PROMIS'D ETERNITY
Unorthodox responses to Shakespeare's sonnets.
A blog / library and (eventual) audio, visual and performance installation in progress.
Introduction
It was many years ago that I first heard about the alternative theories surrounding the authorship of Shakespeare's work. Some often ask 'what does it matter who wrote them?' For me, the idea that we might not know the background and inspiration of some of my favourite works of literature was both surprising and frustrating. Added to the fact that, as a gay man, one of the first things I'd wanted to understand more about was Shakespeare's sexuality – in light of the 'open secret' that many of the sonnets were addressed to another man; scandalous homoerotic material that Orthodoxy had felt embarrassed about for years. Victorian publishers even changed the pronouns.
The 154 sonnets appear to be as near to direct autobiography as we can find in Shakespeare – with tantalising references to people, events, scandals, locations and most of all, relationships. It therefore felt the most fruitful field to begin investigations. I'm sure I wasn't the first who's searches led nowhere; for no tangibly, provable or even revealing information or records of any links between Shakespeare of Stratford and the suggested events and relationships in the poems. Orthodoxy has even suggested the works are mere 'writing exercises', nothing more than flights of poetic fantasy (palpably untrue). So I looked further afield, and opened some heretical books - to discover that not only where there a multitude of others on the same quest as me, many of them favoured alternative candidates for the authorship. Delving in with alacrity I was amazed to find totally different results. Obscurity became clarity, abstracts became tangible.
Though there are now a multitude of prestigious academics, theatre practitioners, historians and researchers engaged with the authorship question the world over, (particularly overseas), with almost 330 notables signed up to the declaration of reasonable doubt, Orthodox scholars have continually tried to denigrate and block both them and their research. Although it is not working, one of the mot frustrating aspects is the attempt to put out the light being shone upon odd corners of an age about which we know so little; the enigmatic and secretive Elizabethan era. Surely any research on the subject would be welcome, no? However, the reactionary resistance is strong – and even the idea of airing interpretations let alone examining them is seen as something approaching sacrilege
.
I am hoping, with this blog space, to attract views and samples from the many enthusiasts and experts on the subject, sharing specific research and interpretations about particular sonnets – but I also wish to open the floor to all kinds of alternative personal responses to the poems, by asking people to record short films that include the spoken text but with no explanatory notes; just their own creative responses expressed visually and orally. I hope it might open up the basic concept of discussing the pieces and opening one's mind to the poems in a more open and playful way.
As yet anyway, nobody knows the answers to one of the great literary mysteries in our heritage - and ultimately, whoever finds those answers and stumbles upon that Holy Grail, that 'smoking gun', is guaranteed fame and (perhaps) immortality (subjects dear to the writer themselves). The dedication to the original publication wishes the author 'that promised eternitie' – so it seems only right and fitting, that should it be someone other than we've been led to believe, they should at last receive it.
Unorthodox responses to Shakespeare's sonnets.
A blog / library and (eventual) audio, visual and performance installation in progress.
Introduction
It was many years ago that I first heard about the alternative theories surrounding the authorship of Shakespeare's work. Some often ask 'what does it matter who wrote them?' For me, the idea that we might not know the background and inspiration of some of my favourite works of literature was both surprising and frustrating. Added to the fact that, as a gay man, one of the first things I'd wanted to understand more about was Shakespeare's sexuality – in light of the 'open secret' that many of the sonnets were addressed to another man; scandalous homoerotic material that Orthodoxy had felt embarrassed about for years. Victorian publishers even changed the pronouns.
The 154 sonnets appear to be as near to direct autobiography as we can find in Shakespeare – with tantalising references to people, events, scandals, locations and most of all, relationships. It therefore felt the most fruitful field to begin investigations. I'm sure I wasn't the first who's searches led nowhere; for no tangibly, provable or even revealing information or records of any links between Shakespeare of Stratford and the suggested events and relationships in the poems. Orthodoxy has even suggested the works are mere 'writing exercises', nothing more than flights of poetic fantasy (palpably untrue). So I looked further afield, and opened some heretical books - to discover that not only where there a multitude of others on the same quest as me, many of them favoured alternative candidates for the authorship. Delving in with alacrity I was amazed to find totally different results. Obscurity became clarity, abstracts became tangible.
Though there are now a multitude of prestigious academics, theatre practitioners, historians and researchers engaged with the authorship question the world over, (particularly overseas), with almost 330 notables signed up to the declaration of reasonable doubt, Orthodox scholars have continually tried to denigrate and block both them and their research. Although it is not working, one of the mot frustrating aspects is the attempt to put out the light being shone upon odd corners of an age about which we know so little; the enigmatic and secretive Elizabethan era. Surely any research on the subject would be welcome, no? However, the reactionary resistance is strong – and even the idea of airing interpretations let alone examining them is seen as something approaching sacrilege
.
I am hoping, with this blog space, to attract views and samples from the many enthusiasts and experts on the subject, sharing specific research and interpretations about particular sonnets – but I also wish to open the floor to all kinds of alternative personal responses to the poems, by asking people to record short films that include the spoken text but with no explanatory notes; just their own creative responses expressed visually and orally. I hope it might open up the basic concept of discussing the pieces and opening one's mind to the poems in a more open and playful way.
As yet anyway, nobody knows the answers to one of the great literary mysteries in our heritage - and ultimately, whoever finds those answers and stumbles upon that Holy Grail, that 'smoking gun', is guaranteed fame and (perhaps) immortality (subjects dear to the writer themselves). The dedication to the original publication wishes the author 'that promised eternitie' – so it seems only right and fitting, that should it be someone other than we've been led to believe, they should at last receive it.
