8/10Bill Shakespeare that is. Richard the Third is one of my favorite Shakespeare stories. It falls in the historical drama category. I haven't read any of his other historical dramas like Henry IV or the like. They seem, for some reason, less appealing than his tragedies or even his comedies. But I loved Richard the Third, so I will certainly give those others a chance some day.
In my Othello post I mentioned Iago as Shakespeare's most sinister creation. Well, Richard the Third is right behind him. Richard the Third may have done more evil and killed more people, but he did it in such a straightforward, in-your-face way that he loses crafty and creativity points. Although he is crafty in his own right. Just not to the psychological level of Iago. There is definitely an argument that he is more evil than Iago. And in this story, he is the main character, whereas Iago was a side character. He is a ruler who has nothing but evil and selfish designs and isn't afraid of killing whoever he wants. He is quite the evil usurper. He eventually goes to battle at the end with his rival, Richmond. Richmond is awesome and one of my most adored Shakespeare characters. He's a god-fearing leader with nothing but noble and righteous purposes. Right before battle he gives an epic speech that is very Captain Moroniesque. This is a cool read.
Shakespeare is always good for some quotage:
"Shall I live in hope?" "All men, I hope, live so."
"A virtuous and a Christian-like conclusion, To pray for them that have done scathe to us."
"God is much displeased That you take with unthankfulness His doing: In common worldly things 'tis call'd ungrateful With dull unwillingness to repay a debt Which with a bounteous hand was kindly lent"
"So sweet is zealous contemplation."
"I am in So far in..., that sin will pluck on sin."
"True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings; Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings."
No comments:
Post a Comment