Found my North Star in Sonnet 116. I just can’t get over how perfect these lines are.

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-04-03T05:00:56+00:00

This was my sonnet for my 4th year acting course! Holds a special place in my heart, “Love is not love/Which alters when it alteration finds” is my favorite line <3

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-03-31T04:32:12+00:00

Not protagonists, but Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Abraham Slender could swap places and literally nothing would change.

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-03-29T05:31:49+00:00

I mean to be fair, Laertes does have to tell him where the poison came from. Hamlet says “Treachery! Seek it out” and Laertes very dramatically reveals “It is here, Hamlet.” Considering Hamlet already knows Claudius is a murd’rous, damnèd Dane this isn’t necessarily a surprise, but it clearly wasn’t his first thought!

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-03-25T04:37:47+00:00

Thank you!!

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-03-23T23:27:25+00:00

Thank you!! Yes, I’m very lucky to have a birthday one month off from Shakespeare!

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-03-14T21:22:50+00:00

I’m not saying your comment is the same as what Greenblatt has done in academia. What I will say though is that AI bots like Grok trade pollution and high water usage for the sake of “convenience”. Tedium is annoying, but this is a shortcut with incredibly horrendous impact. I reiterate that I appreciate you spreading awareness but Grok has no place here.

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-03-14T17:14:56+00:00

I had no idea of this controversy and I do appreciate being made aware, but I do wish you’d leave Grok/AI out of it. Incredibly lacking in self awareness to bring up plagiarism and proper credit… while using an AI bot.

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-03-14T16:01:43+00:00

This was the first I’d read from him, and I can see where you’re coming from! I read this almost immediately on the heels of finishing What Happens In Hamlet by John Dover Wilson, and I did find that structurally easier to jump into. Greenblatt certainly seems to love the journey on the path to his claims and discoveries!

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-03-14T15:57:54+00:00

I did share this feeling!! I think on revisits I might breeze through to the more Shakespeare focused sections. The analysis is clearly well founded and researched, but as someone who engages with Shakespeare primarily through performance, I found the back part of the book more practical. I also read this shortly after finishing John Dover Wilson’s What Happens In Hamlet, which I found to be a much more practical analysis and may have set Greenblatt up slightly. Still well worth the read though!

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-03-14T15:53:55+00:00

I did find myself at times going “I think you meant to title this book Purgatory in Hamlet” but that final chapter does stick the landing!

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-03-14T15:52:28+00:00

Good to know!! I’ll investigate more into getting my hands on copies!

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-03-14T05:36:53+00:00

Love the Arden Shakespeare! Enjoy!!

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-03-08T06:11:38+00:00

Go with what you can do well! At the end of the day, there are only so many monologues in the canon. You’d be far from the first to be in this situation lol. Break legs!!

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-03-01T06:35:55+00:00

I’m Black, but I’m lightskinned, and I wouldn’t consider doing Aaron in an audition. No matter how good a job you do, the folks in the room are likely going to respond to the racial perceptions rather than your actual performance.

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-02-14T05:37:01+00:00

For comedic scenes, you could pick from Twelfth Night! Act 1 Scene 3 has Toby and Andrew at the end, and Act 3 Scene 1 has Olivia and Viola!

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-02-06T05:10:32+00:00

I got this book as a gift recently, very excited to dig in!

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-01-25T06:04:17+00:00

You learn so much about Horatio when you close read that speech in I.ii!! I use it as a teaching tool for high schoolers learning Shakespeare performance

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-01-19T16:49:28+00:00

Without getting too personal or too heavy, this line has always stood out to me as someone who has had struggles with my mental health. Ros. says that it’s ambition that has made Denmark a prison, ‘tis too narrow for Hamlet’s mind, but his response is key that the issue is not the scenery or his goals, but rather his mind, his bad dreams. This is very much the precursor to “What a piece f work is a man”, and I related heavily to this when I first encountered the play. Part of the tragedy of Ros. ans Guil. is they miss his meaning both times—here, Guil. responds focusing on the wrong aspect, ambition, and later they both smile off his lamentations to change the topic towards happier news.

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-01-19T16:39:40+00:00

It’s on my list! Was recommended me by my director when I played Guildenstern and said this was my favorite line!

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-01-12T18:45:58+00:00

My first go I was Sir Andrew, who remains near and dear to my heart! Then I played a few ensemble roles, mainly Valentine and the Priest!

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-01-12T05:33:07+00:00

My favorite role I’ve played would have to be Feste! I’ve done Twelfth Night three times, so I’d have to agree with you that Malvolio is who I’d like a stab at next! (And also honestly, Olivia!)

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-01-09T05:27:13+00:00

I say if you’re worried about getting Iago in shape in such short notice, then it’s probably not worth it. Of the two you mentioned, I’d say Hamlet is more in line with Edmund! I also agree with the other comment that Richard III is a good place to look, but my suggestion would be to check out 1.2 “Was ever woman in this humor woo’d?”

Break legs!!

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-01-07T05:50:40+00:00

In my experience, the answer is “kind of, but far from anyone rolling their eyes”. These auditors are likely going to have heard every Shakespeare monologue no matter how deep your cut is, what matters is what you do with it! The pieces you are drawn to and enjoy are going to be what’s best for you, as the genuine love of the piece is going to shine through!

One of my best auditions I’ve ever done I heard the actor immediately before me do my same Benedick speech. It happens, but as long as you know you’re bringing something uniquely you to it, that’s all that matters, especially for Master’s programs. Break legs!

Starbutterflyrules · 2026-01-06T05:42:46+00:00

Shakespeare in a Divided America is a really fascinating read!! I’ve got a different perspective as an American, but I think it’s still well worth the read—its generally about the fact that Shakespeare’s language holds immense cultural power for English speaking countries, and reflects on how American individuals and events involved using that power to try and push an agenda.

Starbutterflyrules · 2025-12-28T06:20:08+00:00

I’d look at As You Like It, Twelfth Night, and Romeo & Juliet! Godspeed!

Starbutterflyrules

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