Friday, September 16, 2011

Simon, Garfunkel, and Shakespeare

This morning I was musing on the play A Winters Tale, and in my head started to play the song "I am a Rock" by Simon and Garfunkel. At first I thought the sadness of the song would connect it to Leontes. After thinking I realized that it connects much better to his wife, Hermione. With no disrespect to S and G and their great music, Here is "I am a Rock", Winters Tale style.

(Words in red are changed by me)

A winter's day
In a deep and dark December;
I am alone,
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

I'm behind walls,
A fortress deep and mighty,
That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain. 
Because of laughter and loving I'm disdained.
I am a rock,
I am an island. 
Hermione: I am a Rock

I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor, 
Locked within my room, a child's left my womb.
Leontes can't you see
I've touched no one and no one has touched me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.

2 comments:

  1. I'm impressed. I like seeing people make connections that I hadn't thought of before. I like S and G (and Shakespeare) and thought this was a great juxtaposition. The Sound of Silence would be another good song for this play...

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like what you did with the picture and the caption, not to mention the 'rock' solid comparison you did with that song. It fits really well.

    ReplyDelete