine unless the microwave or dishwasher are running, then its TOO SOFT. My hearing tests out as normal so its not me. I do note this as a common problem in MANY recorded books. Those that record books underestimate JUST how inadequate sound amplification is on laptops, kindles, and ipods.You should be able to listen to this with NO problem, but do NOT expect to do so if a noisy appliance is running in the background. Should teenagers and children listen to this set? IF your child is forced to read this for a class then complain to the school to pick topics more age appropriate. The content is violent. Beware that many of the concepts in this material are very abstract for children and your guidance WILL be necessary to explain things like marital problems, political envy, death, disloyalty, and superstition. The imagry of witches, ghosts, and murder can be DISTURBING to your child. If your late teen MUST read this story, they will find this audio enjoyable. Even so, YOU as a parent / guardian are responsible for assisting your child through the parts that are disturbing on an emotional level. Remember that young ladies were barred by law from acting in Shakesphere plays. The playes and the crowds were NOT considered appropriate for the "whole family" even in Shakespheres time. Bear that in mind when you decide on this material for your child. I well realize that MOST people allow their younger teens to listen to and watch far worse material regarding adult topics. This doesnt make it advisable. I am listening to this as an adult. The narrator to the audio program does an excellent job of simplifying things, without being insulting to adult listeners.If you have read this far, and are an ADULT, just go on and BUY the audio. You will enjoy it. If your a late teen and must study this for a class, buy the material and listen to it with your parent or guardian. If you are a younger child, PLEASE wait on this material. Ask your librarian for other suggestions. Macbeth will still be there for you when you get older. Ask the librarian for books about children or animals for example.I rate this content R for violence, not overly graphic but disturbing to childrenwar, murder of two kings, two guards, a best friend, a wife and children, suicidemurder of victims in their home, and one while in bed (alone)no nudity, or sex scenes,multiple references to male and female body parts, and the sexual act,references to sexual impotence, references to prostitutessupernatural references, ghost, witches, spells cast to harm others,content too abstract for children.As an adult you have been exposed to these problems before in other literature, and in movies. You will not lose sleep over it when you come across it in this story. NOTE: the problems with content are NOT a product of the commentary but are inherent to the original play. You will find these issues with ALL OTHER commentaries on this play.Would you kill for the right to elect your next leader? How far would you go? What would you be capable of doing to advance your career? Are you so SURE you want that next guys job? How would it change the marriage if your wife KNOWS you killed? Could you face her after the fact? How would it change how you feel about the wife if she goaded you into murder? Would you still be attracted to such a woman? If a husband and wife team murders, how will it effect a male versus a female? How far could YOU go before you could no longer sleep at night? What would make you consider suicide? How far would you go to cover your tracks? When does a death count ie if its an opponent in battle, guards, a king, a best friend, or a wife and children? Was this answer different to those in Shakespheres time? What would happen to your personal feeling of safety and trust after you committed murder? How would this effect your thoughts, behaviors and relationships? At what point (if any) should a king be taken out of office? Is there a set of standards or is it simply a matter of available military force? How do the superstitions of the time effect the turn of events? How were people expected to behave back then and how does it differ from now? What were the customs and protocols? What role (if any) had "fate" or "predestination" to play in what was happening? How does the belief in "fate" during that time period effect events? What role did the "victims" have in their own deaths? These are just a few of the issues that crop up in this book.Enjoy! Adults or late teens with direct adult supervision ONLY please!