Dear Everyone,
I enjoy the website known as Goodreads. Through it, I’ve discovered many books I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise. The site also allows me to tell others what I’m reading.
At the moment, I’m re-reading “Measure for Measure” by William Shakespeare. You can download this for your Kindle for $0.99 or you can read it online through MIT. The title of the play seems to be a reference to a passage in Scripture, the Gospel according to St. Matthew 7:2,
“For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”
This passage raises all sorts of interesting questions, as does the play. But what I’m interested in is in the way Shakespeare presents the contrast between a person’s reputation (good or bad) and the person’s character. Who are the villains and who are the heroes and heroines of the play? What sort of message does Shakespeare communicate about how we judge our neighbours and ourselves?
I don’t promise to have answers to these questions but if you’d like to join the conversation you can do so on Twitter. I’ve recently finished Act II of the play and I welcome comments and discussion.
When I was writing “Gabriel’s Inferno” I was thinking about the contrast between the way a person is perceived and that person’s interior life. (Think about the Professor as he appears in Chapter 1 versus how he is presented in Chapter 2) Did his reaction to the telephone call change your perception of him?
I was also interested in the reactions readers would have to his behaviour in those two chapters, in contrast with the reactions of the other characters. Did Julia’s response surprise you?
If you’re interested in human behaviour, watch people and read literature. Both activities are tremendous well springs of information and insights into humanity.
I should mention that if you haven’t had a chance to read “Gabriel’s Inferno” and would like to, or would like a friend to read it, you can enter multiple giveaways during my book blog web tour.
Skyla11377 is offering a copy here.
Hanging with Bells! is offering a copy here.
Reading with Bakin_ Goddess is offering a copy here.
Books ‘n Kisses is offering a copy here.
There will be giveaways each day of the tour. I’ll be announcing them on Twitter and Facebook.
Many thanks to each of the blogs for reviewing my book and to KLB events for organizing the blog tour.
All the best and thanks for reading,
SR.
I am honoured to have had all three of my novels appear on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists. I was a Semifinalist for Best Author in the 2011 and 2012 Goodreads Choice Awards. {
I commend you on your reference to watching people and reading literature as a means toward analyzing and understanding human behaviour. I would encourage all to throw a wide net. Travel to expand your sample size of people you view. Read without hesitation both things that interest you and things that don’t inspire you. They will challenge you to see not only on the machinations of the mind, but more importantly, the motive behind the actions, which, really, is what changes a life, and subsequently, history. Pat
When you told us you were reading “Measure for Measure” I decided to give it a shot, too. This was one of Shakespeare’s plays I’d never read( I’m more fond of his tragedies and history plays 🙂 ). I’m now on Act III and you are right, it raises all kind of questions about a lot of topics, like justice, punishment, integrity, fidelity etc. One thing I’ve always found interesting is how Shakespeare’s plays bring up moral issues that are timeless. Most of the themes we find in his plays have still value nowadays, and we still find ourselves debating the message he wanted to convey through his works. Like you said, it’s interesting to see how this play in particular throws light on the difference between the way we perceive others and their true character.
I believe it’s always been a trait of human nature to perceive someone according to our own flaws and insecurities. We often throw unfounded judgments on people just because of something they’ve said or done that hurts our pride and ,as a result, we are not always willing to stop and try to know the person in front of us. We often point our finger on the spot. It’s like we spend our lives classifying people. I think one can see that particularly in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”. Two people who seem not to stand each other at the beginning of the novel, change their opinions about one another and eventually fall in love after getting to know each other more deeply. And we see that also in Gabriel’s Inferno. Without spoiling the story I’ll just say that at the beginning, we can see both Julia and Gabriel proceed with making judgments, following mere first impressions. They need to open their souls in order to really get close to one another. That’s why I think we should always be willing to know people we meet on our path without pointing our fingers at their flaws and imperfections. We are all flawed beings and I believe there’s always a reason behind one’s action and till we don’t know that reason, we can’t make a right judgment. I’m not saying it’s easy to refrain from making impulsive remarks, unfortunately this is in our nature, but I think it’s always better to try to know one person, to listen to their reasons before forming our own opinion on someone. Thank you for another lovely post! Looking forward to discussing “Measure for Measure”.
Elena_twiarcady
I haven’t read “Measure for Measure”, but I’m going to have to now. I do people watch and I do love to see how people and characters in a novel or in my favorite shows will react to a person or situation. Their reaction says a lot about who they are.
Gabriel was cold and cruel in the first chapter, and worse, it seemed *easy* for him to be very harsh with Julia, so at first I believed that’s who he really was. I also thought it was possible he’d constructed a facade to help him gain respect as a teacher, or at least, maintain order in the classroom. The second chapter then presented a very different side of the Professor, and it certainly made me curious about what produced the hard, cold exterior which everyone saw. His emotional devastation over his mother’s death showed that redemption was possible for him. No one who feels that deeply should be written off.
Julia’s response didn’t surprise me at all. She is arguably presented as meek in the first chapter, but her response to Gabriel’s tears showed a great deal of strength and compassion. She readily forgave his mistreatment of her in the seminar.
(I looked up the first two chapters to double-check the events, and I wound up starting the book again. I got through Chapter 6 last night!)
I haven’t read “Measure for Measure,” but thinking about character (in general) reminded me of another Shakespeare play, “Othello.” Questions of character and perception are brought up there as well. Is the image we present to the world a true picture of who we are? I’d bet not. The person we show ourselves to be in our professions may not be the same person we are at home with loved ones. Circumstances sometimes dictate our behavior, though that isn’t always the same as intending to deceive someone. Iago became a trusted advisor to Othello, but his true nature was very dark, and every one of Iago’s actions was meant to destroy Othello. It was the first time I’d read anything where a character was evil for the sake of being evil.
I am a HUGE Shakespeare fan. I have a leather bound copy of his complete works as well as a pocket Shakespeare. The way he phrased things were way ahead of his time. In college I took Styles and Techniques Of Comedy and Styles and Techniques Of Tragedy and Shakespeare was always a focal point in those classes.
Gabriel and Julianne’s relationship actually reminded me of Romeo and Juliet. Because they too had to see each other in secret and not let anyone know of their affection for each other. At least they had a better out come than Romeo and Juliet but their relationship was similar.
I found it interesting that their roles were reversed (in my opinion). Julianne was more fanciful like Romeo and Gabriel was more duty bound like Juliet, and by duty bound I mean he knew what his duties where were his students were concerned. On a side note I feel Gabriel has a lot of dark tendencies like Hamlet. Although I don’t believe he ever saw his mother and his uncle getting it on….LOL.
Hello Everyone and thanks for your comments. Lots of important points were raised here. And I’m pleased others are interested in Shakespeare, as well. I find him fascinating.
All the best and thanks for taking the time to comment, SR
Dear SR,
thank you for introducing me to Goodreads, it is an excellent place for such a book lover as I am.
Your huge fan,
Lucia