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jvs2000's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
3.0
yourmainjoe's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
campisforever's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-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
3.0
shannonjorgenfelt's review against another edition
2.0
Uhm, what?! Call me crazy, but I don't understand following a highly unlikeable protagonist through a series of backstabbings with no apparent repentance, and a bizarrely fast resolution. This is so unshakespearean to me its ridiculous. And the only upside - Julia, who brings the sass and seems prepped to become one of those badass women Shakespeare loves so much - crumbles and takes back the man who dropped her like a dead fish.
I don't know that I've ever been disappointed by Shakespeare, but this was disappointing.
I don't know that I've ever been disappointed by Shakespeare, but this was disappointing.
jbmorgan86's review against another edition
2.0
The Two Gentlemen of Verona is one of Shakespeare's earliest plays, if not his very first play . . . and it shows. The typical Shakespearean tropes are here: a father forces a daughter to marry a man she doesn't love, confused love, betrayal, puns, sexual jokes, a woman who dresses up like a boy, a double wedding, etc. Even places like Verona, Mantua, and a forest where the social norms are turned on their head seem familiar. However, the magic of the later plays is lacking.
The most bothersome thing about this play is the rather quick way that everything is resolved in the end. Of course, as a comedy, there must be a happy ending. However, it's only a few lines after a near rape of one character that everything is happily ever after.
The most bothersome thing about this play is the rather quick way that everything is resolved in the end. Of course, as a comedy, there must be a happy ending. However, it's only a few lines after a near rape of one character that everything is happily ever after.
readingisadoingword's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Two Gentlemen of Verona is one of Shakepeare's earliest plays and it lays the foundation for many devices that we become familiar with in future plays - it's about betrayal, love and disguise.
Valentine and Proteus are the eponymous "Two Gentlemen" and close friends and the story follows their infidelities in love and friendship.
Proteus loves Julia - Valentine loves no-one.
Valentine goes to Milan and falls for the Duke's daughter Sylvia.
Proteus also goes to Milan and also falls for Sylvia, forgetting about Julia.
Proteus betrays Valentine's plans to elope with Sylvia. Sylvia spurns Proteus' advances, reminding him of his love, Julia.
Julia disguises herself as a man to pursue Proteus to Milan, where she discovers his infidelity.
There are bandits, attempted assault but ultimate reconciliation!
A surface examination of friendship vs romantic love and how betrayal may be forgiven in either context.
While there were elements to this play that were enjoyable - the respective servants were amusing, the bandits etc - the ending was disturbing, rushed and unsatisfactory.
However as an insight into Shakespeare's earliest writing it was interesting and I am glad to have read it.
Valentine and Proteus are the eponymous "Two Gentlemen" and close friends and the story follows their infidelities in love and friendship.
Proteus loves Julia - Valentine loves no-one.
Valentine goes to Milan and falls for the Duke's daughter Sylvia.
Proteus also goes to Milan and also falls for Sylvia, forgetting about Julia.
Proteus betrays Valentine's plans to elope with Sylvia. Sylvia spurns Proteus' advances, reminding him of his love, Julia.
Julia disguises herself as a man to pursue Proteus to Milan, where she discovers his infidelity.
There are bandits, attempted assault but ultimate reconciliation!
A surface examination of friendship vs romantic love and how betrayal may be forgiven in either context.
While there were elements to this play that were enjoyable - the respective servants were amusing, the bandits etc - the ending was disturbing, rushed and unsatisfactory.
However as an insight into Shakespeare's earliest writing it was interesting and I am glad to have read it.