I’ve been immersed in Shakespeare again.  A performance of ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’ at the weekend and then a surprise trip to the McCready theatre in Rugby to see an Audience with Sir Gregory Doran, former Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company and one my all time favourite directors.

He talked about – among many other topics – how some people go to see a play for the quotes.  In other words, the lines they recognise.

Reflecting on this, I began to wonder whether we sometimes lose the meaning or profundity of a line simply because it is so familiar.

The line above, ‘Fortune is merry – and in this mood will grant us anything’ is one I like because it carries with it (for me) such a joyful feeling.

Have you ever felt as though you can have anything you want?  That’s what this line is about.  In times past, people ascribed their moods, behaviour and results to outside forces – or Gods.

We know better than to do that, but we can still experience that joyful feeling when everything and anything feels possible.  Try saying the line out loud and notice how you feel…