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Women of Will
Women of Will: Following the Feminine in Shakespeare's Plays | Tina Packer
16 posts | 4 read | 9 to read
Women of Will is a fierce and funny exploration of Shakespeare's understanding of the feminine. Tina Packer, one of our foremost Shakespeare experts, shows that Shakespeare began, in his early comedies, by writing women as shrews to be tamed or as sweet little things with no independence of thought. The women of the history plays are much more interesting, beginning with Joan of Arc. Then, with the extraordinary Juliet, there is a dramatic shift: suddenly Shakespeare's women have depth, motivation, and understanding of life more than equal to that of the men. As Shakespeare ceases to write women as predictable caricatures and starts writing them from the inside, his women become as dimensional, spirited, spiritual, active, and sexual as any of his male characters. Wondering if Shakespeare had fallen in love (Packer considers with whom, and what she may have been like), the author observes that from Juliet on, Shakespeare's characters demonstrate that when women and men are equal in status and passion, they can--and do--change the world.
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Tjackson
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Pickpick

7/52 4⭐️ - this was a fascinating book about the women in Shakespeare‘s plays and the author does a great job identifying common themes. There‘s a lot of information packed into this book. Sometimes the detail about each play became a little distracting, but I still think it‘s a wonderful read. #myyearwithwill

TheAnitaAlvarez This sounds fascinating! 7y
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Tjackson
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This is a fascinating book that refers to every female character in Shakespeare‘s Canon. There many highlights that I have enjoyed, but I thought this highlighted passage was interesting and worthy of sharing. #myyearwithwill

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Tjackson
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Spending another lovely day reading about Will and his women. Last night I took a break from reading to watch Shakespeare Retold - Much Ado about Nothing and Taming of the Shrew!!! They were great modern retellings. #myyearwithwill

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Tjackson
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Happy Friday! Another day curled up with a few good books with the hopes of finishing them today or at least this weekend. This one is full of so much information about each of Will‘s female characters that I have to take breaks to let it sink it. Many of the plays I have not seen, but hope to this year.

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Tjackson
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Spending some time working on my 2018 goal: My Year With Will! This is a very interesting chapter exploring the “soul”.

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Tjackson
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Calling in sick with a sinus infection means spending my day reading. A sick me, can also be a happy me. My year with will is coming along quiet well, but I am still looking for more book recommendations about him and his works.

Cinfhen Feel better 7y
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Tjackson
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Spending another morning with Women of Will on this holiday vacation. With each new chapter, I am motivated to see another Shakespearean play. In the past 18 days, I have enjoyed watching 7 of his plays, read Bill Bryson‘s book about him, enjoyed a modern comedy play about the First Folio, and watched a few documentaries and lectures. My year with Will project is off to a great start. Please share book or film recommendations.

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Tjackson
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Starting my day off with coffee and the women of Will. Looking forward to another day curled up with my favorite books until I head out for more holiday merriment (happy hour and trivia).

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Tjackson
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Yes, I‘m reading multiple books at one time. I think these two passages are very powerful and telling about his work. I wasn‘t sure I would like this book, but I‘m changing my mind with each chapter I read. It might not be my favorite book about Shakespeare, but it is a thought-provoking one.

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Tjackson
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Just finished one book about Shakespeare and on to the next one!!!! Cant wait to learn more about the women of Will! #myyearwithwill

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Limonotte
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Just picked up Women of Will. Really pleased with it so far. Some great quotes and a really interesting look at the development of Shakespeare as he developed his female characters. I think this painting of Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth features on the cover of the hardcover version, but tbh I'm adding it here because I'm just super in love with 'the beetle dress' she wears in it.

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BrittFrancko
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I wasn't totally on board with all of the claims Tina Packer makes in this book, and I occasionally rolled my eyes a bit at her impassioned tone, but for the most part I appreciated immersing myself in such a detailed, focused love letter to Shakespeare's women.

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SammyKat
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This is one of the best books about Shakespeare I've ever read, full of history, sociology, religious studies, psychology, and Packer's own extensive theatrical experience. She reveals the way Shakespeare's attitude towards society and women evolved with his skills and experiences - including his probable affair with a certain "Dark Lady," Aemilia Bassano, one of the first feminists.

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MLRio
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Tina Packer talking women, Shakespeare, and leadership at UTD. #Shakespeare #theatre

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frankincense_and_sensibility
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frankincense_and_sensibility
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Not denying that the Holy Spirit can be gendered female, but implying that it has to be because the Son proceeds from it and the Father is like...not how the Trinity works...at all.

Sorry, just a minor irk in an otherwise quite enjoyable book.