While in college, I took three Shakespeare courses. The first was a Shakespeare survey class in which we read a few of his tragedies, a sampling of his comedies and a smattering of his histories. Along the way, we also read a couple of his sonnets. It wasn't much, but once Shakespeare's language crawled inside my head, I couldn't let it go. So, I took another course in Shakespeare's tragedies and yet another in his comedies with the unforgettable Dr. Blount.
Dr. Blount's father had been a tax accountant, a job which had paid him well but often left him feeling drained. He had to do something to offset the soul numbing effects of his job. So, after dinner, he read Shakespeare - often aloud to his young son. It was no wonder, then, that Dale became a Shakespeare professor -- an unforgettable one.
You may wonder what can an aspiring writer for children could possibly want with Shakespeare. Certainly I can't squeeze it all into one blog post, but here's one small item that has stayed with me over the years. Shakespeare tempered his comedies with some tragedy and his tragedies with some comedy. He understood that life isn't isn't either all black or all white, but a textured blend of both.
If I'm writing something serious, I always try to insert a touch of humor. In my WIP about an abused girl, my main character covers up her pain with jokes and sarcasm, especially when she's around her friends. The humor serves the duel purpose of lightening up the story while helping my MC grapple with her fear. She doesn't want anybody to guess what really goes on behind the cheery front door of her home and so her witticisms, swift retorts and often biting barbs are her defense. In a sense, they also boost her self-confidence. Her friends appreciate her humor without realizing what's driving it.
Shakespeare not only had a firm grip on language and its power, but understood the forces that shape human nature in its infinite complexity. It may be but one facet of a successful novel, but it's an important one that I try to keep in mind when orchestrating a cast of characters and and all their predicaments.
