tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5409242456356117499.post473540518796146185..comments2023-06-15T02:49:15.916-04:00Comments on Shakespeare in a Year: This Week's Reading AssignmentAshleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084203792889446528noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5409242456356117499.post-55794024160011406812010-07-11T13:52:49.413-04:002010-07-11T13:52:49.413-04:00As far as the histories go, most of the Henrys mak...As far as the histories go, most of the Henrys make for quite good reading and discussion.Janetvannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5409242456356117499.post-36604229165469077762010-07-10T11:24:57.422-04:002010-07-10T11:24:57.422-04:00P-e-s, I was reading Hazlitt's "Character...P-e-s, I was reading Hazlitt's "Characters of Shakespeare's Plays" last night, and I found a quote that might speak to why the histories tend to be less popular:<br /><br />"If we are to indulge our imaginations, we had rather do it upon an imaginary theme; if we are to find subjects for the exercise of our pity and terror, we prefer seeking them in fictitious danger and fictitious distress. It gives a soreness to our feelings of indignation or sympathy, when we know that in tracing the progress of sufferings and crimes we are treading upon real ground ... That the treachery of King John, the death of Arthur, the grief of Constance, had a real truth in history, sharpens the sense of pain, while it hangs a leaden weight on the heart and the imagination ... a drawback on the pleasure as well as the dignity of tragedy."Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17084203792889446528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5409242456356117499.post-16138799889029708162010-07-10T02:13:00.115-04:002010-07-10T02:13:00.115-04:00Henry V has been done so many different ways, ofte...Henry V has been done so many different ways, often as a pro-war propaganda piece and also an anti-war propaganda piece. Olivier's was made during WWII, and was meant to bolster morale. But I've also heard of one stage production in which the English and French are depicted as men on a soccer field playing their little war games. Branaugh certainly didn't shrink from a more realistic depiction of gruesome warfare. But I must say, his "Band of Brothers" speech almost make ME want to go war.Ed Velahttp://www.facebook.com/ed.velanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5409242456356117499.post-31932565795632648602010-07-09T22:07:46.766-04:002010-07-09T22:07:46.766-04:00Wow, I definitely did not get "dry" from...Wow, I definitely did not get "dry" from Henry IV. And I figure Richard III's super-badass-and-evil lead character piques everyone's interests. I'm waiting for Richard II in the mail, but from the little verse I've read, this one especially seems like a poetic powerhouse. <br /><br />So, how's King John going? Why the bad reputation? And, this being Shakespeare, would you say a bad King John beats a good "insert-other-literary-work-here" most of the time?p-e-shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11620294925800411564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5409242456356117499.post-32612395715330947852010-07-09T10:20:04.068-04:002010-07-09T10:20:04.068-04:00I think the general consensus is that the historie...I think the general consensus is that the histories are dry in comparison to the comedies and tragedies, but I don't necessarily agree with that statement. I think, for example, that Henry IV, Part I, is one of the Bard's best works, and I always enjoy Henry V and Richard III, too. Now, King John, on the other hand, has a bit of a reputation for awfulness ...Ashleyhttp://www.shakespeareinayear.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5409242456356117499.post-58099089860991857842010-07-09T10:15:20.853-04:002010-07-09T10:15:20.853-04:00So, someone enlighten me: why are the history play...So, someone enlighten me: why are the history playes generally avoided? I was under the impression Henry IV was absolutely revered, as was Richard II's poetry and Henry V's patriotism (though, having not read it, I would bet Shakespeare more mocked national pride than anything else).<br /><br />I knew very little about the War of the Roses, and still Henry IV was very enjoyable.p-e-shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11620294925800411564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5409242456356117499.post-35511911139613525852010-07-08T21:04:04.546-04:002010-07-08T21:04:04.546-04:00Oh, I just wanted a catchy slogan! We're defin...Oh, I just wanted a catchy slogan! We're definitely going to tackle the sonnets, Lucrece, Venus & Adonis, etc. I really want to get through the complete works!Ashleyhttp://www.shakespeareinayear.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5409242456356117499.post-85476592873491054362010-07-08T20:56:55.800-04:002010-07-08T20:56:55.800-04:00Ok, a question...
"38 plays, 52 weeks, one ...Ok, a question... <br /><br />"38 plays, 52 weeks, one very overloaded brain"<br /><br />This means we're not gonna tackle the sonnets?Marcushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324859682798141721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5409242456356117499.post-7201128768468461402010-07-07T04:25:46.443-04:002010-07-07T04:25:46.443-04:00Interesting observation about being a mix of Edmun...Interesting observation about being a mix of Edmund and Falstaff. I knew I liked him for some reason.Ed Velahttp://www.facebook.com/ed.velanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5409242456356117499.post-40676444159399042862010-07-06T16:18:14.680-04:002010-07-06T16:18:14.680-04:00I'm two acts into the play, and I already agre...I'm two acts into the play, and I already agree with you about the bastard. What a great character -- an early mix of Edmund and Falstaff.Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17084203792889446528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5409242456356117499.post-27218981969893179672010-07-06T13:54:25.795-04:002010-07-06T13:54:25.795-04:00I also like King John. I've never been able t...I also like King John. I've never been able to see it performed, unfortunately, but I think that it would be great with a sympathic cast. <br /><br />The Bastard is a wonderful character -- he almost steps off the page into real life. It would be a lot of fun for an actor to play. Eleanor has some great lines; since she's Eleanor of Aquitaine, I imagine her played by Kathrine Hepburn as in "The Lion in Winter." Constance, also, has a great chance to chew up the scenery. <br /><br />Great fun!garydzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08966667764995327850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5409242456356117499.post-91428455175175747602010-07-05T01:36:57.516-04:002010-07-05T01:36:57.516-04:00I LIKE King John! Okay, it's not my favorite,...I LIKE King John! Okay, it's not my favorite, but it's not bad. There's a great speech at the end of act 2, delivered by the "Bastard," on "Commodity," self interest.Ed Velahttp://www.facebook.com/ed.velanoreply@blogger.com