In defence of Shakespeare

Morris Mtisi
THE headmaster of St Faith’s High School in Rusape is a Literature in English guru in his own right. That other side of him, I am sure very few people know about, enables him to do everything else perfectly well as we all know him to at that famous school, Literature being an exploration of real life. I asked Mr Moses Mukoyi to respond to recent utterances by self-styled Literature analysts who have a strange sense of revulsion against the all-time great.
Here is what he said in defence of William Shakespeare:

IN DEFENCE OF SHAKESPEARE
Shakespeare’s contemporary and competitor, Ben Jonson, magnanimously acknowledges him through this often quoted accolade:
He was not of an age, but for all time.

This evaluative summation of Shakespeare’s stature couldn’t be more accurate yesterday, today and tomorrow!
For the past 36 years, I have always made Shakespeare an indispensable part of my Literature in English lessons. As a student of Literature, I remember going through 30 Shakespearean plays. I guess it was part of an idiosyncratic preoccupation and pastime! And in my more youthful and impressionable days, I also remember mentally reciting some of his sonnets, my favourite being:

“Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments.”
Several years on, I am often flattered and indeed honoured through chance encounters with my student products from all walks of life. They can still reminisce over and recite lines from Literature, notably quotable quotes from Shakespeare texts!

I have an emotional attachment to Zimbabwean Literature which rightfully should take centre stage followed by African Literature then the rest of the world, in that perking order. But I must confess Shakespeare sticks stubbornly to my sensibility and imaginative perception of the world and its goings-on. And I am not alone in this colonial hangover!

Many a time and oft have I heard personalities from a variety of social stations including captains of industry, politicians and even nationalists quoting Shakespeare freely. Who said just the other day,

“Cowards die many times before their deaths.”?
And if you say, “Lend me your ears,” that is indeed Shakespeare! It is that master rhetorician, demagogue and political tactician, Mark Antony.
In our own lives, when we are caught up in paradoxical catch-22 situations, or when we are confronted with weighty decisions, Shakespeare’s Hamlet, “To be or not to be” comes to mind. A case of procrastination.

I am sure this timeless line is appealing and relevant to both young and old:
“If music be the food of love, play on.”
And if you can fully understand the semantic and allusive implication of the following line.

“Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber,” then you are on your way to appreciating Shakespeare.
I do not wish to present a litany of Shakespeare quotes.

These are just snippets illustrative of Shakespeare’s profound wisdom, maturity of thought and universal appeal.
A study of his works is an exciting window into a vast array of human experience, character and imaginative possibilities.

The full scope of Shakespeare’s work as well as pedagogic concerns such as how to tackle linguistic and appreciation challenges when studying Shakespeare is for another day.

For now, I boldly assert without any reservation whatsoever that Shakespeare has a place in our schools and rightly so, four hundred and fifty years down the line!