What matters here are the works - finally without them his life would be uninteresting. What matters, that is, are the astonishing things that he left behind. If we can get the life in relation to the works, then it can take off. Stephen Greenblatt astonishfinallyleave share on social
It is not that Shakespeare's art is in technicolor and fancy, and that real life is black and white and tedious. The life that Shakespeare was living was the only life he had, and he had to use it to create what he was doing. Stephen Greenblatt artblackcreate share on social
I've been at this for 40 years. And, as an academic, I've been content with relatively small audiences, with the thought that the audience I long for will find its way eventually to what I have written, provided that what I have written is good enough. Stephen Greenblatt academicaudiencecontent share on social
The Shakespeare that Shakespeare became is the name that's attached to these astonishing objects that he left behind. Stephen Greenblatt astonishattachleave Change image and share on social
No special writing rituals. And my desk is usually cluttered. Stephen Greenblatt clutterdeskritual Change image and share on social
First of all, Shakespeare is about pleasure and interest. He was from the first moment he actually wrote something for the stage, and he remains so. Stephen Greenblatt interestmomentpleasure Change image and share on social
Now a Protestant confronting a Catholic ghost is exactly Shakespeare's way of grappling with what was not simply a general social problem but one lived out in his own life. Stephen Greenblatt catholicconfrontgeneral Change image and share on social
But I never listen to music while I'm writing. Stephen Greenblatt listenmusicwrite Change image and share on social
What we know is that Shakespeare wrote perhaps the most remarkable body of passionate love poetry in the English language to a young man. Stephen Greenblatt bodyenglishlanguage Change image and share on social
I think the writing of literature should give pleasure. What else should it be about? It is not nuclear physics. It actually has to give pleasure or it is worth nothing. Stephen Greenblatt giveliteraturenuclear Change image and share on social
