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whimsicalmeerkat's review against another edition
3.0
I think this is the first work by [a:William Shakespeare|947|William Shakespeare|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1179017891p2/947.jpg] I have rated so low, and I do so not based on quality, necessarily, but on my own lack of enjoyment. It felt like a chore to read this, and rather than taking a day or two, it took me a month. There are certainly some brilliant passages, primarily those in speech format, but I just could not "get into" the story. I think this was largely due to my own difficulty keeping the characters straight. I've often had this problem when reading about the War of the Roses and the Tudor era. It seems like everyone is named Thomas, Henry, Richard, Elizabeth, Margaret or Anne. Anyway, three stars to this, but I am sure it was more me than the play itself.
hannahstrashcan's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Richard III is the fourth in a historical tetralogy by Shakespeare. In terms of its importance to English literature, it is clearly a five-star work. It's not close to being my favorite Shakespeare play. Richard is unlikable. The cast of characters is large and many of them do not stand out to me. I didn't joy in Richmond's final victory, because I didn't care one way or the other about him.
But still. It's Shakespeare. And some of it sings. And though Richard is a vile self-serving man, he is neither dull nor cowardly. Here are two quotes from Richard from near the play's end, when he is in decline not ascendance.
"... let us to't pell-mell,
If not to heaven, then hand in hand to hell."
"Slave, I have set my life upon a cast,
And I will stand the hazard of the die."
And here, earlier, is old Queen Margaret, speaking the bitter strife of the four-play cycle.
"I had an Edward, till a Richard killed him;
I had a Harry, till a Richard killed him:
Thou hadst an Edward, till a Richard killed him;
Thou hadst a Richard, till a Richard killed him."
Four out of five deformed, unfinished stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
But still. It's Shakespeare. And some of it sings. And though Richard is a vile self-serving man, he is neither dull nor cowardly. Here are two quotes from Richard from near the play's end, when he is in decline not ascendance.
"... let us to't pell-mell,
If not to heaven, then hand in hand to hell."
"Slave, I have set my life upon a cast,
And I will stand the hazard of the die."
And here, earlier, is old Queen Margaret, speaking the bitter strife of the four-play cycle.
"I had an Edward, till a Richard killed him;
I had a Harry, till a Richard killed him:
Thou hadst an Edward, till a Richard killed him;
Thou hadst a Richard, till a Richard killed him."
Four out of five deformed, unfinished stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
blue_arcane's review against another edition
5.0
“And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover
To entertain these fair well-spoken days,
I am determined to prove a villain,
And hate the idle pleasures of these days.”
Shakespeare’s plays aren’t my go-to but this play is enigmatic, entertaining and disturbing enough to make me watch the several cinematographic adaptations and go to the theatre. Cynical witty villains y’all.
To entertain these fair well-spoken days,
I am determined to prove a villain,
And hate the idle pleasures of these days.”
Shakespeare’s plays aren’t my go-to but this play is enigmatic, entertaining and disturbing enough to make me watch the several cinematographic adaptations and go to the theatre. Cynical witty villains y’all.
cesar's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A história do final da Guerra das Rosas e do rei Eduardo III é fascinante nessa peça montada de forma maravilhosa por Shakespeare.
Uma trama cheia de intrigas, reviravoltas, com diálogos ricos e muito fluída, é uma das grandes peças do autor e indispensável para quem quer conhecer mais sobre sua obra.
Incrível.
Uma trama cheia de intrigas, reviravoltas, com diálogos ricos e muito fluída, é uma das grandes peças do autor e indispensável para quem quer conhecer mais sobre sua obra.
Incrível.
nyalvr's review against another edition
1.0
this play had no redeeming qualities. i was bored. boooo.
yadaran's review against another edition
4.0
One of the greatest intros of all time, and it's written by a bald man for a melodramatic crybaby with a hunched back who loses his kingdom for a horse.