The Shakespeare OnGoing Challenge

[Nancy]

Rosemarie wrote: "This has always been one of my favourite tragedies, Nancy.
Great review!"

The plays shows Shakespeare’s talent at its best. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment the review.

[Cleo]

I love this play as well, Nancy. I remember reading it with my daughter while homeschooling and having a lively discussion of whether Brutus' act was really for the betterment of the people or simply a selfish act or whether he was deluded, etc.

It is interesting though because if one sees Brutus as a "tragic hero", the appellation certainly diminishes the effect of Anthony's funeral speech because the emphasis there is that he is definitely NOT a hero. However, that illustrates so wonderfully the brilliance of (most) of Shakespeare's plays. They can get you turning in circles trying to discover the motivations and effect of human nature.

[Nancy]

Cleo wrote: "I love this play as well, Nancy. I remember reading it with my daughter while homeschooling and having a lively discussion of whether Brutus' act was really for the betterment of the people or simp..."

Brutus: Noble intentions, unwavering idealism should mean success...but Brutus ends with our feelings of pity. He intended to heal Rome...and only ruined himself. Tragic... Thanks so much for your comments!

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

Nancy

Great job!
Reviews are always very interesting to read

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

COMEDIES

All's Well That Ends Well
✅️As You Like It
✅️Comedy of Errors
Love's Labour's Lost
Measure for Measure
✅️Merchant of Venice
Merry Wives of Windsor
✅️Midsummer Night's Dream
✅️Much Ado about Nothing
✅️Taming of the Shrew
✅️Tempest
✅️Twelfth Night
Two Gentlemen of Verona
✅️Winter's Tale

HISTORIES

Henry IV, Part I
Henry IV, Part II
Henry V
Henry VI, Part I
Henry VI, Part II
Henry VI, Part III
Henry VIII
King John
Pericles
Richard II
Richard III

TRAGEDIES

✅️Antony and Cleopatra
Coriolanus
Cymbeline
✅️Hamlet
✅️Julius Caesar
✅️King Lear
✅️Macbeth
✅️Othello
✅️Romeo and Juliet
Timon of Athens
Titus Andronicus
Troilus and Cressida

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

I finally completed reading the five greatest tragedies. Here's the order of my preference:

1. Romeo and Juliet
2. Hamlet
3. Othello
4. Macbeth
5. King Lear

[Book Nerd, Purple Book Horse]

Piyangie wrote: "I finally completed reading the five greatest tragedies. Here's the order of my preference:

1. Romeo and Juliet
2. Hamlet
3. Othello
4. Macbeth
5. King Lear"
Good job. I haven't read any in a while. I think Hamlet was my favorite.

[Luís]

I've finished Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare. Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nike]

Oh, I'm so glad I found this! Earlier in my life I worked as an actress and have actually played in two Shakespeare plays. Modern versions of Othello and Midsummer Night's Dream. But that's a long time ago now. So those two plays I've read many times (both the original versions and the modern ones).

Apart from those I haven't read so many but I want to read several more. So this was a fun challenge to encounter!


Comedies

All's Well That Ends Well
As You Like It
Comedy of Errors
Love's Labour's Lost
Measure for Measure
Merchant of Venice
Merry Wives of Windsor
Midsummer Night's Dream
Much Ado about Nothing
Taming of the Shrew
Tempest
Twelfth Night
Two Gentlemen of Verona
Winter's Tale

Histories

Henry IV, Part I
Henry IV, Part II
Henry V
Henry VI, Part I
Henry VI, Part II
Henry VI, Part III
Henry VIII
King John
Pericles
Richard II
Richard III

Tragedies

Antony and Cleopatra
Coriolanus
Cymbeline
Hamlet
Julius Caesar
King Lear
Macbeth
Othello
Romeo and Juliet
Timon of Athens
Titus Andronicus
Troilus and Cressida

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

Welcome to the challenge, Nike!

[Nike]

Rosemarie wrote: "Welcome to the challenge, Nike!"

Thank you Rosemarie (⁠ʘ⁠ᴗ⁠ʘ⁠✿⁠)

[Sara]

How exciting to have acted in Shakespearean plays, Nike. I'm in awe.

[Luís]

I've made a copy and pasted here, my results:

Comedies

All's Well That Ends Well
As You Like It
Comedy of Errors
Love's Labour's Lost
Measure for Measure
Merchant of Venice
Merry Wives of Windsor
Midsummer Night's Dream
Much Ado about Nothing
Taming of the Shrew
Tempest
Twelfth Night
Two Gentlemen of Verona
Winter's Tale

Histories

Henry IV, Part I
Henry IV, Part II
Henry V
Henry VI, Part I
Henry VI, Part II
Henry VI, Part III
Henry VIII
King John
Pericles
Richard II
Richard III

Tragedies

Antony and Cleopatra
Coriolanus
Cymbeline
Hamlet
Julius Caesar
King Lear
Macbeth
Othello
Romeo and Juliet
Timon of Athens
Titus Andronicus
Troilus and Cressida

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

You've made some good progress, Luis.

[Luís]

Rosemarie wrote: "You've made some good progress, Luis."

Thank you, Rosemarie. All the artists had flaws, and the last one I read is an example of that.

[Nike]

Sara wrote: "How exciting to have acted in Shakespearean plays, Nike. I'm in awe."

Well now, it wasn't in England and it wasn't classical. I've worked in modern free theatre groups but yes, I'm happy and grateful to have had the experience.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

I'm hoping to read few more comedies this year. These are what I haven't read:
All's Well That Ends Well
Love's Labour's Lost
Measure for Measure
Merry Wives of Windsor
Two Gentlemen of Verona

Any opinion as to what I should read next?

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I enjoyed Love's Labour's Lost and Measure for Measure, which has some darker moments.
All's Well That Ends Well is a problem play, not a true comedy.
As for the other two on your list, I think I would have enjoyed them as a stage play. They made flat reading for me.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

Rosemarie wrote: "I enjoyed Love's Labour's Lost and Measure for Measure, which has some darker moments.
All's Well That Ends Well is a problem play, not a true comedy.
As fo..."

Thanks for your input, Rosemarie. I'll go for Measure for Measure next.

[Luís]

Piyangie wrote: "Rosemarie wrote: "I enjoyed Love's Labour's Lost and Measure for Measure, which has some darker moments.
All's Well That Ends Well is a problem play, not a ..."

I will surely vote for Measure for Measure.

[Piyangie, Classical Princess]

Luís wrote: "Piyangie wrote: "Rosemarie wrote: "I enjoyed Love's Labour's Lost and Measure for Measure, which has some darker moments.
All's Well That Ends Well is a pro..."

Thanks, Luis.

[Luís]

Piyangie wrote: "Luís wrote: "Piyangie wrote: "Rosemarie wrote: "I enjoyed Love's Labour's Lost and Measure for Measure, which has some darker moments.
[book:All's Well That Ends Well|104..."

You're welcome ;)