Shakespeare's Settings and a Sense of Place

‘'But what is your affair in Elsinore?'' Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 2

William Shakespeare's plays aren't exclusively defined by the plot, the monologues and the characters. More often than not, the setting itself is the trigger for the unfolding story, the factor that influences the characters' psyche, prompting them into action. Think of Elsinore and Hamlet, ‘'Denmark's a prison'' for the young prince. Think of fair Verona, and Venice. Think of grim Scotland where Macbeth orchestrates his crimes that will lead him to his doom. Rome and the wars of Coriolanus, Titus and Julius Caesar. Egypt where the tragic story of Cleopatra and Anthony unfolds. We'd need pages after pages to name every location.

But Ralph Berry had the opportunity to do so. He aimed to take us to Elsinore and Ephesus, to Venice and Windsor, to Falstaff's tavern, London during Richard III and the cryptic country of The Twelfth Night.

In my opinion, he failed. Miserably.

Every single chapter is utterly confusing, jumping all over the place, mixing and mingling bibliography with references to actors' memoirs and footnote. All in the same paragraph. It lacks coherence and purpose. It gives no insight as to the choice of the settings or their influence on the Bard's plays. It doesn't provide any information to the readers who would like to familiarize themselves with the work of the greatest of the greats. And if you have read a billion Shakespeare essays like yours truly, this is utterly useless.

There is no Macbeth, no King Lear, no Romeo and Juliet, no Tempest. But there are two chapters on Ben Johnson and the depiction of London in his works. The writer clearly prefers Johnson and I am once more convinced the world is mad.

God, no!

This is one of the worst books on Shakespeare I've ever read.