This is from the introductory essay by Anthony B. Dawson to The New Cambridge edition of Troilus and Cressida. Not meant to discourage, just wanted to confirm that our sense of this play as more difficult is not unfounded.
Dawson argues that much of the play is about interpretation and how events get repeated and interpreted and then shaped into a story. Something to consider.
So patience! and #noshameinsparknotes. 🙂 #shakespearereadalong
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catebutler Thank you for the reminder! Whilst reading this play, it reminded me how difficult and yet rewarding reading Shakespeare can be! 5y
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Graywacke Well, I feel a little better ☺️ 5y
batsy That's a relief 😅 5y
jewright I always feel as if I have to read a play several times before I can grasp a lot of the play. There‘s just too much going on to read it only once. (edited) 5y
Rachbb3 Yep, that's it. 😆 5y
Lcsmcat This is a difficult one. I‘ve reread and also watched a production on YouTube to try to grasp it. And Shakespeare isn‘t usually difficult for me! 5y
DGRachel This definitely makes me feel better about my “huh?” moment today. 😊 5y
TheBookHippie Phew ...🤣🤣 5y
merelybookish @catebutler Yes for sure! And this one seems to be particularly challenging! 5y
merelybookish @Graywacke @batsy @thebookhippie It's not us. It's him. 😛 5y
merelybookish @jewright Oh yes, I agree! Initially I'm just trying to grasp the plot and who's who. But I am usually able to glean more on a first read through than I managed with this one. 5y
merelybookish @Rachbb3 Makes it sound really fun, eh! 😆 5y
merelybookish @Lcsmcat Is the YouTube production any good? (I think we are learning why this play is obscure! 🤨) 5y
merelybookish @DGRachel Not you at all! Apparently we just chose a difficult play! 5y
Lcsmcat @merelybookish I‘ve only watched the first act, but it helped a lot. 5y
TheBookHippie @merelybookish I feel better now! 5y
readordierachel So glad it's not just me! I've been scratching my head and rereading sections. 🤔 5y
erzascarletbookgasm Ha! I‘ve read Act 1 now but so much has gone over my head. It doesn‘t help I‘m not reading from a physical book (it‘s just me). That‘s why I didn‘t know what to say at the first discussion thread. Appreciate reading all the comments, though. I may need to reread the Act. 5y
batsy @merelybookish @Lcsmcat The intro in my Signet edition points out that even "very talented and very cynical" amateur actors would struggle with performing this play. The levels of irony to be conveyed in the performance would need seasoned actors, which I found quite an interesting point. 5y
batsy @erzascarletbookgasm I find that for Shakespeare (and plays in general, mostly) I too need a physical copy. 5y
merelybookish @batsy Nobody gets it. 😂 (But I did read of a recent production in NYC that got.good reviews so it must be possible to make it work!) 5y
merelybookish @batsy @erzascarletbookgasm I feel your ebook pain. I started on Kindle but have found a hard copy at the library. But I think the play is challenging to read in either format. 5y