Joey Anderson > Recent Status Updates

“What is the nature of the border between truth and lies? It is permeable and blurred because it is planted thick with rumour, confabulation, misunderstandings and twisted tales. Truth can break the gates down, truth can howl in the street; unless truth is pleasing, personable and easy to like, she is condemned to stay whimpering at the back door.”

Well said, Cromwell.

Such a pleasure to read as the brouhaha between Anne and Katherine continues. And Henry and Cromwell caught in the middle.

The trumped-up charges (adultery) against Queen Anne begins as Cromwell’s plot to destroy her continues (May 1536).

Fifth play in the Shakespeare 2020 Project: Rarely do I find a Shakespeare play boring, but this one is. I’ve never cared much for word play and silly comedy. If you like farce, you may like this one.

A bloody play. A brutal Clifford and Queen Margaret not only murder York, but his child Rutland as well. All for a hollow crown.

Queen
Off with his head, and set it on York gates,
So York may overlook the town of York.

The Duchess of Gloucester is banished and the scene of parting with her husband is quite touching. Shakespeare certainly sympathizes with the Gloucesters rather than King Henry and Queen Margaret, a foul woman.

The Yorks and the Lancasters plot against each other for power as King Henry blithely notices nothing. Yet what is interesting is that the Queen and the Duchess of Gloucester seem much more powerful than their male counterparts.

I’m reading this play as part of the Shakespeare 2020 Project where the aim is to read all of Shakespeare in a year. Now I first read this one when I was a teenager and liked the witty puns, but today I do tire of them, but I am not alone since Olivia, the subject of Count Orsino’s desire, finds herself worn of them as well. I do like the theme of mistaken identity; it’s great fun.

I happened to see an advertisement for this novel and not being immune to anything about Norse mythology, I indulged and have been happily rewarded. Loki, my favorite figure from the myths, is one of the wittiest narrators I’ve ever read. He’s great fun.

Reading the third brother’s attempt to control his sister Caddy. All of the male Compsons are quintessential misogynists. The males think they provide leadership and control, but they lack the self-awareness to understand that they are the source of the family’s chaos.