Scan barcode
thesimplereader's review against another edition
2.0
Read for Restoration Literature. Otway pushed back against the gender stereotypes and fooled society into agreeing without fully understanding.
isabelleverdino's review against another edition
2.0
Another play I read for my LIT 337 class. We had lots of thoughts about this. We think that Otway was much more interested in the relationship between Jaffier and Pierre than he was with Jaffier and Belvidera's characters. Jaffier and Belvidera spent all of their interactions speaking past each other; following the same rhetorical style of asking rhetorical questions and speaking about themselves in the third person (with a hefty dose of extended metaphor). Jaffier and Pierre's scenes flew back and forth conversationally with action and energy and emotion. To be honest, we said that if Otway committed to this homoerotic subtext, it would be a bit of a more successful companion to Brokeback Mountain.
As it is, Otway couldn't see or decide what would make a good play. The safe plot and the risky side are combatting the entire way through. Aquilina and Pierre are more stable, complex, and interesting characters but were delegated to a subplot. There were a few interesting parts, but not many. I just wish so badly he had fully committed to the plot he was obviously interested in telling.
As it is, Otway couldn't see or decide what would make a good play. The safe plot and the risky side are combatting the entire way through. Aquilina and Pierre are more stable, complex, and interesting characters but were delegated to a subplot. There were a few interesting parts, but not many. I just wish so badly he had fully committed to the plot he was obviously interested in telling.
lyricallit's review against another edition
2.0
My least favorite Restoration drama thus far. The language is strikingly beautiful at times, but overly dramatic & heightened. There are several scenes where characters do a very soap-opera like exchange of not daring to speak! but having another character drag it out of him/her. Very melodramatic at times, and there are few characters I really sympathize with.
1siobhan's review against another edition
3.0
Getting ready for Stratford and the RSC's performance of the play. Not really a fan of this she-tragedy whilst reading but I'm sure it'll be interesting to see on stage.
Jaffier has secretly married a senator's daughter. When he loses his fortune and asks his father-in-law for help, things get out of control. Jaffier becomes part of a conspiracy to bring down one of the senators, but will he trade his wife's safety for revenge?
3 Stars because it was really hard to follow the plot.
Jaffier has secretly married a senator's daughter. When he loses his fortune and asks his father-in-law for help, things get out of control. Jaffier becomes part of a conspiracy to bring down one of the senators, but will he trade his wife's safety for revenge?
3 Stars because it was really hard to follow the plot.
cewritespoems's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lawrenceevalyn's review against another edition
4.0
Belvidera, Jaffeir, and Pierre make a compelling triad, and there's something fascinating (if depressing!) about a tragedy without a clear moral lesson.
mappingoutasky's review
3.0
I mean... it was fine. No strong opinions on it.
Read for ENGL 3020: Restoration Drama
Read for ENGL 3020: Restoration Drama
More...