Tolstoy's fiery critique blasts Shakespeare as a fraud, exposing absurd plots, shallow characters, and soulless drama in this unsparing literary showdown.
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Tolstoy's fiery critique blasts Shakespeare as a fraud, exposing absurd plots, shallow characters, and soulless drama in this unsparing literary showdown.
About
Details
Tolstoy does not like Shakespeare. Not at all. In this classic rant, Tolstoy takes Shakespeare to task for having ridiculous plots, characters without distinct personalities, endless speechifying, language no mortal would utter, no morals, a disdain for the common person, and zero sympathy for the audience.
by Leo Tolstoy. Translated by V. G. Tchertkoff and I. F. M.
Followed by Shakespeare's attitude to the working classes, by Ernest Crosby, and a letter from George Bernard Shaw.
What's Inside
will contain mild spoilers
Sexual content
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No romantic or sexual content present
Violence & gore
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Brief plot summaries of tragic violence in plays like King Lear
Profanity
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No profanity or strong language present
Substance use
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No substance use depicted
LGBTQ+ Rep.
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No LGBTQIA+ representation present
Religious content
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Recurring moral and spiritual critiques of art’s purpose
Magic & witchcraft
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Brief critique of supernatural elements in Macbeth
Occult / demonology
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No occult or demonology content present
Political content
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Central class critique plus essay on Shakespeare and working classes
Self-harm / suicide
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No evidence found in available sources
Abuse & suffering
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References to cruelty and suffering in discussed play plots
Other
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No information found