Reviews

Henry IV, Part 2 by William Shakespeare

emmaemmaemmaemma's review against another edition

3.0

Another history that again, I enjoyed because of thy dynamics between Prince Hal and his lads. He did get a bit more boring as he became more responsible, but I suppose it’s for the greater good of England. Although the histories are my least favorite of Shakespeare’s works, I am actually looking forward to seeing how Hal fairs as a king in Henry V.

Another one down! Here’s a few cool quotes,

Northumberland: See what a ready tongue suspicion hath! He that but fears the thing he would not know. Hath by instinct knowledge from others’ eyes.

Chief Justice: I am well acquainted with your manner of wrenching the true cause the false way.

Prince Hal: What wouldst thou think of me, if I should weep?
Poins: I would think thee a most princely hypocrite.

King Hal: Presume not that I am the thing I was; For God doth know, so shall the world perceive, that I have turn’d away my former self.

Pistol: si fortuna me tormenta, spero me contenta (a garble of languages that translates to “if fortune torments me, hope contents me”)

professor_dinosaur's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

mittland's review against another edition

4.0

this series gets more and more tragic for every play I finish, the pursuit of the crown more and more hopeless for every failure and hope left unfulfilled. the crown as a symbol of lineage and family when the family becomes ever more splintered and paranoid... it's too much I wanna get off this ride

davisroberts's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

4.0

anja_reads's review against another edition

2.0

This one was so boring.

kaylaoswald's review against another edition

tense medium-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? Yes

3.0

shoelessmama's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I enjoyed this marginally more than part 1. I'm not as enamored of Falstaff as so many others supposedly are- or were in Shakespeare's day. There were some good speeches made by other characters and I found the death of Henry moving. I think I'll probably continue a slow ascent with Henry V being better than this... one can only hope.

sophie1994's review against another edition

4.0

This is a solid play. It is very much the story of a prince who has two father figures and the conflict of duty vs pleasure. Not among my favourite Shakespeare plays but a decent play when combined with Part 1.

giannalaroche's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad

2.0

ameliawatt's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

2.75