Robert, I think you are one of the best writers I've read in a very long time. Indeed, we have lost so much of the joys of the calendar that my parish doesn't offer an evening Mass for the days of Hocktide (a term I first read here and had to Google it's meaning) for some reason. Due to the secular world's obsession with getting everyone back to work ASAP, I feel that if one cannot get out of work for these important days that Mass should at least be offered in the evening so at least some trite celebration can be offered.
As an aside, we had a tea party last Sunday after Mass and the parish courtyard was filled with merrymaking and fellowship: true joy.
I really enjoyed this essay! I especially love that you brought out Shakespeare's unique contribution to comedy-- one in which he both continued and elevated the form. Northrop Frye, another renowned Shakespeare scholar (and direct student of C.S. Lewis) said that comedy (as a form), ultimately shows the arc of community coming together, and that all the comedies are about community activities (so that is why we will see most of Shakespeare's comedies ending with weddings, double weddings, dances, feasting, etc); the happy ending is the repair and rebuilding of the community, the repair of that original rupture of community in Eden. (I will also add that in a smaller scale way, I have found that P. G. Wodehouse is very much in this comedic vein, though obviously in a much lighter key!). I heartily endorse your recommendations for a starting place in comedy, particularly Much Ado (I just don't think any of his comedies top it!), and I *loved* Pericles, so I am looking forward to your article on that one.
We felt a lot of joy after our Easter service (Good Sam Episcopal Church in San Diego). It was uplifting and then followed with hearty fellowship! It felt wonderful! And yesterday, we had a women's tea with great fellowship and laughter! We need this these days!
Thank you again, Robert- I admit I'm a newbie with Shakespeare. I went to 3 different high schools (military father) and I always missed the Shakespeare courses. I feel very at sea but want to dive in. Your links are therefore very helpful. About community celebrations, yes, they are so lacking and more's the pity. Dr K had a delightful series of posts about dancing at his substack. This is the first one: https://www.traditionsanity.com/p/why-catholics-should-learn-to-dance That's a wonderful way to celebrate. I loved folk dancing in school - very joyful, and it brought complete strangers together in good clean fun and friendship. I always felt so alive and ready to laugh after such dancing. We are very much poverty-stricken in many ways by the lack of community gatherings.
Robert, I think you are one of the best writers I've read in a very long time. Indeed, we have lost so much of the joys of the calendar that my parish doesn't offer an evening Mass for the days of Hocktide (a term I first read here and had to Google it's meaning) for some reason. Due to the secular world's obsession with getting everyone back to work ASAP, I feel that if one cannot get out of work for these important days that Mass should at least be offered in the evening so at least some trite celebration can be offered.
As an aside, we had a tea party last Sunday after Mass and the parish courtyard was filled with merrymaking and fellowship: true joy.
Thank you for this comment and for your kind words!
I really enjoyed this essay! I especially love that you brought out Shakespeare's unique contribution to comedy-- one in which he both continued and elevated the form. Northrop Frye, another renowned Shakespeare scholar (and direct student of C.S. Lewis) said that comedy (as a form), ultimately shows the arc of community coming together, and that all the comedies are about community activities (so that is why we will see most of Shakespeare's comedies ending with weddings, double weddings, dances, feasting, etc); the happy ending is the repair and rebuilding of the community, the repair of that original rupture of community in Eden. (I will also add that in a smaller scale way, I have found that P. G. Wodehouse is very much in this comedic vein, though obviously in a much lighter key!). I heartily endorse your recommendations for a starting place in comedy, particularly Much Ado (I just don't think any of his comedies top it!), and I *loved* Pericles, so I am looking forward to your article on that one.
This is a wonderful comment, Nicole, thank you for taking the time to write it!
We felt a lot of joy after our Easter service (Good Sam Episcopal Church in San Diego). It was uplifting and then followed with hearty fellowship! It felt wonderful! And yesterday, we had a women's tea with great fellowship and laughter! We need this these days!
Maybe joy is just a grace we feel when God shares our happiness.
Thank you again, Robert- I admit I'm a newbie with Shakespeare. I went to 3 different high schools (military father) and I always missed the Shakespeare courses. I feel very at sea but want to dive in. Your links are therefore very helpful. About community celebrations, yes, they are so lacking and more's the pity. Dr K had a delightful series of posts about dancing at his substack. This is the first one: https://www.traditionsanity.com/p/why-catholics-should-learn-to-dance That's a wonderful way to celebrate. I loved folk dancing in school - very joyful, and it brought complete strangers together in good clean fun and friendship. I always felt so alive and ready to laugh after such dancing. We are very much poverty-stricken in many ways by the lack of community gatherings.