Outline and Impressions of Kazuko Matsuoka's "Deep Reading Shakespeare" - A masterful book that will leave you amazed at the depth of translation and drama, and the power of actors!
I would like to introduce "Deep Reading Shakespeare" by Kazuko Matsuoka, published by Shinchosha in 2016.
Let's take a quick look at the book.
My translation is completed in the rehearsal room. Takako Matsu, Yu Aoi, and Toshiaki Karasawa taught us the secrets of Shakespeare's language through their plays. It was something that cleared up the translator's long-standing doubts and led him to a completely new interpretation. Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, and A Summer Night's Dream. ...... The translator and the actor explore the unknown aspects of these masterpieces in this deeply enjoyable and discovery-filled book.
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This book isChikuma Shobo's translation of Shakespeare's complete worksThe work is by Kazuko Matsuoka, famous for her
Kazuko Matsuoka's work has previously been discussed inKazuko Matsuoka, "Shakespeare in All Seasons" - A gem of a collection of essays that teaches the depth and joy of Shakespeare's plays!article.
After reading this book, I strongly felt that I wanted to read more of Matsuoka's books, so I picked up a copy of this book, "Deep Reading Shakespeare.
And this book was amazing...! Honestly, it was enough to change my view of Shakespeare all over again.
And as I mentioned in the title of the book, I was impressed by the superb actors! I have always had a longing for and respect for actors, and reading this book has strengthened that feeling.
The first theme of the book is.Hamlet."The story of Ms. Takako Matsu told in the book was one that immediately took my breath away. The author, Mr. Matsuoka, himselfI was like, 'Oh, my blood is going to flow back.' That was one of the biggest shocks of my life as a translator, and at the same time the moment when my respect for actors reached its zenith."stated in this publication.
Since we are here, we would like to introduce a part of it here.
Is Ophelia a Noble?
-Ophelia uses language that is unlike hers. You once wrote in an essay that Ophelia's dialogue has the style of her father, Prime Minister Bolognius, rather than her own words. What exactly do you mean by that?
In the so-called "nunnery scene," Act III, Scene 1 of "Hamlet," Ophelia's dialogue includes the phrase "the noble mind. A noble mind, a noble spirit. This is a dialogue with Hamlet, but in context, it is clearly referring to Ophelia herself. I began to feel uncomfortable when I was translating it. In other words, I felt that it was too noble even for the daughter of a nobleman to call herself a noble in front of Prince Hamlet, that it was out of character for the modest Ophelia, and I wondered why. However, as a translator, I couldn't just change the word to something more like Ophelia, so I translated it as "one who respects dignity. But why does she call herself a "noble"? This little question had been lingering in my mind for a long time, but one day it was cleared up and led me to a bigger discovery.
It was Takako Matsu who answered my question quite easily. It was in 1998, when "Hamlet" (first performed in 1995), directed by Yukio Ninagawa, was revived in London. A few days before the performance at the Barbican Theatre, I went to Stratfort-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace, with Hiroyuki Sanada, who played Hamlet, and Matsu, who played Ophelia. I had a great time talking with them as we toured the famous sites. I will never forget that while relaxing in the garden of the family home of Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway, I asked Ms. Matsu my question about this noble mind. Her answer was, "I do it because I think my parents make me say it! Mr. Sanada, who was listening by my side, said without a pause, "When I heard that, I felt that my father was behind it, and my feelings suddenly cooled down! Are you chaste? I would get out. I felt my blood boil. I was like, "Ohhh, so that's how it is. I understood that it was "not like Ophelia," but I could not think of who it was like. What is amazing about Ms. Matsu is that she was able to detect that the wording here was "very Polonius-like. I was so impressed that I re-read "Hamlet" carefully after I returned to Japan. I was afraid to read "Hamlet" carefully after I returned to Japan, and I found that the language used in the "nunnery scene" was not Ophelia-like because her father, Polonius, had told her in advance to speak to Hamlet in such a way. If that is the case, what kind of language and style of writing does Polonius use in the first place? Now I began to think about it. I feel that this work can be read more deeply if we focus on Ophelia's father, Polonius.
Shinchosha, Kazuko Matsuoka, "Deep Reading Shakespeare," p. 15-17
Even the translator Matsuoka-san was not aware of it, but the actors had mastered it in their performance...!
I was also astonished by this episode of Ms. Takako Matsuoka. Even I, a reader of the book, was astonished at the surprise of Ms. Matsuoka. I can understand why her blood flowed backwards.
In addition to this, there are episodes by Tsutomu Yamazaki, Yu Aoi, and Toshiaki Karasawa, all of whom are just too cool. I can only be amazed at the greatness of these top-notch actors.
What is unique about Matsuoka-san as a translator is that he does not end with the translation of the original work, but rather, he is present at the theater production to receive feedback from the director and actors to further evolve the translation.
It is only visible because the actor plays the role.
Matsuoka's perspective, which is focused on the theater, is reflected in his translation.
Well, "Shakespeare in Depth" is a truly wonderful work.
It is easy to see how Shakespeare captured the subtleties of human nature with such precision. I myself was full of awe at this work.
I have always read the Tsunen Fukuda translation when it comes to Shakespeare translations. I still love Fukuda's translation.
However, I was strongly tempted to read it again in Kazuko Matsuoka's translation as well.
It was a tremendous shock to me early in the year 2023. This is a great book, one of the best books of all time, and I highly recommend it. I highly recommend you to pick up a copy.
This is "Kazuko Matsuoka's "A Deep Reading of Shakespeare" - A masterpiece that will leave you amazed at the depth of translation and drama, and the power of actors! The above is "Kazuko Matsuoka's "A Deep Reading of Shakespeare
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