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devinb333's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
deviationoftheendless's review against another edition
4.0
I actually like this adaptation more than [b:Antony and Cleopatra|104837|Antony and Cleopatra|William Shakespeare|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1347795799s/104837.jpg|717119], but I do not think I would have liked it nearly as much without having first read Antony and Cleopatra because All for Love has a much smaller focus in the plot. I think the theme of everything being for love is way more meaningful after having first thought of Antony and Cleopatra as microcosms in Shakespeare's play, as it makes them into much more important and dynamic characters than Dryden's does.
elliotkuo24's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
nilatti's review against another edition
2.0
I fail to understand why someone who clearly doesn't respect women would write a play about one of history's most impressive women. Cleopatra, in Dryden's rendering, is a simpering, pathetic excuse for a person. Antony isn't much better, and any mention of their mutual affection violates the old writing rule of "show, don't tell."
Octavia, too, falls short of the paragon history tells us she was. She's instead a harridan. No wonder Antony choose to leave her, although why he'd go to such a lackluster Cleopatra remains a mystery.
I loathed this play. Two stars instead of one only because he does take Shakespeare's unwieldy cast of 50+ down to a manageable dozen or so. But maybe Shakespeare had so many characters to give his play scale, a quality Dryden's weak imitation hasn't considered.
Octavia, too, falls short of the paragon history tells us she was. She's instead a harridan. No wonder Antony choose to leave her, although why he'd go to such a lackluster Cleopatra remains a mystery.
I loathed this play. Two stars instead of one only because he does take Shakespeare's unwieldy cast of 50+ down to a manageable dozen or so. But maybe Shakespeare had so many characters to give his play scale, a quality Dryden's weak imitation hasn't considered.
viktoriawithakreadsbooks's review
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
assimbya's review
4.0
In form and style Dryden's play is almost impeccable, adhering to Aristotlean conventions quite to the letter (whether that is for better or worse is rather for the individual reader to decide). But though in this coherent, thoroughly theatrical play there is much to be admired, particularly by actors and directors, it lacks the violent, irrepressible soul in Shakespeare's telling of this same story. In Dryden's measured scenes there are not the garishly bright lines of blank verse which, in Shakespeare, so fully express the essences of Antony and Cleopatra. In comparison to Shakespeare, Dryden cannot help but pale, though he pales in tasteful, clear style.
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