"I thought I'd begin by reading a poem by Shakespeare, but then I thought, why should I? He never reads any of mine"
- Spike Milligan
About this Quote
Spike Milligan's quote, "I believed I 'd start by checking out a poem by Shakespeare, but then I thought, why should I? He never ever checks out any of mine," is an amusing and humorous take on the respect generally paid for to historical literary figures. Through this declaration, Milligan employs irony and self-deprecating humor, trademark techniques in his comedic style, to challenge the unidirectional circulation of affection and impact from contemporary writers towards canonical figures like William Shakespeare.
The quote begins with the familiar concept of starting a literary or cultural occasion with a reading from Shakespeare, acknowledging the bard's towering existence in literature. Shakespeare is a symbol of the literary elite and represents the peak of creative accomplishment, typically conjured up to lend reliability or gravitas to an event.
However, Milligan rapidly subverts this expectation with a rhetorical question, "why should I?" This marks a shift from expected affection to individual empowerment, reflecting a more fair view of imaginative expression. Milligan humorously indicates that considering that Shakespeare, bound by the restraints of time and mortality, can not reciprocate the gesture, there's a fundamental imbalance in the one-sided homage paid to him by contemporary writers.
Furthermore, Milligan's jest highlights the human desire for recognition and the often solitary nature of an author's life. The tongue-in-cheek assertion that Shakespeare "never reads any of mine" highlights the reality that imagination and genius are not unique to the past. Modern voices, including Milligan's own, deserve acknowledgment and celebration, not just deference to those who came before.
In essence, through this smart quip, Milligan not just satirizes the literary facility but likewise champs the significance of recognizing contemporary creativity. It's a reminder that while it's crucial to honor the greats, we ought to also worth and commemorate new and diverse voices in literature and art.
"With the question of the effect of a poem, the topic of investigation shifts from that of textual autonomy to textual reception - to the issue of what we actually look for or find in reading a poem"
"A revolutionary poem will not tell you who or when to kill, what and when to burn, or even how to theorize. It reminds you... where and when and how you are living and might live, it is a wick of desire"
