In an exciting literary find, a researcher from Oxford University has uncovered a rare handwritten variation of William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 116,” a poem often recited at weddings and celebrated for its themes of devoted love. However, a new study reveals that the poem may have had a very different meaning during the tumultuous English Civil Wars in the mid-1600s.
The discovery, which was reported in The Review of English Studies, highlights how Shakespeare's work has always been subject to adaptation, reflecting the political climate of its time. James Shapiro, a Columbia University Shakespeare expert, emphasized the importance of finding any manuscript related to the Bard's poetry, calling it “incredibly exciting.”
As Shakespeare’s work has continually been repurposed to fit various political and social contexts, this revelation may shed new light on how his poems resonated in moments of crisis, reminding us that literature evolves and reflects the times it emerges from.
The discovery, which was reported in The Review of English Studies, highlights how Shakespeare's work has always been subject to adaptation, reflecting the political climate of its time. James Shapiro, a Columbia University Shakespeare expert, emphasized the importance of finding any manuscript related to the Bard's poetry, calling it “incredibly exciting.”
As Shakespeare’s work has continually been repurposed to fit various political and social contexts, this revelation may shed new light on how his poems resonated in moments of crisis, reminding us that literature evolves and reflects the times it emerges from.
