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Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

Not sure who the little boy is supposed to be (he looks rather young to be a squire, but it may be for effect), but this is really cute.
#shakespearereadalong #Shakespeare #henryIVpart2 #HenryIV #shakespeareskings

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Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

Hopefully everyone has made it through to the end of this play. It‘s been suggested that this play was actually a collaboration between Shakespeare and one of his playwright friends. I, for one, can believe that. Anyone else?
#shakespearereadalong #Shakespeare #henryIVpart2 #HenryIV #shakespeareskings

GingerAntics @wanderinglynn @BiblioLitten @oOArankaOo @TheBookHippie @Wife @saresmoore @DGRachel @CSeydel @Anna40 @readordierachel @Bookishgal71 @kathedron @Susannah @RestlessFickleBookHoarder @IndoorDame @cocomass @InLibrisVeritas @Gezemice 6y

GingerAntics @Mtroiano @KatieanneF @rabbitprincess @rjsthumbelina @CoffeeNBooks @Graywacke @Rachbb3 @batsy @Lcsmcat @zsuzsanna_reads @Balibee146 @Faibka @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Jess_Read_This @wordzie 6y

Lcsmcat I want to believe that. 😉 6y

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GingerAntics @Lcsmcat it seems legit to me. Either that or Shakes got bored there for a while. (edited) 6y

Graywacke I‘m thinking all his plays were a collaboration of some kind. But sometimes feels unpolished here, like parts were missing and filled in. 6y

GingerAntics @Graywacke there are some plays (most maybe?) that seem to be written by just one person, whoever you believe that to be. Of course there is always the debate of who Shakespeare really was. This one seems to be almost obviously written by more than one person. The writing is so different between the first play/acts IV and V of the second and the first three acts of the second. I‘d be interested to see a scholar that says all of his plays were. 6y

DGRachel That makes a lot of sense, considering the first three acts of Part II. 6y

GingerAntics @DGRachel right? They‘re just so different than the rest of the story line. 6y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat @Graywacke @DGRachel just looked at the chronology of Shakespeare‘s works in the back of my edition of the next play on a whim. It denotes the plays he‘s thought to have collaborated on, including some his name is not on now (other playwrights are given sole credit now), but this play is not one of them. I got that this was a possible collaboration from Dan Jones‘s book. I‘ll have to go check his sources now. 6y

Graywacke @GingerAntics I‘ve begun to view these as the movies of their time. I‘m probably pushing the analogy, but I think it took a lot of contributions to make this stuff happen. Sure, the bard may have completely written some of these scripts, and had help with others. But someone had to say, “ok, lets do it.” Here I suspect he wasn‘t ready at that time. The two author idea makes sense to me of someone took his unfinished script and finished it. ?? 6y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke @GingerAntics When I think about Bach, who had to produce new music every Sunday for his job, I can see how Will S. might have had to churn out a play now and then that wasn‘t up to his usual standard just to keep body and soul together. Bach recycled his own tunes. Will S. recycled Falstaff, because hey, it worked the first time. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 6y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat 🤣😂🤣 “Falstaff worked the first time.” 🤣😂🤣 fair point... it‘s interesting how Dan Jones said this was a possible collaboration, but the Royal Shakespeare Company‘s scholars don‘t. 6y

GingerAntics @Graywacke I can see the movie analogy. I doubt Shakes did costuming or set design. I‘m sure he had requests or gave his two cents, but I doubt he actually did any of it himself. 6y

batsy It's interesting, and I can definitely buy that theory! Or entirely possible that even Shakespeare had an off week or month or however long it took to write this 😂 6y

GingerAntics @batsy it seems both options are probably equally plausible. Maybe he had writer‘s block and a friend tried to help him out...or he just decided to write through a block. 🤷🏼‍♀️ The mind boggles at what happened here. 6y

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Graywacke

Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

so-so

It‘s like the cobbled Shakespeare. Second-rate Falstaff humor makes takes up most of the stage time. Here and there plot is stuck in, and the wordsmith has whole sections of gems. But they sit lost within what feels like an unpolished script.

#shakespearereadalong

Cathythoughts Uh -oh Shakespeare is in trouble with the Littens 😳🤣 @batsy (edited) 6y

GingerAntics I‘m believing that Shakes only collaborated on this one and didn‘t write all of Henry IV himself. I can see where the theory comes from. 6y

batsy @Cathythoughts He's got some explaining to do 😂😂 6y

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Lcsmcat @GingerAntics I can believe it on this one. It seems so cobbled together. 6y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat right? Part 1 and the last two acts of Part 2 seem like they could have been written by the same person, but it does feel like two different authors. 6y

Graywacke @Cathythoughts @batsy I have this image of the bard waking up to a beautiful morning in purgatory, basking in the warmth of his fame, then opening the door to these sourly litten faces. A little hurt, he‘ll say something like, “What? You try writing about this stuff without boring everyone?” ... “Good grief, move on. Go read A Midsummers Dream or Hamlet or something. Leave me alone.” He‘d go back to bed. (edited) 6y

Graywacke @GingerAntics @Lcsmcat Putting my two cents (edited because I had written “sense”) on the multiple author bit in the GingerAntics group thread (edited) 6y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Love that image! I can imagine him adding “Hey, I was trying to make a living. Cut me some slack!” 6y

TheBookHippie I feel the same!!!!! I‘m glad I read it however I‘m not revisiting this one !!! It was work phew 🤣🤣 6y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat 🙂 6y

Graywacke @TheBookHippie yeah, tough one to get through. 😳🥺 6y

41 likes11 comments

batsy

Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

pan

Look at me, a genius, panning Shakespeare 😆 My love for him stays strong but this one started off with a bit of promise, then devolved into what seemed liked utter nonsense involving Falstaff (a character I really enjoyed in Part 1). Some beautiful language particularly in Act IV, but nothing about this play ever came together for me. It was mostly a chore. And I'm not so fond of Hal, myself. Kings are rarely a favourite 🙃 #ShakespeareReadAlong

batsy @GingerAntics @readinginthedark 6y

merelybookish I guess I don't have to feel bad about skipping this one. 6y

Lynnsoprano Reminds me of high school, when our English teacher took us to a performance of Henry V. We hadn‘t read it, and it made no sense. I‘ve had no desire to read any of Shakespeare‘s histories since. (edited) 6y

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Cathythoughts Nice one 🙃 Shakespeare gets a thumbs down 👎🏻 ! I love it 6y

batsy @merelybookish In my opinion, not really 😅 6y

batsy @Lynnsoprano I've always been somewhat intimidated by his history plays because of my lack of knowledge about it. But I've read some really good ones. This one, sadly, wasn't it 😆 6y

batsy @Cathythoughts I know, Cathy! 😅 Feel like I need to apologise to ol' Will 😬😇 6y

Graywacke Sorry, but like @Cathythoughts, I love that you panned Shakespeare. Haven‘t read act v yet, so withholding my own opinion. 6y

batsy @Graywacke 😆 Can't wait to see what you think. 6y

twohectobooks Not a genius, but I have no problem panning Shakespeare or anyone else lol. If it doesn‘t work for me, I don‘t feel obligated to apologize for not liking things! (Although sometimes I do have to acknowledge that the problem is just me Not Getting It.) 6y

batsy @twohectobooks I agree! Usually with classics, because of longevity, I try to meet the text halfway to see what I'm missing. But as we know they can also be rife with problematic themes and ideologies so yeah, completely agree 🙂 6y

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa

Henry IV Part Two | William Shakespeare

bailed

Sorry guys, I‘m going to have to bail....
not sure if I‘m Shakespeared out or just not in the right frame of mind this month, but I just can‘t get into this one. 🤷‍♀️

#ShakespeareReadAlong

Alexy2828 Hi 6y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Alexy2828 Hi 6y

mom2bugnbee Go watch BBC's The Hollow Crown to make up for it. Ben Whishaw as Richard, Jeremy Irons as Henry IV, & Tom Hiddleston as Henry V. 😍 6y

DGRachel The first three acts of this one were rough! I second The Hollow Crown, though. 😍 6y

TheBookHippie @DGRachel I agree the first three acts !!! OYE. 6y

59 likes5 comments

Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

Happy Easter/Spring Shakes Lovers!!!
So many great drawings and photos of this scene. I think this is my favorite scene of the entire play. I‘m not a huge fan of Henry IV, but Hal is lovable in a naughty-boy-comes-to-his-senses kind of way. I just hope his play is better than part 2 of his father‘s.
#shakespearereadalong #Shakespeare #henryIVpart2 #HenryIV #shakespeareskings #hal #HenryV

Lcsmcat The “deathbed” scene was touching, but I don‘t buy that he‘s really changed. It was too sudden and too convenient. 6y

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GingerAntics @Lcsmcat really? I felt like he was beginning to distance himself from Falstaff throughout the play. He spent very little time with him and a lot more on “official duties.” 6y

Graywacke Has Hal changed? He had some presence in part I, when the time called for it and a spiel about playing the roles. I liked Act iv a lot. Some terrific language. Has me thinking about play construction. (Does this work without some humor in acts ii-iii? Or do acts ii-iii spoil act iv?) 6y

Graywacke @GingerAntics @Lcsmcat Hal was maybe wavering regarding Falstaff...?? 6y

GingerAntics @Graywacke I feel like acts I-III don‘t match with IV and V. It‘s like the entire feel of the play shifts. The language in this act was great. Maybe my opinion is clouded by historical fact, but I think he has. Then again, if we go by historical fact, he never was a party animal as portrayed in P1. I‘m interested to see what Hal‘s own play looks like. Hopefully it‘s more entertaining than Acts I-III is this one. 6y

GingerAntics @Graywacke @Lcsmcat I think that gets laid to rest in Act V. 6y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke I liked act IV better too. There were some great speeches. And maybe it‘s the same problem with the writing that made the first three acts so slow, but I never bought Hal as a real person. (As strange as that sounds, since he was a real person.) 6y

Lcsmcat @GingerAntics I‘ve finished it, so we‘ll just have to agree to disagree. 6y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat so have I. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 6y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat @GingerAntics I can‘t say I like Hal exactly, but I have found him complex and, when the time called for it, capable. I have a grudging respect. So I guess I found him real enough to suspend disbelief. 6y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat @GingerAntics I‘m not done. Was going to save act v for Sunday. Am I the only one? 6y

GingerAntics @Graywacke I was over the play, since the first three acts were so painful, so I just wanted to get through it. Then Act IV was so much better than the rest of the play and Act V followed suit, so in the end I wanted to know how it all ended. Of the other person I know who finished it already, it was a similar motivation. 6y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke nope -Me!! I saved it. I finally am getting through it without trouble 🤣🤣 or I just enjoyed this parts flow of language !!! 1-3 was rough 🤷🏽‍♀️😭🤪. I‘m glad I stuck with it!!! 6y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I agree. The first 3 acts were not pleasant, but Act IV was worth it. 6y

Graywacke @TheBookHippie oh, good. And same here. 6y

batsy @GingerAntics Yes, it felt the same for me in terms of an abrupt change. Act IV felt like such a shift from the previous three acts and the language here is superb. I'm glad to hear that Act V is more of the same. 6y

GingerAntics @batsy it definitely picks up and seems more like a Shakes play in the last two acts. No idea what was up in the first 3 acts. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 6y

Gezemice @batsy @GingerAntics I have been skipping this, however I watched a combined version of the two plays when we were reading Henry IV. It was mostly part 1, The deathbed scene and the last act of part 2 were included. I must say it made a lot of sense as it sounds like they combine the best parts of the two, and there is an ending which distinctly lacked in part 1. 6y

GingerAntics @Gezemice it almost makes more sense to me to just get rid of acts I-III of Part 2 and tack IV-V to the end of Part 1. 6y

Gezemice @GingerAntics This clearly is not as well loved as part 1 - my library has no copy of it which is why I have not read it - did not feel like tracking it down. 6y

GingerAntics @Gezemice if you do ebooks you can get one for free. The last two acts are the only ones really important for segueing into Henry V. I also have an overview like the one I had for part 1 6y

28 likes23 comments

Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

so-so

A bit disappointed by Part 2. This play just wasn‘t as good as Part 1. It seemed to be mostly Falstaff acting like an idiot. I didn‘t like Falstaff in Part 1, so Falstaff in Part 2 was just painful. That made the ending much more satisfying when Hal rejected him. It was about time someone put Falstaff in his place. Hal really came into his own in this one. I think he‘s my favorite character of this play. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

GingerAntics I even appreciate him in Part 1 in a different way than I did before reading this one. #shakespearereadalong #Shakespeare #henryIVpart2 #HenryIV #shakespeareskings #hal #HenryV 6y

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Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

In the BBC radio production of this play, Davy is played by a Scottish guy (the wrong one in my opinion). So now, in my head, this is totally played by David Tennant (obviously the right Scottish Davy 😉).
#Shakespeare #henryIVpart2 #HenryIV #shakespeareskings #shakespearereadalong #davy #davidtennant

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Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

The end is nigh for you, Sir John.
#Shakespeare #henryIVpart2 #HenryIV #shakespeareskings #shakespearereadalong #falstaff #sirjohn

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Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

Hal has suddenly stepped up to the plate. Just look at him now.
#shakespearereadalong #Shakespeare #henryIVpart2 #HenryIV #shakespeareskings #hal #kinghenryV

DGRachel I love Hal‘s personal growth with these plays. That really is one of my favorite elements. 6y

GingerAntics @DGRachel I was just thinking that myself. I was working on my review and Hal is probably my favourite character from this play. Kate is still my favourite character from Part 1, but I appreciate Hal in both parts in a way I didn‘t until getting to the end of this one. 6y

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Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

Falstaff, Falstaff, Falstaff... your end is coming my friend. Your end is coming (I can‘t wait).
#shakespearereadalong #Shakespeare #henryIVpart2 #HenryIV #shakespeareskings

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Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

Prince John does not take anyone‘s crap. The tides are changing, folks. Rebel at your own risk.
#shakespearereadalong #Shakespeare #henryIVpart2 #HenryIV #shakespeareskings

DGRachel I practically cheered during this scene. 😆 6y

GingerAntics @DGRachel loved this part, too. The end was actually pretty good. The rest of it was rather slow and bla, almost random, but the last two acts were faster paced it seemed and just more exciting. 6y

wordzie ❤❤ 6y

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Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

I‘ll just leave this here. #shakespearereadalong

DGRachel 😆😆 6y

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DGRachel

Henry IV Part Two | William Shakespeare

so-so

I really struggled with this one. Falstaff was simply annoying. I did, however, appreciate the change in Prince Hal, from spoiled playboy to King Henry V. Poor Falstaff. He really misread that young man. 😈
#shakespearereadalong

batsy Congrats on finishing! I'm struggling with this one like I never have with any of his plays. One more act ... I can do it 😂 6y

DGRachel @batsy I actually liked the last two acts more than the first three. It felt like there was more meat to it, and some lines and events that I really loved. Still too much Falstaff, but if he‘s getting on your nerves like he got on mine, you‘ll love Act V. 😉 6y

batsy Yes, I loved Falstaff in Part 1. Now I'm ready to throttle him 😂 (I agree; there is some lovely language in Act 4. Henry IV's & Hal's speeches are pretty brilliant.) 6y

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DGRachel

Henry IV Part Two | William Shakespeare

Act IV completed. Sad ending, but mercifully, this act had very little Falstaff. I think I‘m going to read ahead and finish the play today, so I have one less in-progress book hanging over my head, and then maybe I‘ll watch the Henry IV sections from The Hollow Crown to see if watching it is better than listening to it. #shakespearereadalong

GingerAntics I haven‘t read Act IV yet. 😂 I‘m feeling much better now that I know there is very little Falstaff in it. I was just thinking of ending it today, too. I‘m sort of over this play, sorry to say. 6y

DGRachel @GingerAntics There is a fair bit of Falstaff in Act V, but the end is worth it. 🤫 6y

GingerAntics I saw that. The ending makes all the Falstaff in act v totally worth it, though. 6y

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Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

The king can‘t sleep...without his crown. He‘s very possessive. 😏😉😁
This act was mercifully brief. This one just isn‘t as good/exciting as part 1.
#shakespearereadalong #Shakespeare #henryIVpart2 #HenryIV #shakespeareskings

Graywacke Yeah, true that. Seems still a Fallstaff-dominated show, his humor is getting old 6y

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Graywacke I re-read act 2 and imagined Quickly and Doll as acted by men in drag, as in openly. It became more entertaining in my head. 6y

GingerAntics @Graywacke I wouldn‘t mind seeing him killed at this point. Half way through we FINALLY see the titular character. Seems excessive on the Falstaff front. 6y

GingerAntics @Graywacke oh that is officially how it is supposed to be done in my head now. That makes it really funny. Good thinking. 6y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke 🤣🤣🤣 I‘m reading it like this now!!! 6y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke He is on my last nerve. 6y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics why is it so excessive?!?! It‘s grating. 6y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie @Graywacke officially, the whole thing is in drag as I read. 🤣😂🤣 6y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie excessive is kind of his schtick. I found it excessive and obnoxious from the beginning, but most people liked him until this play...now I‘m not sure how many of us have actually hung in there. Part 2 is oddly painful. 6y

Lcsmcat I liked the bits with Henry better than Falstaff this time. But it‘s the Dickensian weirdness of the names that I‘m enjoying. Shallow, Feeble, Silence, etc. 6y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat the names are terrific 6y

Graywacke Two things about Falstaff. One is that there isn‘t enough plot in this play without him, and everyone is too serious. Part i he was Hal‘s foil, now he‘s a foil for everything else. 6y

GingerAntics @Graywacke I‘m not sure there is enough plot even with him. 6y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat @Graywacke love the names. That‘s been the best part. 6y

Graywacke The second thing is that Falstaff must have been a big hit if Shakespeare had him dominate this play that isn‘t about him. (Or is it?). Senses of humor change. Maybe he was the draw? 6y

GingerAntics @Graywacke valid point. I don‘t think even Shakespeare could have predicted the madness we would have in America right now that parallels that would one day exist. 6y

Graywacke A third thing: the humor is performance dependent. (Hence the drag idea!) Done right, this could be a surprisingly funny play. 6y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics no one could predict this hell. Crazy reading this now however. 6y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie so true. It‘s amazing all these characters that a few years ago I would have found funny, now I‘m just “stop him now or he‘s going to become a bigger problem.” So many characters ruined because we never thought someone like that would get a spray tan and mobilise white supremacists. 6y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics Seriously. It‘s mind boggling. I am glad we‘re reading it though. I never got to these histories of Shakespeare so I‘m glad we‘re muddling through it. 6y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie as a historian and history nerd, I love it as a window into history, because it‘s almost double history. It‘s the stories of history, but it‘s also Shakespeare‘s interpretation of those stories, so it‘s almost more informative on how Shakespeare‘s time saw these stories as it is informative about the history it‘s telling. 6y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics That is exactly how I feel! It‘s important. I like history and this is a wonderful window into it as well. 6y

batsy @Graywacke I get the sense that Falstaff is there to fill out the plot, as well. If I enjoyed his bizarre, anarchic humour in Part 1, in this one it's become incoherent. Almost like Falstaff is wheeled out to entertain the audience whenever Will got tired of writing about kingship 😂 @Lcsmcat The names are so good! 6y

batsy Part 2 is a struggle for me, in terms of maintaining focus and interest. It seems like random bits and pieces of stuff instead of an actual play. Perhaps watching it would have been much different. 6y

GingerAntics @batsy YES!!! I‘ve been having that thought of randomness this whole play, but I thought it was only me so I kept my mouth shut. It‘s definitely not as engaging or smooth as part 1. 6y

Lcsmcat @batsy I even looked up dates of writing/first performance because it feels like a different author! I wonder if, between Parts 1 & 2, something happened or someone in power said something. Or did Will just get bored with the story? 6y

batsy @Lcsmcat As a reader, I sense the latter! I'm curious, too. 6y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat @batsy it does almost feel like a different author. I‘m guessing he got bored. I‘ve certainly gotten bored. 6y

DGRachel @batsy This is definitely more of a struggle than Part 1. I listened to Acts I - III on the train yesterday and was relieved I didn‘t have to keep going. @Graywacke ‘s comments on performance and drag make a lot of sense and I love the names, too @Lcsmcat ! I‘m determined to finish it, but I will be glad when it‘s done. 6y

GingerAntics @DGRachel I know that feeling. Most of the time I‘m having to hold myself back. At this point, I‘m so glad I don‘t have to go on to the next Act right now. I‘d much rather read just about anything. I‘m going to try watching a production on YouTube next week when we‘re working on Act V to see if that helps. 🤞🏻 6y

Graywacke @batsy this idea of wheeling out Falstaff whenever Will got tired is funny in itself. I wonder how serious Will and crew were here. And, you know, movie sequels have issues today...so, can we extrapolate backwards? And...was this play a hit or miss? Did it evolve? Was there an earlier version with more plot and it sucked, so they added more Falstaff? And what did the audiences think of Falstaff? Maybe he was a cult hero who drew in crowds... 6y

Graywacke @GingerAntics @DGRachel I was worn out. But actually all the comments here motivate me bit. Suddenly I‘m really curious what Will will do to wrap this thing up. 6y

Lcsmcat @GingerAntics I wonder if you‘ll be able to find a production to watch. It doesn‘t seem to get performed as often. (For good reason!) 6y

batsy @DGRachel @GingerAntics I feel ya on this! I'm determined to finish early so I can get it over with 😆 6y

batsy @Graywacke Hahaha! And you ask all the interesting questions. The intro and supplementary material I read in my edition seems to suggest that Falstaff was a hit figure at the time. 6y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat the RSC did one in 2014 as part of this thing to do all of Shakespeare‘s plays for his 400th birthday. They made most of them available for educational purposes, so it should be on there. I saw their Richard II and greatly enjoyed it, so if anyone can make me like this thing it‘s them. lol 6y

GingerAntics @batsy I‘m having that thought, too. 6y

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DGRachel

Henry IV Part Two | William Shakespeare

The train ride back to Charlotte is the perfect opportunity to catch up on the #shakespearereadalong. 😊 Am I the only one who doesn‘t like Falstaff?

Lcsmcat Falstaff doesn‘t provide as much comic relief in this one as he does in Part 1. 6y

TheBookHippie He‘s getting on my last nerve 🤣🤣🤣 6y

DGRachel @Lcsmcat Yeah, I am not finding him amusing at all. @TheBookHippie I‘m glad it‘s not just me! 😆 6y

batsy Yeah, he was the highlight for me in Part 1. This one, not so much 😆 6y

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Henry IV Part Two | William Shakespeare

Perhaps he shouldn‘t try to sleep with his crown on. 😆
Once again, the history plays have the famous quotes. #shakespearereadalong

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Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

Falstaff is up to his old antics again and this time he was caught in the act by Hal, who still hasn‘t decided if he‘s going to be a good crown prince or not.
#Shakespeare #henryIVpart2 #HenryIV #shakespeareskings #shakespearereadalong

Graywacke Ok, so I had less time for this than I normally do, and I tried to blow through it. But I had a lot of trouble following what was going on with Falstaff. Probably I need to reread all this a bit slower. The letter to Hal was funny, though. 6y

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Lcsmcat @Graywacke It‘s not grabbing me the way Part 1 did. 6y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat yeah, there‘s that too. 6y

batsy I agree @Graywacke and @Lcsmcat. I got through this second act but to be honest it's all a bit of a blur to me. Found it kind of disjointed and rambling and Falstaff is wearing thin on me in this play. 6y

GingerAntics @batsy Falstaff seems to be worse in this play. I‘m hoping we‘re getting closer to Hal dumping him. @Graywacke @Lcsmcat this play does move much slower. I don‘t know what it is. Hal is suppose to be the big hero of this one, but I wish he‘d get on with it. 6y

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Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

Welcome to Part 2 ladies and gentlemen. So the battle has ended, but it seems the war isn‘t over yet. I guess we‘ll have to read on to see.
#Shakespeare #henryIVpart2 #HenryIV #shakespeareskings #shakespearereadalong

DGRachel I didn‘t get to this today, but I will catch up before next weekend! 6y

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Graywacke I liked this one. I wanted something different, and so far it has a different feel. There are smart speeches. It seems like everyone has grown up and gotten more serious. 6y

Graywacke My version notes that (1) it follows the Quarto not the Folio, and yet (2) the Quatro is missing several lines on rebellion, which were apparently removed to make the Quarto more political innocuous. Those lines are pulled from the Folio. But (3) in Act 1 those lines didn‘t seem so contentious (they‘re highlighted). 6y

GingerAntics @Graywacke I think some of the characters grew up in the course of the battle. We‘ll see if it sticks. It does feel like there has been some kind of shift, doesn‘t it? 6y

GingerAntics @Graywacke I almost wanted to say there was a paradigm shift, but that‘s a bit much. 6y

Graywacke @GingerAntics yeah, more subtle than that. Actually I‘m having a tough time putting the nature of it in words. 6y

GingerAntics @Graywacke exactly. The right words are elusive. It‘s a very subtle shift, I think. At least so far it‘s very subtle. Hopefully it will become more clear as it progresses. 6y

Mtroiano I loved the introduction of Rumour 6y

GingerAntics @Mtroiano that was a cool beginning. I wonder if Rumor will play any further part in the proceedings. 6y

batsy @Mtroiano I enjoyed that bit, too! 6y

batsy The Archbishop had some fiery choice words at the end! I agree that there's a different vibe to this play from the start. The stakes have gotten higher for all involved. 6y

TheBookHippie This seems sharper and more intellectual. Smart. Can‘t put words to it, but I like it. 6y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie it‘s really hard to nail it down in words, but there is definitely a different feel to this one. @batsy has a point. The stakes do feel a lot higher in this one. Hal is really going to have to step up to the plate here. 6y

Gezemice I am preoccipied by the War of the Roses and forgot! Gotta catch up! On the bright side, I got the historical background now. 6y

GingerAntics @Gezemice that‘s my next nonfiction read. I‘m hoping I can finish it before we finish this play. 6y

22 likes17 comments

Graywacke

Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

A little different flavor, this part 2.

#shakespearereadalong

Lcsmcat There are some good speeches in this act! Like Bardolph‘s, near the end of the act. 6y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat agree. Bardolph has a some pithy things to say at the end. 6y

44 likes2 comments

Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

More merriment at Falstaff‘s expense, if not from his mouth. #shakespearereadalong

39 likes

Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

@Graywacke was it you who suggested that maybe Falstaff was a caricature of Henry VIII? Apparently he is a caricature, but no mention of Henry VIII outside of his role in the English reformation. I still think Henry VIII is an equally plausible option here. It was certainly safer for Shakes to suggest that it was someone other than his monarch‘s father, though.
#Shakespeare #henryIVpart2 #HenryIV #shakespeareskings #shakespearereadalong

Graywacke I worry that was just me thinking too much. With me, it starts out ok, then quickly dissolves. As I understand Falstaff is Oldcastle, but Shakespeare changed to name to placate the family. Any references to H VIII would have been terribly dangerous and buried between the lines. He could have gotten strung up for that - or worse. 6y

GingerAntics @Graywacke that‘s definitely true. It‘s an interesting parallel, though. It might not have been intentional, but I think there is probably an argument for the parallels, at least for modern readers. 6y

15 likes2 comments

Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

🤣😂🤣 Oh I can‘t wait for this scene. The usurper doesn‘t get the heroic death he hoped for. 🤣😂🤣
#Shakespeare #henryIVpart2 #HenryIV #shakespeareskings #shakespearereadalong

14 likes

Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

#Shakespearereadalong this is the schedule for the next play. I put a catch up week in for anyone who is still behind after this week.
#Shakespeare #henryIVpart2 #HenryIV #shakespeareskings

TheBookHippie Looks good!!! 6y

See All 15 Comments

Gezemice Thank you for the schedule! Looks great. 6y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Thanks! 6y

readinginthedark 👍 6y

batsy Noted, and thanks! 6y

GingerAntics @thenookhippie @Gezemice @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @batsy you are more than welcome 6y

GingerAntics @readinginthedark how is the little one enjoying Shakespeare? 6y

readinginthedark I think I'm gonna' try reading to her when she's not eating. When I read out loud while feeding her, she gets distracted and stops eating and then gets mad at me that she's still hungry. 😆 So, I've just been reading to myself and letting her stare at shadows. 6y

GingerAntics @readinginthedark 😆 it‘s so complicated being a baby. Eating and listening simultaneously is just asking too much. 6y

readinginthedark Pretty much! 6y

GingerAntics @readinginthedark but shadows are really awesome when you‘re a baby. You‘ve never seen them before. 😆 Basically, everything is really awesome when you‘re a baby. 6y

readinginthedark Too true! She's fascinated by everything! 6y

GingerAntics @readinginthedark it‘s all new and exciting!!! 6y

19 likes15 comments

AvidReader25

Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

Finished Henry IV Part 2 and loved seeing Hal finish transitioning into King Henry V. I highly recommend The Hollow Crown film version too!

“How quickly nature falls into revolt
When gold becomes her object!”

“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”

Sounds too familiar:
“The commonwealth is sick of their own choice;
Their over-greedy love has surfeited.
An habitation giddy and unsure
Hath he that buildeth on the vulgar heart.”

vivastory I loved these 6y

AvidReader25 @vivastory So good! 6y

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MrsLee

King Henry IV Part 2: Second Series | William Shakespeare, A. R. Humphreys

Further in her speech, "Never, O never, do his ghost the wrong - To hold your honour more precise and nice, with others than with him!" Atta girl!

6 likes

MrsLee

King Henry IV Part 2: Second Series | William Shakespeare, A. R. Humphreys

I will finish this today. I will. After reading the book on euphemisms, pretty sure I should be blushing at this passage.

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Kimberlone

Henry IV, Part 2 | William Shakespeare

I feel like a positive quote about women would have been more appropriate for #InternationalWomensDay, since Shakespeare has no shortage of inspiring women characters. But it‘s a funny one nonetheless.

23 likes