As this trip comes to an end, I am incredibly grateful for all of the experiences gifted to us throughout. From a stressful arrival, to finding a groove in the city, to the last few days of a slower pace, this study abroad experience has filled my cup infinitely.
We just finished up our last few days in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace! While there we got to visit Shakespeare’s birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s cottage, the home he built for the two of them called The New Place, and Trinity Church where they are both buried. Both Shakespeare’s birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s cottage are still standing to this day. In many of the rooms they still had original pieces such as Shakespeare’s writing chair, bed frames, and even original windows! It is insane to think that these buildings that were built almost half a millenia ago are still standing strong enough for us to go inside. I think about the buildings we make today, the homes and skyscrapers and theatres, and can’t imagine any of them still standing 500 years from now. Some of the flooring we walked across was the original stone flooring, and I was struck by walking in the literal footsteps of Shakespeare. Because he, too, was just a man. He had no idea of the legacy he would leave (or at least certainly not to the extent he would leave it), and he was just living his life the best way he knew how. And really, what more can any of us try to do than that?
The New Place unfortunately no longer stands, though the grounds on which it was built are now covered in beautiful gardens. There are markings on the stone pavement that give an idea of which rooms might have lived in which part of the garden. Once again, I was struck by the connection to history. Only this time it wasn’t just about the connection to these historical figures, but rather to every person who had walked along this path. The friends of Shakespeare’s children who came over to play, the owners who moved in after, the ones going through the ruins once the house no longer stood, the ones who decided to plant a marvellous garden. We are all connected in ways we cannot begin to comprehend, and I am ever thankful for the way that energy flows through the universe in one never ending loop.
Trinity Church was absolutely beautiful. The stained glass, though it would not have been present during Shakespeare’s time, was marvelous. Within the church lay the remains of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway. There is also a bust of Shakespeare up on the wall in full color that shows him writing with a quill and ink. While these death memorial statues were common in the day, it was not at all common to have them in color or to have any notion of the person’s profession. This to me says that Shakespeare’s faith truly was in his writing and his connection to humanity, rather than to any connection to the divine. I can’t say I blame him – I’d rather be known for the ways I impacted the world around me than whatever faith to which I hold.
All in all, I could not be more thankful for this experience. From theatres to gardens to museums to quaint little towns, I’ve gotten to see the world through so many different lenses. I have learned so much about the creation of art that I cannot wait to bring into my future work. More than anything, I am grateful for the people with whom I got to share this experience. Good times are only made better by good company, and this most certainly was good company. I think Juliet said it best – parting is such sweet sorrow.
Theatre in London U of A 