Shakespeare's invention.

Different morning post that usual. Shakespeare is my secular god. I am an open Bard worshiper. Harold Bloom is my personal go to critic for a number of reasons. His clear headed understanding of the poison of resentment victim theories in academia is always refreshing and helpful. When Bloom writes about a play - he writes about the play. Not "social justice."

I paraphrase Bloom: Whenever a director tries to illuminate a Shakespeare play with a currently fashionable idea - the play illuminates the idea, not the other way a round. Whenever we go, Shakespeare has been there first.

Bloom rightfully understands that the only sane stance to take when approaching Shakespeare is awe. Once the largely imaginary and self imposed fear of reading the language is overcome, an endless bounty of humanity is waiting, actually demanding, attention.

Though by no means a literary critic or even all that well versed - I can find no fault whatsoever with Bloom's contention that Shakespeare invented us. That is, how we perceive our own consciousness in the West and our relationship to ourselves comes from the plays. The Bible and Koran not withstanding. Both books being about our relationship to God. Shakespeare's major characters do not change because the "gods" or any outside event changes them. They change because they overhear themselves. And listen. Much of what they hear is ugly, some beautiful, all true. "To be or not to be" predates "I think, therefore I am" and is its antecedent.

The 20th century belongs to Freud. (I suspect the 21st has long since been claimed by Einstein and his off spring.) Yet a Freudian interpretation of Hamlet is not possible in reality. Freud was obsessed with Shakespeare. The proper starting point is to attempt a Shakespearean analysis of Freud - as Bloom posits. Freud did not "discover" the unconscious. He read Hamlet and Macbeth. And at the very least, Cleopatra, Anthony being a lesser light in that play.

At any rate, my mind is well equipped for scavenging, not deep intellect. (I scavenge, therefore I blog.) The Bloom portion of the Charlie Rose show is the first 20 minutes. He reminds us that academia can and should be about curiosity and the pursuit of understanding. Not what it is now, factory farms for victims.