Shakespeare’s plays have captivated audiences for over 400 years, but for many, the language can feel like an insurmountable barrier. Words and phrases that were common in Elizabethan England are now distant, alien to modern English speakers. This creates what linguist John McWhorter calls a “fog” that prevents us from fully grasping the beauty and power of Shakespeare’s work. But what if we could clear away that fog? What if we could translate Shakespeare into modern English, making it accessible without losing the poetic gravitas that makes it so enduring?
That’s the question I’ve been exploring, and today, I’ll give you a glimpse of that effort by focusing on a famous speech from Julius Caesar. I’ll first read the speech as it appears in Shakespeare’s original text, then offer a modern translation that preserves the essence of the speech while making it easier for contemporary audiences to understand. By comparing these versions, we can see how small changes in language and syntax can make a world of difference.
Why Modernize Shakespeare?
For centuries, Shakespeare has been held up as the pinnacle of English literature, and for good reason. His plays explore timeless themes—power, love, betrayal, and ambition—that resonate as deeply today as they did in the 16th century. Yet, many modern readers and audiences struggle with his archaic language. There’s a tendency to get lost in unfamiliar words, outdated syntax, and references that no longer hold the same meaning.
John McWhorter has argued that non-English speakers often have a better understanding of Shakespeare than native English speakers. Why? Because they read Shakespeare in translations that are accessible to their language. For example, a Russian speaker might have an easier time grasping the nuances of a play like Hamlet because they are reading it in contemporary Russian. Meanwhile, we’re stuck with Elizabethan English, which often feels as foreign to us as Russian does.
The goal of modernizing Shakespeare is not to diminish his work, but to illuminate it. We want to preserve the poetry, the character depth, and the complexity of the plots, while making the language relatable. It’s about finding a balance—keeping the gravitas, but making it something that today’s audiences can grasp immediately.
The Speech: Brutus in Julius Caesar
For this example, I’m focusing on Julius Caesar, specifically the moment where Brutus is grappling with a moral dilemma—should he kill Caesar, his friend, in order to save the Roman Republic? This speech is crucial because it reveals Brutus’s internal struggle and sets the stage for the eventual assassination. Let’s begin by reading the original text from Act 2, Scene 1.
Original Speech:
It must be by his death: and for my part,
I know no personal cause to spurn at him,
But for the general. He would be crown’d:—
How that might change his nature, there’s the question.
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder;
And that craves wary walking. Crown him?—that;—
And then, I grant, we put a sting in him,
That at his will he may do danger with.
The abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins
Remorse from power: and, to speak truth of Caesar,
I have not known when his affections sway’d
More than his reason. But ‘tis a common proof,
That lowliness is young ambition’s ladder,
Whereto the climber-upward turns his face;
But when he once attains the upmost round,
He then unto the ladder turns his back,
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend: so Caesar may;
Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel
Will bear no colour for the thing he is,
Fashion it thus; that what he is, augmented,
Would run to these and these extremities:
And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg,
Which, hatch’d, would, as his kind, grow mischievous;
And kill him in the shell.
This speech presents several challenges for a modern reader or listener. Words like “adder” (a type of snake) and phrases like “craves wary walking” (demands careful stepping) are not commonly used today. Even the syntax, such as “lest he may, prevent,” feels convoluted to our modern ears. Yet, the central theme—the danger of unchecked power—is still incredibly relevant.
The Modern Translation
Now, here’s my modernized version of the same speech, where I aim to keep the language elevated while making it more immediately understandable:
Modernized Speech:
It must be by his death. And for my part,
I know no personal cause to strike at him,
But for the general good. He would be crowned.
How that might change his nature—that’s the question.
It is the bright day that brings forth the serpent,
And that demands careful stepping. Crown him, then.
And then I grant we give him a sting,
Which at his will he may do damage with.
The abuse of greatness is when it separates
Compassion from power. And, to speak truth of Caesar,
I have not known when his emotions swayed
More than his reason. But it’s a common proof
That humility is young ambition’s ladder,
To which the climber turns his face upward.
But once he reaches the utmost rung,
He then turns his back upon the ladder,
Gazing into the clouds, scorning the base steps
By which he did ascend. So may Caesar;
Then, lest he may, we must prevent him.
And since the quarrel will bear no color
For what he is now, shape it this way:
That what he is magnified would lead
To these and other extremes. Therefore,
Think of him as a serpent’s egg,
Which hatched, would by its nature become dangerous,
And so we must kill him in the shell.
What Changes in the Translation?
The primary goal here is clarity. We’ve replaced words like “adder” with “serpent” and rephrased “craves wary walking” as “demands careful stepping.” These changes make the speech more accessible without sacrificing its gravitas.
The phrase “lowliness is young ambition’s ladder” becomes “humility is young ambition’s ladder.” This is a subtle but important update—modern audiences are more familiar with the word “humility” than “lowliness,” and the concept remains intact. Similarly, “scorning the base degrees” is translated to “scorning the base steps,” a clearer image for contemporary readers.
The line “lest he may, prevent” has been changed to “lest he may, we must prevent him.” This modern phrasing makes the intent behind Brutus’s thoughts much more direct and understandable.
Why These Changes Matter
Each of these changes is designed to reduce the cognitive load on the reader or listener, allowing them to focus on the core ideas of the speech rather than getting lost in archaic language. In Shakespeare’s time, the audience would have understood “adder” and “degrees” in their respective contexts. Today, those words don’t have the same resonance, and they risk alienating the audience from the message.
By modernizing Shakespeare, we’re not just translating words—we’re preserving the emotional and intellectual depth of the original. Brutus’s speech is about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the moral struggle between loyalty to a friend and loyalty to the state. These themes are timeless, but they can only resonate if the audience can understand them clearly.
Moving Forward with Modern Shakespeare
This project to modernize Shakespeare isn’t about dumbing down the language. It’s about opening up his works to more people. Shakespeare’s brilliance lies not just in his words, but in the characters and the stories he tells. By modernizing the language, we can help ensure that future generations can appreciate the full breadth of his genius without being hampered by linguistic barriers.
There are countless other examples from Shakespeare’s plays where modern translations can shed new light on old texts. Whether it’s Hamlet’s existential musings or the romantic entanglements in Romeo and Juliet, these stories have the power to move us—if we can understand them.
My hope is that by making Shakespeare more accessible, more people will be able to experience the joy, complexity, and beauty of his work. Let’s clear away the fog and make Shakespeare speak to us in a way that resonates today.
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