7 noteworthy modern retellings of Shakespeare

William Shakespeare’s contributions to literature and culture is undoubtedly timeless, just like him. Over the years, many authors have taken the central themes of Shakespeare’s works and given them a new point of view. Here we list down some noteworthy modern retellings of Shakespeare's works which everyone should read.

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'Shylock is My Name' by British novelist Howard Jacobson is a retelling of Shakespeare’s 'The Merchant of Venice'. The story follows Shylock, a wealthy Jew, who feels that his daughter has betrayed him because she is infatuated with an anti-semitic footballer. The story touhes upon the themes of identity, parenthood, anti-Semitism and revenge.

Photo: Random House

Published in 2016, 'Vinegar Girl' by Anne Tyler is a modern retelling of 'The Taming of the Shrew' by Shakespeare. It follows the story of pre-school teacher, Kate, who runs the home for her eccentric scientist father. Kate is already on the brink of a breakout when her father asks her to marry his assistant who is about to be deported.

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'Hag-Seed' by twice Booker-winner Margaret Atwood is a modern retelling of Shakespeare's ‘The Tempest’. The story follows Observer Felix, the Artistic Director of Makeshiweg Theatre Festival who is staging a Tempest, which hasn't been done before. "It will boost his reputation. It will heal emotional wounds. Or that was the plan. Instead, after an act of unforeseen treachery, Felix is living in exile in a backwoods hovel, haunted by memories of his beloved lost daughter, Miranda. Also brewing revenge. After twelve years, revenge finally arrives in the shape of a theatre course at a nearby prison. Here, Felix and his inmate actors will put on his Tempest and snare the traitors who destroyed him. It’s magic! But will it remake Felix as his enemies fall?," reads the book's blurb. In 2017, the book was longlisted for Women's Prize for Fiction.

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'Macbeth' by Jo Nesbø is a thriller by Norwegian writer Jo Nesbø. As the title suggests, the book is a modern re-telling of the Shakespeare's play 'Macbeth'. The tale is of a corrupt police officer and his girlfriend who owns a casino in an industrial town in the 1970s. A local drug dealer is hired to murder a professional rival and the policeman sets up his best friend.

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Jane Smiley won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1992 for her novel 'Thousand Acres', which is a modern-day retelling of Shakespeare’s 'King Lear'. The tale is of a farmer who decides to divide his farm between his three daughters. When the youngest daughter rebels, she is kicked out of his will which leads to numerous emotional breakthroughs and events in the family.

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Published in 2016, 'Nutshell' by Ian McEwan retells William Shakespeare's play 'Hamlet' from the point of view of a fetus. The tale follows the murderous misadventures of the mother, and her lover and brother-in-law, who are deceiving and manipulating the baby's father to steal everything.

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'Desdemona' by Toni Morrison is a retelling of Shakespeare’s 'Othello'. 'Desdemona' unburdens her thoughts to her African nurse and maid Barbary, who raised her with African songs and stories. The tale touches upon themes of racism, war, and oppression.

Photo: Methuen Drama