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anjumstar's review against another edition
3.0
This seems to be a very interesting show. I appreciated that the female characters were not weak in the least. In fact, they all turned out to be a completely different stereotype: using their attractiveness for manipulation. Now this doesn't give women the best reputation, but I think that it's better than the alternative for what they could be characterized as in the WWI era.
But the end of this book...I'm not going to say anything specific, but let's just say that it's a complete cop out. In fact, a scene like this would have been better in the beginning of the book because it creates an idea of setting. However, it has nothing else to do with the themes of the book. In fact, it paints all of the character as extraordinarily insensitive. And I know that this book is supposed to illustrate England's upperclass at the time, so that probably was the intention, but it's too much. It makes me lose any respect that I may have had for the characters before. That's why this story is rated as a three, and believe me, it's a low three at that. GBS could have come up with a better ending than this, I'm sure.
But the end of this book...I'm not going to say anything specific, but let's just say that it's a complete cop out. In fact, a scene like this would have been better in the beginning of the book because it creates an idea of setting. However, it has nothing else to do with the themes of the book. In fact, it paints all of the character as extraordinarily insensitive. And I know that this book is supposed to illustrate England's upperclass at the time, so that probably was the intention, but it's too much. It makes me lose any respect that I may have had for the characters before. That's why this story is rated as a three, and believe me, it's a low three at that. GBS could have come up with a better ending than this, I'm sure.
lrector's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Where to begin?! The beginning was hilarious. I loved it and giggled outloud. It slowed down for me at some point. Ellie is a great character. I love her. Hesione is fun as a supporting. But I love Captain Shotover and all his running in just long enough to say something then running out again.
This is a crazy night in a house where society standards of politeness are dropped. It is fun and there is a lot going on. I had to read in complete silence which is not normal, but I would absolutely go see this play!
This is a crazy night in a house where society standards of politeness are dropped. It is fun and there is a lot going on. I had to read in complete silence which is not normal, but I would absolutely go see this play!
sam_holmes's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.0
hannicogood's review against another edition
3.0
So I saw this play years ago at the Abbey in Dublin and unfortunately I was so jet lagged I fell asleep a bit. But I remembered it being a wild ride, so I’m happy I made some time to read the play. It definitely is a wild ride and now that I’m older and wiser I understand it a lot more. But that being said I’m only giving it three stars, maybe unfairly, because I do think it’s so much better seen than read.
drkshadow03's review against another edition
2.0
When the reader first enters Heartbreak House with a bewildered and confused Ellie Dunn who remarks on the lack of normal hospitality on the part of her host, Hesione Hushabye, and the strange elderly Captain Shotover, we have no idea of the equally bizarre play and reversal of expectations that are about to unfold. Hesione has invited Ellie over in order to convince her not to marry the old rich business tycoon, Mangan, arguing one should marry for love and not for money. Soon Mrs. Hushabye’s sister, Lady Utterwood, returns home for the first time in years to a cold welcome where nobody recognizes her at first and responds with simmering resentments. Ellie’s artistic and idealist but poor father Manzini joins them along with Ellie’s potential rich soon to be fiancé Mangan. The brother-in-law of Lady Hushabye Randall Utterwood joins them too. Then there is Hesione’s husband Hector Hushabye whose good looks attract all the women and make them instantly fall in love with him.
The play develops into complicated love triangles. Ellie has feelings for Hector, but can’t marry him because he is already married to Hesione. So instead she decides to marry Mangan for his money. Hesione is trying to persuade her not to sacrifice herself for money and attempts to attract Mangan to herself as a method of saving her friend. Randall complains about Lady Utterwood’s endless flirting with men, but he is jealous and has feelings for her, despite being a useless and lazy man that has no attractive quality other than his pretense of decorum and proper manners that he insists upon. Although Hector and Hesione Hushabye are married and seem to get along fine and once felt a deep passion for each other, the play implies that passion has faded over time and they are living on the fumes of its memory. We see the variety of unhappiness, frustrations, and heartbreak the characters feel over their potential relationships with each other and their unfulfilled desires in love.
Appearances can be deceiving. In the impending relationship between Ellie and Mangan the question is raised about who is manipulating who. Hesione Hushabye wants to save Ellie from a loveless marriage to an elderly man for money, but it turns out that Ellie welcomes such a relationship and argues in its defense. Since she can’t marry the person she loves why not marry for money to a businessmen she will hardly ever have to see anyway because he will spend most of his time away at work. By the end of the play, we discover that Mangan’s riches are an illusion. Mangan reveals he isn’t as rich as he appears; his riches are a product of social gossip as a kind of middle man for capitalist corporations. Our perceptions of all the characters drastically change over the course of the play, suggesting appearances often turn out very differently from reality.
The ending of the play takes these characters and their fraught personal relationships and suggests the house is like a ship representing English society itself. Only if the characters are willing to take responsibility for their own lives and learn to navigate the ship will they be able to save England and themselves. There is a sense that English society has become corrupt with false appearances and deception. The ending of the play leaves one with an apocalyptic impression that terrible destruction looms around the corner of things don’t change.
The play develops into complicated love triangles. Ellie has feelings for Hector, but can’t marry him because he is already married to Hesione. So instead she decides to marry Mangan for his money. Hesione is trying to persuade her not to sacrifice herself for money and attempts to attract Mangan to herself as a method of saving her friend. Randall complains about Lady Utterwood’s endless flirting with men, but he is jealous and has feelings for her, despite being a useless and lazy man that has no attractive quality other than his pretense of decorum and proper manners that he insists upon. Although Hector and Hesione Hushabye are married and seem to get along fine and once felt a deep passion for each other, the play implies that passion has faded over time and they are living on the fumes of its memory. We see the variety of unhappiness, frustrations, and heartbreak the characters feel over their potential relationships with each other and their unfulfilled desires in love.
Appearances can be deceiving. In the impending relationship between Ellie and Mangan the question is raised about who is manipulating who. Hesione Hushabye wants to save Ellie from a loveless marriage to an elderly man for money, but it turns out that Ellie welcomes such a relationship and argues in its defense. Since she can’t marry the person she loves why not marry for money to a businessmen she will hardly ever have to see anyway because he will spend most of his time away at work. By the end of the play, we discover that Mangan’s riches are an illusion. Mangan reveals he isn’t as rich as he appears; his riches are a product of social gossip as a kind of middle man for capitalist corporations. Our perceptions of all the characters drastically change over the course of the play, suggesting appearances often turn out very differently from reality.
The ending of the play takes these characters and their fraught personal relationships and suggests the house is like a ship representing English society itself. Only if the characters are willing to take responsibility for their own lives and learn to navigate the ship will they be able to save England and themselves. There is a sense that English society has become corrupt with false appearances and deception. The ending of the play leaves one with an apocalyptic impression that terrible destruction looms around the corner of things don’t change.
usha's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
pxr014's review against another edition
3.0
I don't really understand it, but it was quite a lot of fun to read.
emlickliter's review against another edition
4.0
Heartbreak House – You know how the younger generation looks back at the moral failings of their parents or grandparents while talking to their therapist about what a mess they are? This play feels a bit like that! Happy Reading!