AN ODYSSEY INTO THE WORLD OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

-


Photo/tcm.com: Romeo and Juliet


By Thomas Chemelil



Sometimes in the early 90s, Brother Paul Brennan(may his soul rest in peace) introduced us to the magical world of Shakespeares literature. Through well choreographed lessons, he made us devour Romeo and Juliet, the timeless love story of two star-crossed lovers whose deaths make their families, the Montagues and the Capulets, reconcile and forget their bitterness.

To make us easily grasp the story, Brother Paul Brennan took the effort to ship in a video tape of the classical story. Since then, I have always yearned to watch that movie one more time. Tonight, through YouTube, I have come across the lovely tale again. What a joy! It has taken me down memory lane.

Meeting my favourite characters like Mercutio, Friar Lawrence, Benvolia, the Nurse and Balthazar evokes sweet memories. It is akin to meeting long-lost relatives!

Old as it is, Romeo and Juliet is a classical story of love's triumph over hate. It is a constant reminder to us that love supercedes hate in our society.

I find the story relevant in our society where people are segregated depending on the hill or valley they hail from. You will contantly hear about the people of "Murima" or those from "the lake" or a "Valley" for that matter. Such categorization of people has often permeated our social fabric with disastrous consequences. In 2007, Kenya was on tbe brink of the precipice when tribal animosity exploded. The result was a blood path unmatched in our history. The tragedy is that we had no Romeo or Juliet to bring us back; it took the intervention of Koffi Annan to bring us back to sanity.

Shakespeare seeks to remind us of the healing power of love and the glue-tight bond it can create in our hearts.

To all those who were in Saints in the 90s, it is a journey back to memory lane. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE DAY TULA CHESAINA REFUSED TO PUT ON SHOES

-
Image
 Photo/Veronica: Tula Chesaina By Thomas Chemelil I have always told you hilarious tales in the past, tales that have defined who we are and where we came from. By knowing where we come from, we get the visa to where we are going. Today, I choose to tell you the story of Tula Chesaina a.k.a KopCheserem of Kapkomora  who is married to Nyirar. The story year is 1974. The occasion? The lovely wedding of Anne Mubichi from Kapkomora to Mubichi Mburugua of Naari  in North Imenti in Meru County. Anne Mubichi is the great mum to Mutembei, Asca, Mureithi and Tim Mubichi.  A delegation to the wedding is dispatched to Meru. The person to drive them to Meru is none other than the army officer who owned a Land Rover then, Daudi Kibuswa- the uncle to Jebiwot Bischof. Here is where the drama begins. Mzee Chemelil Yatich (RIP) buys adamant Tula Chesaina shoes at Eldoret in order to prevent the 'shame' of Tula travelling to Meru without shoes! For those in the know, Tula Chesaina hol...
Read more

OF MARAKWET HIGH SCHOOL AND THE FORTY ONE FIREPLACES

-
  By Thomas Chemelil Marakwet Secondary School( now St. Peter's Marakwet High School) is definitely one of the old schools that has served the community well producing great men and women.  I stumble on one Mzee Luka Kotut at Wagon Wheel in Eldoret who narrates to me a hilarious tale of Marakwet High School. It must have then been an Inntermediate School. The year is 1966. The characters in the story? The likes of Cheptile, Kotut amonst others.  In total, there were 41 students in the school. 30 from Marakwet and 11 from Keiyo.  The interesting part of the story is that each of the forty one students had his own fireplace where he would cook his own meals! In total there were 41 fireplaces or what Mzee Kotut would funnily call " Kabekeren chole artam oko akong'o". Each student brought his own flour from home and other necessary items in order to individually cook his own meals.  Tired of the messy process, young Kotut asked the students to approach the Board of ...
Read more

MALALA'S TROUBLED PLAYS AND KENYA'S LONG HISTORY OF CENSORSHIP

-
Image
Photo/Butere Girls: Echoes of War.  By Thomas Chemelil  Cleaphas Malala's play 'Echoes of War' has generated immense heat in Kenya's political landscape with many wondering what the play is all about. However, this is not the first time that Malala has run into trouble with the authorities over his contentious plays. Somewhere around 2012, Malala scripted 'Shackles of Doom,' a narrative that detailed the exploitation of a  marginalized community in whose land  valuable crude oil had been discovered. What follows is a mad rush by an "investor" community to reap from the new-found oil at the expense of the locals. In order to endear themselves to the host community, the "investor" unashamedly marries a local girl  who would act as bridge between him and the community to facilitate the wanton pillage of the community resources. Like 'Echoes of War,' 'Shackles of Doom' raised enough political dust with the authorities taking note....
Read more