Shakespeare Complete Works. 31. Macbeth (Chinese-English Parallel)

Author: (English) William Shakespeare
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-01-01
Features: China Radio & Television Press introduced the copyright of the bilingual edition of The Complete Works of Shakespeare translated by Liang Shiqiu from Far Eastern Book Company, Taiwan, and published it. This is the first time the Liang translation of The Complete Works of Shakespeare has been published and distributed in mainland China in a bilingual format. The main features of the Liang translation are: a colloquial prose style; a literal translation that remains faithful to the original text; a complete translation that does not omit any part of the original. In addition, the Liang translation has unique aspects: first, it includes annotations. The original works of Shakespeare often present version difficulties, being obscure and hard to understand, with many puns, idioms, slang, allusions, and even obscene language. Liang Shiqiu not only translated the text literally but also added numerous annotations to help readers understand the original. Second, an introduction is added before each play. The introductions discuss the version, composition period, source of the story, stage history, significance, and critical opinions of the play. In the Renaissance, sovereignty was considered a sacred and supreme force. As soon as King Lear appears, he demands his daughters to declare their love for him, revealing the deep connection between his eccentric mindset and autocratic rule. Additionally, the play portrays many archetypal family relationships: sibling rivalry, the fear of losing parental favor, and parents' fear of their children's indifference, among others. For nearly four centuries, King Lear has received polarized evaluations. For example, in Shakespeare's works, no other play is as brutal and unjust as this one, where injustice and tyranny are so rampant yet go unpunished, making the play both filled with unbearable suffering and grand in scope, likened to the Divine Comedy or Beethoven's symphonies. Shelley even praised it as the greatest dramatic poem.