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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
challenging
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
I think this is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. So many interesting themes at work: power, hierarchy, grappling with power, free will, sphere of control, etc.
This is one of Shakespeares’ last plays, and I think he knew this as he wrote. It feels like a goodbye. It feels like he’s using so many elements for the first or last time.
A sappy ending, but everything is tied together. And does Prospero show mercy and forgiveness at the last moment, against our expectations? Maybe?
I’ll be thinking about this for a while, and I’m sure I’ll come back to add more.
This is one of Shakespeares’ last plays, and I think he knew this as he wrote. It feels like a goodbye. It feels like he’s using so many elements for the first or last time.
A sappy ending, but everything is tied together. And does Prospero show mercy and forgiveness at the last moment, against our expectations? Maybe?
I’ll be thinking about this for a while, and I’m sure I’ll come back to add more.
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This took me two reads but was worth the effort. My first read was fairly slow, because I was hyper focused on understanding the plot. Once I reached the end, I realized we do not read this play for the plot, we read it for the poetry and for the characters. Second read went much faster (maybe an hour?), basically just skimming to enjoy my favorite passages again. Prospero is a typical Shakespeare lead: full of himself, but full of insight of both his world on stage and our world watching the stage. Knowing Shakespeare wrote this at the end of his career, Prospero’s very long story-telling adventures feel like Shakespeare channeling himself. In fact, Prospero at the end of the play begs for release from the audience; it is as though Shakespeare isn’t saying farewell, but instead asking to be freed from the shackles of writing for the stage. Caliban is an interesting character study, we both sympathise for him due to his slavery to Prospero, but also hate him due to his mentioned abuse of Miranda. The love between Miranda and Ferdinand feels real and authentic, even if they only take 3 hours to fall in love (that’s less time than the play lasts!). And finally, the play is full of songs, music, and magic, and seems like a good time to experience it in person.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I particularly appreciate how this, the last of Shakespeare's plays, has a succinct message about kinship, love, and forgiveness. If you can overlook someone falling in love in three hours, this is a great read for you.
A wisp of a play, but magical (of course) and lyrical all the same. It's not one of my favorites; even so, there are gems to be discovered here. The notes in the Arden edition are superb, as usual. I have to admit that I did not read all of the introductory material (which comprises most of the volume) but the fact that it covers recent cinematic productions (Greenaway's Prospero's Books, etc.) is noteworthy.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes