Reviews

The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare

empodiddly's review against another edition

adventurous challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

migs_rae's review against another edition

funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

andrew_j_r's review against another edition

3.0

I don’t get this play. It’s all fine until the final scene and then it all flies apart. I know it’s supposed to be a comedy rather than a tragedy but the final scene is quite tragic in the way it relates to reality. I don’t buy that at the start of the final scene Julia sees Proteus about to rape Silvia but by the end of the scene is back in love with him.
So my score for the book here does not just reflect the play (it wouldn’t have been a two or perhaps less based purely in that) but it us elevated by the interesting background material by Roger Warren, thankfully I had read this before I launched into the play, so forewarned was forearmed as it were.

bjayfogg's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

geliopoulos's review against another edition

3.0

i had to rate this higher than the tempest but mostly it just makes me reconsider my rating for the tempest

booksofgayle's review against another edition

2.75

new faves for the will-shakes list:

Thus have I shunn'd the fire for fear of burning, And drench'd me in the sea, where I am drown'd.

You, minion, are too saucy.

And I as rich in having such a jewel As twenty seas, if all their sand were pearl, The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold.

Injurious wasps, to feed on such sweet honey And kill the bees that yield it with your stings!

What an ass art thou! I understand thee not. // Why, thou whoreson ass, thou mistak'st me.

I rather would entreat thy company To see the wonders of the world abroad, Than, living dully sluggardiz'd at home, Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness.

plot progression was kinda shit tho ngl, expected comedy & got 1590s love island with shrugged-off rape culture. bruh🤡

karinlib's review against another edition

2.0

This was ok. I didn't really like the ending at all, which affected the way I feel about the play as a whole.
Apparently there is some debate as to whether this play is Shakespeare's first play. The list I have of Shakespeare's chronological order, puts this as the third. These early plays are definitely not as good as the later ones to me.

kimberlyjerger's review against another edition

2.5

*2.5

friendofmarlowe's review against another edition

1.0

edit on 3/21/21: lowered review to one star.... :|

hey. will. i know this is an early one. maybe even the earliest. but. why? the whiplash of going from hamlet to this. i really need to read a good comedy soon.

missmim's review against another edition

2.0

I've seen and done this show too much to have any love for it. And the end is just a mess. However, I recently re-read it with some newbies, and they loved it, so maybe it's one of those things where it's great until it's overplayed.