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A review by bioniclib
The Life and Death of King John by Deighton Kenneth, William Shakespeare
4.0
I read Shakespeare for his way with words, not his plots. I knew that most of his histories were infringements of Raphael Holinshed's History of England but this play seems to "borrow" from an anonymous play published around the same time as this one; The Troublesome Reign of John, King of England. But I've never really been bothered by that. Like I said, I like The Bard's writing style and that (I assume) isn't plagiarized.
This play also has the added social commentary; there are many parallels between the perceived legitimacy of John's reign and the reign of Elizabeth in Shakespeare's time. There's also some allusions to the religious climate in England at the time (i.e. England don't need no Pope, we'll just form our own church). It helps put the often faulty plot into perspective. I enjoyed this one, not as much as Hamlet or MacBeth but it was great to get back to reading his marvelous turns of phrase.
Speaking of which:
"What means this scorn, thou most untoward knave?" (1.1.243)
"What cracker is this same that deafs our ears
with this abundance of superfluous breath?" (2.1.147-8)
"They soot but calm words folded up in smoke
to make a faithless error in your ears" (2.1.229-230)
"Zounds! I was never so bethumped with words
since I first called my brother's father Dad." (2.1.467-8)
"Envenom him with words" (3.1.63)
"France, thou shalt rue this hour within this hour." (3.1.249)
"Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale
Vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man;" (3.4.108-9)
"Therefore to be possessed with double pomp
to guard a title that was rich before,
to gild refined gold, to paint the lily,
to throw perfume on the violet,
to smooth the ice, or add another hue
unto the rainbow, or with taper-light
to seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish,
is wasteful and ridiculous excess." (4.2.9-16)
This play also has the added social commentary; there are many parallels between the perceived legitimacy of John's reign and the reign of Elizabeth in Shakespeare's time. There's also some allusions to the religious climate in England at the time (i.e. England don't need no Pope, we'll just form our own church). It helps put the often faulty plot into perspective. I enjoyed this one, not as much as Hamlet or MacBeth but it was great to get back to reading his marvelous turns of phrase.
Speaking of which:
"What means this scorn, thou most untoward knave?" (1.1.243)
"What cracker is this same that deafs our ears
with this abundance of superfluous breath?" (2.1.147-8)
"They soot but calm words folded up in smoke
to make a faithless error in your ears" (2.1.229-230)
"Zounds! I was never so bethumped with words
since I first called my brother's father Dad." (2.1.467-8)
"Envenom him with words" (3.1.63)
"France, thou shalt rue this hour within this hour." (3.1.249)
"Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale
Vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man;" (3.4.108-9)
"Therefore to be possessed with double pomp
to guard a title that was rich before,
to gild refined gold, to paint the lily,
to throw perfume on the violet,
to smooth the ice, or add another hue
unto the rainbow, or with taper-light
to seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish,
is wasteful and ridiculous excess." (4.2.9-16)