It took me about a month to finish it. Most mornings, I started my day by reading a single scene. Some scenes are longer than others, and in the future I’ll probably power through the short scenes and read a little longer just to move things along. I’ll get through the next one faster that way.
Going into this, I knew very little about this play. I heard bits about it when I read The Hollow Crown, and was especially attuned to the part where Joan La Pucelle (Joan of Arc) has a dialogue with mysterious spirits, suggesting her prowess stems from some pact made with the supernatural.
What stands out to me is the political scheming that takes place among subordinates, especially in the wake of the death of a beloved leader, and the tragedy of the Talbots. I’d add in the searching for saviors, as seems to be the case with the French and Joan La Pucelle.
If someone asks me about this play or it comes up in the future, I’ll likely think of political scheming, Joan, and the Talbots.
Am I missing something?
While reading, I’m especially looking for powerful lines. Here are the ones that stood out to me, with a comment above each:
While the soldiers fight, back home the nonsense continues:
Silence is often the best option. Bide your time.
Everyone deserves a second chance.
Power in the hands of the unready.
Pure comedy.
While reading, I couldn’t help to start to see Shakespeare everywhere. I’m finding myself falling into different blogs and podcasts on the topic, and there are frequently news articles or references that pull me in. I’ve subscribed to a bunch of a newsletters to learn of local performances when they come around. I couldn’t help to see Shakespeare in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. And as I understand it, Grand Theft Hamlet will be available via Mubi later this month.
I’m enjoying the process. Off to Part II.
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