Who is your favourite Shakespearean character, and why?
@Sandra1952 (6047)
Spain
July 26, 2009 5:25pm CST
I love all of Shakespeare's plays - I've seen several live performances, and I have a large collection of Shakespeare films. My favourite play is Hamlet, but my favourite character is Richard III. He's a character who revels in his own evil, and he romps his way through the play, giving brilliant asides to the audience, just in case you fail to realise how nasty he really is.
Shakespeare is credited with giving Richard the bad press - apparently he was a much loved king, and nowhere near as evil as he is painted in the play. Who is your favourite Shakespearean character, and why?
2 people like this
10 responses
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
26 Jul 09
Hello Sandra, well I've lots of favourite characters from reading the plays but they stuck in mind more after seeing the plays live in Stratford many times. I always had a fondness for, think it was, Sir Anthony Aguecheek, can't think of the name right off, it's so long since I read Twelfth Night. I like Iago, I like the baddies usually, but who could not adore him after seeing Ben Kingsley play him live. I preferred Goneril and Regan to the rather wet Cordelia, even though we weren't meant to. My favourite all time character from that era isn't from Shakespeare at all but that's something else for another day.
Just rememberd, this was good for a laugh, once saw a Russian film version of 'King Lear' which was rather long with subtitles. Somehow I don't think what they were actually saying had anything to do with Shakespeares words.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
26 Jul 09
Hello Thea. I like the baddies as well - they are so much more complex as characters. What a privilege to see Ben Kingsley playing Iago. Actually, he comes a close second to Richard III for me. I saw some of those Russian Shakespeare films as well - apparently they are almost rewritten to get political points across; I know Shakespeare made political points in the plays, but 20th century Russian politics are considerably different from 16th century English politics, so it's bound to be a bit strange.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
26 Jul 09
Hi Sandra, I'm going back a bit with the Russian version of King Lear but they had done their best to make it authentic to what they thought was the age of Shakespeare, the wheels they used were almost square rocks.
I used to have a bit of a crush on Ben Kingsley since the first time I saw him, something about those eyes. The day after he played Iago he was in 'The Merry Wives of Windsor', a play I hadn't read as preferred the tragedies mainly, but it was brilliant. I also saw Michael Pennington as Hamlet. Funnily enough I can't remember at all who actually played Othello as he was completely outshone by BenK.
1 person likes this
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
27 Jul 09
I think the problem with Othello these days is that it has to be a black actor playing him, and to get the best out of a demanding role like Othello, it requires something more than just the right colour skin. I saw the film with Laurence Fishburne as Othello and Kenneth Brannagh as Iago, and Brannagh was much more impressive. Fishburne is a wonderful actor, but he's not necessarily up to playing the great tragic heroes of Shakespeare. Laurence Olivier and Orson Welles both turned in great performances, but of course, they had to 'black up' for the role, and that's frowned on these days.
@jellymonty (2352)
•
27 Jul 09
Definitely Macbeth for me.. I just love how he struggles to be noble but has no choice but listen to his bloody wife who has problems of her own. I love Macbeth ever since I played the role of Lady Macbeth and Hecate, Queen of the Witches I just fell in love with his character and the whole story...
1 person likes this
@jellymonty (2352)
•
31 Jul 09
lol I really don't think Robbie can handle a spank from an evil woman! hahaha there always has to be a place for a spank story, I like that.
Actually I had to wear extra layers of clothing to look fat as I really was skin and bone (much like now)... I think I looked better as the witch as it required a skinny boneless female!
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
27 Jul 09
Yes, Macbeth is another great story with a complex tragic hero who is much more than just a pantomime villain. I bet you made a very glamourous Lady Macbeth, but I can't see you as a witch, somehow. If we could get Robert to play Macbeth, you could spank him with your whip when he refuses to murder Duncan! (Sorry - this is supposed to be a serious discussion, but I just couldn't resist that one!)
@riverblue (183)
• India
12 Oct 09
Hi,Sandra1953,my favorite play is Macbeth.May be because I studied it in detail in
college.,
1 person likes this
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
13 Oct 09
Macbeth is a really complex character, which is why we can relate to him. Shakespeare certainly knew what makes us tick, and his villains are so much more than just the bad guys.
@HenrySwan (27)
• United States
9 Nov 09
It would choose Henry V, (my Mylot ID) mostly because of Branagh in the movie. Second favorite would be Hotspur from Henry IV part I. He's really great, more fun thn Harry.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
9 Nov 09
Yes. Branagh was brilliant in Henry V. He made a great Hamlet as well, and he was mesmerising as Iago in 'Othello.' And you're right about Hotspur - a much more interesting and complex character than Harry. Thanks for the response, and welcome to Mylot.
@AllenWiggs (404)
• United States
11 Dec 09
Hmm that is a difficult question. I really like Falstaff from the Henrys, he was the perfect comic character. Though Prince Hal (who eventually becomes Henry V) is also a great character, who not only builds himself up from being a complete drunken lout to being one of the greatest and most persuasive of kings in Shakespeare, plus his speech before the battle with France is one of the most epic speeches ever.
Puck and Prospero also rank high up there for me, because Puck is the ultimate trickster, and Prospero is from my favorite play.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
11 Dec 09
Hello, and welcome to MyLot. Yes, there are several great characters to choose from, and for most people, it's difficult to settle on one. I agree with you about Hal? Henry V - great character development and wonderful speeches. Puck is also wonderfully drawn. Not so sure I agree about Prospero, but then I'm not a great fan of the Tempest.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
30 Jul 09
I have given this some thought and I simmply have no idea. I am thinking it would likely be a female from Much Ado About Nothing.
@sonic30132 (20)
• United States
26 Jul 09
I like Puck from Midsummer Night's Dream. I only like him because I played him in a performance.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
26 Jul 09
Puck is another character who has great fun in the play. I bet you enjoyed playing him! Thanks for the response, and welcome to Mylot.
@XanderDDS (62)
• United States
20 Sep 09
What a great question. I would have to pick an easy one... Hamlet himself. Such a complicated character. Is he crazy? Is he sane? His dialogue and soliloquies are quoted everywhere, and his plan to catch the conscience of the king is fantastic. I also enjoy Marc Antony in Julius Caesar... the way his rhetoric sways the masses... outstanding!
1 person likes this
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
30 Sep 09
I agree, Hamlet is so complex. I'm not overly familiar with Julius Caesar, but I have read some of Marc Anthony's speeches, and they are amazing. I think Shakespeare's genius lay in his complete understanding of the human condition, and his ability to create complex, believable characters who can exist in any era.
