Tolstoy's evaluation is: "I have read his tragedies, comedies and historical plays several times, but my feelings are all the same: disgust, boredom and confusion!" " "
Hugo and Tolstoy gave completely opposite comments on this writer, namely, the famous Shakespeare.
Tolstoy's indifference to Shakespeare lasted all his life from his twenties. In more than 50 years, Tolstoy has read different versions of Shakespeare's tragedies, comedies and historical plays several times, but his feelings are all the same: "disgust, boredom and confusion".
At the age of 63, Tolstoy made a list of works worth reading, including works by writers such as Hugo and Dickens, while Shakespeare didn't even have one.
At the age of 75, Tolstoy reread all Shakespeare's works. This time, the old man fired his fire and the guns rumbled: "I firmly believe Shakespeare's undisputed reputation as a genius and a great writer, which forced contemporary writers to imitate him, forced readers and audiences to distort their aesthetic and ethical views and look for nonexistent advantages in his works. Like all lies, this is a huge disaster!"
Tolstoy criticized Shakespeare's works as "a catastrophe", which is by no means full of unknown addresses, let alone grandstanding. His criticism is based on a detailed explanation and thorough analysis of the text.
Soren "crushed" Shakespeare's works from three aspects: content, form and attitude: as far as content is concerned, he showed "extremely inferior and vulgar world outlook".
As far as form is concerned, it is "no natural situation, no language of the characters in the play, no proper restrictions, exaggerated and grotesque behavior, divorced from life".
As for sincere attitude, "it is completely absent in all Shakespeare's words." What I saw was that he was playing word games, making jokes without restraint. "Tolstoy's point of view is: I don't know what to say about the proverbs in Hamlet that have been repeatedly interpreted as classics by the world.
Shakespeare was demoted as a poor writer by Tolstoy, but regarded as a genius by victor hugo.
Hugo compared Shakespeare's exuberant creativity to "as calm as the creator, as extravagant": "Shakespeare's rich, powerful, gorgeous, plump breasts, full of a cup of foam, full of wine, abundant juice, surging magma, clusters of buds, as great vitality as a rainstorm."
Hugo compared Shakespeare's poems to honey: "His poems have a strong honey aroma and are brewed by bees roaming without nests. There are essays here and poems there; All forms are just flowerpots full of thoughts, which are very suitable for him ... "
Hugo also praised Shakespeare's plays: "Shakespeare's plays are accompanied by a frenetic rhythm;" It's a little wobbly. It dazzles itself and dazzles the audience; But nothing is more powerful than this touching greatness! "
Hugo compared Shakespeare to an "eagle": "Only an eagle can give people a little idea of this great gesture. Shakespeare spread his wings high, standing high, diving, sinking, flying, pouring into the lower world for a while, and disappearing into the sky for a while. He is such a genius that God deliberately didn't bind him tightly, so that he can go forward and fly freely in infinity! "
Of course, Tolstoy is not the only one who has never been interested in Shakespeare: Voltaire said to a bishop, "Please write some good poems, my Lord. Let's get rid of those who hurt others and themselves, those who have foreign language spasms, and that stupid guy Shakespeare! " Lord, help us. Besides, such comments as "stupid thing", "second-rate writer and lame poet" and "a crow with other people's feathers" are bitter, mean and sharp.
Similarly, Hugo is by no means the only one who regards Shakespeare as a genius from ancient times to the present: Ben Jonson, a great playwright of his time, said that Shakespeare "belongs to a thousand generations, not an era". Dryden, an English classicist, believes that "Shakespeare has a heart that reaches the sky and can understand all the characters and passions!" Goethe said: "I read his first page, which made my life belong to him." ... thank the gods who gave me wisdom! "
The great writer Shakespeare received such a "two worlds of ice and fire", which really made people a little confused. Perhaps, we can only "muddle along" like this: Shakespeare is not as great as his fans say, nor as "bad" as people who don't catch a cold.
Or, we can quote a famous saying from Dante's masterpiece The Divine Comedy: "Stop it, wait and see, let it go!"
Yes, don't make any noise. If Shakespeare's works are your "dish", eat them. On the contrary, you can find another dish you like. The Yuan Ye of literature is infinite and inexhaustible, but time is limited. ...