Shakespeare works were written in Early Modern English which we are not used to. So, reading his works might seem like reading an intirely different language.
Don't panic. The writing does seem hard and complex at first but if you try to understand the lines bit by bit you will be able to understand the story. I don't think you can read Shakespeare plays or any literary works the same way you read a romance book. You must read it step by step. Don't apply skimming or scanning technique to read Shakespeare's works. Remember, that reading literature is not a reading contest. The winner is not the one who finish first but how much one understand the works.
Shakespeare had written his plays to be spoken and acted on stage so I think the best way to read and understand his plays is by reading aloud (you can also act out; it will deepen your understanding). By reading aloud, with variety of intonation you can feel the emotion embedded in the writings. Plus, it is interesting to read it aloud especially with some friends. Someone can read out the part of Iago or Roderigo or Othello.
Some of the pronouns used in Shakespeare's plays are in Early Modern English. I will list them for yor reading reference.
'thou' = you
'thee' and 'ye' = objective cases of you
'thy' and 'thine' = your/yours
That's all. Thank you
updated by Aini Hanani
