"Shakespeare in the Bush"
Laura Bohannan
pages 29-35
Summary: This article was written by Laura Bohannan after she went on a visit to the African Bush. She wrote the article after she had an experience in the bush trying to read the natives there the story of Hamlet written by William Shakespeare.
Argument/Main Idea: Though cultures have many different customs and beliefs throughout the world, mankind can se many similarities in interpreting and understanding between each other no matter where they come from as long as explanation and discussion can take place.
Evidence:
"'you must explain what we do not understand, as we do when we tell you our stories' Realizing that here was my chance to prove Hamlet was universally intelligible." (page 30). Bohannan sees that she has the opportunity to convey her argument after the tribe leaders ask her to explain her story as she goes, just as they do for her.
"We who are elders will instruct you of their true meaning, so that when you return to your own land, your elders will see that you have not been sitting in the bush, but among those who know things and who have taught you wisdom." (page 34). The Tiv leaders, after hearing the story of Hamlet, believe that they are really the ones who have taught the lesson. As the story was told, they corrected and informed Bohannan the true meanings of the story that she was sharing.
