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A review by massaglia
King Henry VI Part 3 by William Shakespeare
4.0
For the Henry VI plays, I’m taking a bit of a different approach. I’m going to view the PBS’s The Hollow Crown versions http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/henry-vi-part-1/5955/ of these plays with the understanding that the three parts have been collapsed into two programs. I think the series is done extremely well; the sets and costumes are very detailed and realistic, and the acting is outstanding.
To prepare for the plays, I consulted my Shakespeare App https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shakespeare/id285035416?mt=8 which gives a really good, in-depth summary of the plays. Also, the plot summaries from IMDB https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3974590/plotsummary?ref_=tt_stry_pl were very helpful.
This third part of the War of Roses tetralogy is action-packed and suspenseful. It really shows how chaotic the fight for the crown was. Loyalties flip, revenge roars, and many, many die in this lust for a power play.
The contrast of Richard’s strength and intelligence and Henry’s weakness as leaders is presented in a dramatic way. Richard, whose ambition for the crown, is very measured in his behavior and tempers his actions in a very strategic way. Henry, on the other hand, throughout all three plays wants everyone to get along but doesn’t provide a vision or strategy as to how to do it. He plays a very passive role.
I like how Shmoop discusses the theme of fate and free will. Regarding fate, both Henry believes the crown is his due to the will go God. Edward and Richard, however, take matters into their own hands and take a Machiavellian approach which drives their actions.
Quotes
“To weep is to make less the depth of grief.”
“Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind.”
“O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!”
“My Crown is in my heart, not on my head:
Not deck'd with Diamonds, and Indian stones:
Nor to be seen: my Crown is call'd Content,
A Crown it is, that seldom Kings enjoy.”
“Why, I can smile and murder whiles I smile,
And cry 'content' to that which grieves my heart,
And wet my cheeks with artificial tears,
And frame my face for all occasions”
“For trust not him that hath once broken faith”
“The smallest worm will turn being trodden on.”
“Why, what is pomp, rule, reign, but earth and dust?
And, live we how we can, yet die we must.”
“Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong,
And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long.”
“Down, down to hell; and say I sent thee thither.”
“Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well.”
“I know, I am too mean to be your queen;
And yet too good to be your concubine.”
“Why, courage, then! what cannot be avoided,
'Twere childish weakness to lament or fear.”
“Then, since the heavens have shap'd my body so,
Let hell make crook'd my mind to answer it.
I have no brother, I am like no brother:
And this word—love, which greybeards call divine,
Be resident in men like one another,
And not in me; I am myself alone.”
To prepare for the plays, I consulted my Shakespeare App https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shakespeare/id285035416?mt=8 which gives a really good, in-depth summary of the plays. Also, the plot summaries from IMDB https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3974590/plotsummary?ref_=tt_stry_pl were very helpful.
This third part of the War of Roses tetralogy is action-packed and suspenseful. It really shows how chaotic the fight for the crown was. Loyalties flip, revenge roars, and many, many die in this lust for a power play.
The contrast of Richard’s strength and intelligence and Henry’s weakness as leaders is presented in a dramatic way. Richard, whose ambition for the crown, is very measured in his behavior and tempers his actions in a very strategic way. Henry, on the other hand, throughout all three plays wants everyone to get along but doesn’t provide a vision or strategy as to how to do it. He plays a very passive role.
I like how Shmoop discusses the theme of fate and free will. Regarding fate, both Henry believes the crown is his due to the will go God. Edward and Richard, however, take matters into their own hands and take a Machiavellian approach which drives their actions.
Quotes
“To weep is to make less the depth of grief.”
“Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind.”
“O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!”
“My Crown is in my heart, not on my head:
Not deck'd with Diamonds, and Indian stones:
Nor to be seen: my Crown is call'd Content,
A Crown it is, that seldom Kings enjoy.”
“Why, I can smile and murder whiles I smile,
And cry 'content' to that which grieves my heart,
And wet my cheeks with artificial tears,
And frame my face for all occasions”
“For trust not him that hath once broken faith”
“The smallest worm will turn being trodden on.”
“Why, what is pomp, rule, reign, but earth and dust?
And, live we how we can, yet die we must.”
“Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong,
And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long.”
“Down, down to hell; and say I sent thee thither.”
“Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well.”
“I know, I am too mean to be your queen;
And yet too good to be your concubine.”
“Why, courage, then! what cannot be avoided,
'Twere childish weakness to lament or fear.”
“Then, since the heavens have shap'd my body so,
Let hell make crook'd my mind to answer it.
I have no brother, I am like no brother:
And this word—love, which greybeards call divine,
Be resident in men like one another,
And not in me; I am myself alone.”