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A review by jbmorgan86
King Edward III: Third Series by William Shakespeare
2.0
Shakespeare in a Year, Play #11 of . . . 40? When the year-long reading plan that I have for the Complete Works of William Shakespeare (https://s3.amazonaws.com/first-things-resources/uploads/resource_5a37e8817a8e6.pdf) dictated that I read Edward III next, I opened my trusty clearance shelf copy of the complete works only to find that Edward III was missing! In fact, several of the plays on the list were missing (Edward III, Sir Thomas Moore, and The Two Noble Kinsmen). What gives?! A quick Google search revealed that the reason several of these are missing is because they are considered Shakespeare's apocrypha. Therefore, these plays are not typically included in "complete works" collections.
That being said, it seems that the scholarly consensus is that though Shakespeare did not write all of Edward III he at least did have a hand in Edward III. My completely un-scholarly take on it is that either Shakespeare didn't write this or even the bard can write some real stinkers.
There isn't much that happens in this story. Edward III declares himself the king of England and France (the beginning of the Hundred Years War), saves the Duchess of Salisbury from rebellious Scots, tries to woo her away from her husband, and then goes to the battlefield in France (the beginning of the Hundred Years War). Several soliloquies about mortality follow as Edward "the Black Prince" faces certain death but valiantly hacks his way through the French. Aaaaand . . . that's about it.
Significant quote(s):
"If we then hunt for death, why do we fear it?
If we fear it, why do we follow it?
If we do fear, how can we shun it?
If we do fear, with fear we do but aid
The thing we fear, to seize on us the sooner.
If we fear not, then no resolved proffer
Can overthrow the limit of our fate,
For, whether ripe or rotten, drop we shall,
As we do draw the lottery of our doom."
That being said, it seems that the scholarly consensus is that though Shakespeare did not write all of Edward III he at least did have a hand in Edward III. My completely un-scholarly take on it is that either Shakespeare didn't write this or even the bard can write some real stinkers.
There isn't much that happens in this story. Edward III declares himself the king of England and France (the beginning of the Hundred Years War), saves the Duchess of Salisbury from rebellious Scots, tries to woo her away from her husband, and then goes to the battlefield in France (the beginning of the Hundred Years War). Several soliloquies about mortality follow as Edward "the Black Prince" faces certain death but valiantly hacks his way through the French. Aaaaand . . . that's about it.
Significant quote(s):
"If we then hunt for death, why do we fear it?
If we fear it, why do we follow it?
If we do fear, how can we shun it?
If we do fear, with fear we do but aid
The thing we fear, to seize on us the sooner.
If we fear not, then no resolved proffer
Can overthrow the limit of our fate,
For, whether ripe or rotten, drop we shall,
As we do draw the lottery of our doom."