Scan barcode
krupagrace's review against another edition
4.0
It is a comedy, I dare not say, the introduction deems it a romantic comedy, but I would say it is a romantic dark comedy. I found no romance in the book, just the sheer will of one desperate woman clever enough to make her way.
Helen/Helena a clever and resourceful young maiden, yet ill-endowed by the providence is a ward of the Countess Rossilion who artfully claims she is her mother. Helen is a hopeless romantic and desperately in love with her master Count Bertram, quite renowned for his love of virgins. He is the quintessential bad boy, yet so young. Helena, aware of her situation in life secures the blessing for the King of France to have a husband of her choice. Bertram, devasted at the opportunity presented to him, vows to never accept his wife and instead pursue war, but before presenting an impossible condition to Helena, bear him a child and possess his ring. Helena ever clever and intelligent plays on the follies of the callous man to secure her husband once and for all. Happy ending I guess. Or not.
The play has most funniest dialogue on virginity I have ever come across.
Helen/Helena a clever and resourceful young maiden, yet ill-endowed by the providence is a ward of the Countess Rossilion who artfully claims she is her mother. Helen is a hopeless romantic and desperately in love with her master Count Bertram, quite renowned for his love of virgins. He is the quintessential bad boy, yet so young. Helena, aware of her situation in life secures the blessing for the King of France to have a husband of her choice. Bertram, devasted at the opportunity presented to him, vows to never accept his wife and instead pursue war, but before presenting an impossible condition to Helena, bear him a child and possess his ring. Helena ever clever and intelligent plays on the follies of the callous man to secure her husband once and for all. Happy ending I guess. Or not.
The play has most funniest dialogue on virginity I have ever come across.
tomebro's review against another edition
3.0
Thoughtful and an interesting take on a heroine. I don't think the ending is the best, but there is a lot to be said on the relationship between the older generation and the younger.
tracithomas's review against another edition
4.0
I love this play. I was in this play in college. It is pretty tight and none of the scenes feel like extra. The ending is bizarre which is why its one of the problem plays. It works as a story about a fuckboi and his privilege in today's world and has some really clever women characters and some beautiful lines about the complexities of life. Its a lesser talked about Shakespeare play but its good.
palindromers's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
krep___'s review against another edition
1.75
The language is a delight, brimming with fine turns of phrase. I think I may have spotted some attempt at humor in a couple spots, but this is not one of Will's funny Comedies. The story itself is disappointing. The charismatic heroine, a commoner, is granted by the King the right to pick the man of her dreams as her husband. The Count, who is a shallow, obnoxious snob who won't stoop to have her, thumbs his nose at the marital directive from the King (like that could happen) and runs off so he can womanize more freely. Even the guy's mother thinks he's a jerk. No one bothers to tell her her affection is misplaced, and she doesn't ever even speculate on that possibility. Our heroine tricks him into sleeping with her using the old concealed identity ploy, gets pregnant, forcing him to be married to her in more than name only. His character is given not a moment to reform, for the curtain is falling, and he has time to offer only a token statement of devotion. It's a train wreck that we see coming and are powerless to stop. Nobody dies, so it can't officially be a tragedy, but it might as well be.
michael5000's review against another edition
3.0
The one with the girl doctor who heals the king and gets to pick whoever she wants for a husband, except that her chosen fella puts up a bit of a resistance. The Taming of the Dude.
dizzymisslizzie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
doruga's review against another edition
3.5
If you ever feel bad about stealing a concept from a book youve read just remember shakespeare himself stole from the decameron and got away with it.
_emma_rose_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This isn't my favorite Shakespeare play I've read, but I enjoyed it! It had some particularly nice quotes. I did have a bit of trouble following the plot, so I wish I had read a summary beforehand to have a better grasp of the language, but that was my bad.
renstrange's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
definitely not my favorite shakespeare