cgillman's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
emilyota's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One of Shakespeare’s most famous history plays; filled with famous speeches, complex character development, and the Bard’s take on historical figures of Great Britain and Fance.
anikoliab's review
4.0
Read for Shakespeare class with James Shapiro. I think I can like almost anything of Shakespeare's, but this one wasn't a favorite.
bwaycatherine's review
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jeyjey's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.0
figgy_pudding's review
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Not Shakespeare's best. I can see Act 3 & 4 being really engrossing on stage but Act 1, 2 & 5 were a real slog to get through. I prefer shakespeare when he focuses on character more
justfoxie's review against another edition
3.0
As I get more and more into Shakespeare, I've found that the best way to prepare for seeing the plays is to read them, ideally while listening to a dramatised version. The only unabridged ones that I've found are from Arkangel and they are quite good.
So that's precisely what I did with this one. I must say that I think this is possibly one of my least favourite plays to date. The glorification of violence and the justification of war in order to pacify your own population just doesn't sit well with me overall. That said, there are some fantastic moments in it (as expected) - namely Act I, Scene ii where Harry rebuffs the Dauphin's "gift". It's also really hard not to laugh at the way the French prance about singing odes to their steeds either. Enough to make a lady blush, that is.
Anyway, we're off to see the RSC's production in a few days, so it will be interesting to see what they keep and what they cut - as ever - as well as how Catherine is played. She's really only on stage for one scene (I don't count Act III, scene iv, which is perhaps some of the most childish bit of theatre I think I've ever read). . .
I did go ahead and read the intro, which I found in terns really interesting and amazingly finnicky. I had no idea that the study of Shakespeare got so mundane - all the flipping back and forth between quartos and folios and memoirs and foul papers and fair copy is enough to do my head in. The historical and character commentary I found quite helpful and really helped to give the characters more depth. I wonder how much of this that actual Shakespearean actors have to get embroiled in? Seems like a minefield to me, but I guess that's how we as audiences reap the rewards.
So that's precisely what I did with this one. I must say that I think this is possibly one of my least favourite plays to date. The glorification of violence and the justification of war in order to pacify your own population just doesn't sit well with me overall. That said, there are some fantastic moments in it (as expected) - namely Act I, Scene ii where Harry rebuffs the Dauphin's "gift". It's also really hard not to laugh at the way the French prance about singing odes to their steeds either. Enough to make a lady blush, that is.
Anyway, we're off to see the RSC's production in a few days, so it will be interesting to see what they keep and what they cut - as ever - as well as how Catherine is played. She's really only on stage for one scene (I don't count Act III, scene iv, which is perhaps some of the most childish bit of theatre I think I've ever read). . .
I did go ahead and read the intro, which I found in terns really interesting and amazingly finnicky. I had no idea that the study of Shakespeare got so mundane - all the flipping back and forth between quartos and folios and memoirs and foul papers and fair copy is enough to do my head in. The historical and character commentary I found quite helpful and really helped to give the characters more depth. I wonder how much of this that actual Shakespearean actors have to get embroiled in? Seems like a minefield to me, but I guess that's how we as audiences reap the rewards.