[책걸상 '벽돌 책' 함께 읽기] #21. <세계를 향한 의지>

“ 이 다리 위에 효수된 머리들의 풍경이야말로 가장 눈을 뗄 수 없는 경고와 지침을 주었을 것이다. “너 자신을 통제하라. 네 적들의 수중에 떨어지는 일이 없도록 하라. 영리하고 엄격하고 현실적이 되어라. 은폐와 회피의 기술을 익혀라. 무엇보다도, 네 머리가 달아나지 않도록 목 위에 잘 얹어 두어라.” 이 세계에 자신의 이름을 알리고 대중에게 자신을 드러내길 꿈꾸는 시인이자 배우로서는 꽤 따르기 어려운 지침들이었다. 하지만 이러한 교훈은, 후대에 와서 셰익스피어가 어떤 사람이었는지를 제대로 이해하기 어렵게 만든 결정을 내리게 한 주된 요인일 수 있다. ”

“ Even if he was altogether untouched by fantasies of martyrdom, even if he had plunged into the everyday concerns of a family man in a provincial town, Shakespeare could not have lived his life as if there were no questions about belief. ”

“ if Shakespeare felt he had something important within him that he could only realize by turning away from his domestic obligations, he could only hope to justify his actions if he actually succeeded, He stood in need of moral as well as financial luck. ”

“ It is as if Shakespeare had grasped something crucial for the writing of plays: he could split apart elements of himself and his background, mold each of them into vivid form, and then at once laugh, shudder, and destroy them. ”

“ Shakespeare was fascinated by the crazed ranting of those who hate modernity, despise learning, and celebrate the virtue of ignorance. ... he heard not only the grotesque stupidity but also the grievance. ”