Status Updates From Shakespeare's First Folio

p.14/904. Tempest. Actus Tertius. Scoena Prima.

5/28/25 - Sonnets 31-35 and The Merry Wives of Windsor (read along with the Texas Shakespeare Company performance), which was a pretty dumb story about two wives getting revenge on a man who sends them identical love letters, and a daughter who who just wants to choose her own husband.

5/5/25 - Sonnets 20-30 and Cymbeline, which was incredibly stupid.

Sonnets 15-19 and The Taming of the Shrew (read along with 1980 BBC play). Kind of amusing, aside from the gaslighting. I sort of see Petruchio's point to beat Katharina at her own game, but it was sad to see her so whipped at the end.

Sonnets 8-14 and The Tempest (which I read along with the 1980 BBC play). It was...odd. Prospero was the original "I did my waiting! Twelve years of it! On this island!"

3/4/25 - finished Sonnets 1-7 and Two Gentlemen of Verona, which was ridiculous. I guess it has a happy ending, but that was more than most of the characters deserved!

Week 44: Sonnets to Sundry Notes of Music

Some [more or less] lovely poems to end this project.

Week 43: The Passionate Pilgrim
The return of Adonis.
I enjoyed these short poems, though some I was already familiar with.

Week 42: Venus and Adonis

Venus has never heard of accepting a 'no' or the concept of 'consent', has she?

This is no love but obsession, lust and sexual assault.

Week 41: Twelfth-Night or What You Will

This is the last play (I only have poems left). Again similar themes and plot. But I did enjoy this one.

Week 40: Troilus and Cressida

I am not sure what to make of this.
At first I was excited because this is set during the trojan war and I was familiar with some of the characters.
However this play seems different to Shakespeares other works. I'll definitely need to look more into the context and general interpretations of this one.

Week 39: Titus Andronicus

This was the first Shakespeare play I ever read. It was interesting to revisit it now. I remember how surprised I was by how violent it is. And how the ending left me speechless.

Also I still appreciate the "villain I have done thy mother". Dude had "yo mama" jokes even back then.

Week 38: Timon of Athens

Fake friends and bad spending habits

Week 37: The Winter's Tale

Week 36: The Two Gentlemen of Verona

I think I am burned out from all the Shakespeare plays this year. At this point they are just too similar.
This one was okay. I might have to revisit it once I have had a long break from Shakespeare, just to see if I will like it more then.
I still have eight weeks left so we will see if any of those plays will rekindle my motivation.

Week 35: The Tempest

"Hell is empty and all the devils are here." The most famous quote of this play (I believe), and the only thing I knew about it.
It was interesting to read this without knowing anything of the plot.
Not one of my favourites but I still enjoyed it.

Week 34: The Taming of the Shrew

And the next problematic play....
Difficult or rather enraging read for any woman and feminist. The misogyny in this one is insane.
I'd rather watch '10 Things I Hate About You' because that adaption of the play is at least not making me want to physically fight any man present.

Week 33: The Rape of Lucrece

I found this one very interesting. Since we get to see both Tarquins and Lucreces thought process. It's sad to say but I feel like this story still is important in today's society.

[Also that dedication to Henry Wriothesly... you can't tell me that they were "just friends"]

Werk 32: The Merry Wives of Windsor

I loved this one. The return of Sir John Falstaff surprised me.
The wives and their shenanigans were very entertaining. Props to Falstaff for trying so hard he fell for their tricks everytime.

Week 31: The Merchant of Venice

The antisemitism in this play really made it impossible for me to enjoy it.

It was interesting to see where the "one pound of flesh" came from, since I had seen this plot in media before.
And I did think it was nice that the women saved the day in the end.

Week 30: The Comedy of Errors

Oh what a mess. Lovely.
The original twin confusion.
It was definitely fun.

Week 29: Sonnets

The sonnets instead of a play this week.Did enjoy most of them.
My favourites beside the obvious number 18 were 24, 27, 31, 102 and 128. I can't say what exactly it was about each of them but they stood out to me.

I also did enjoy his word play on his own name "Will" in 135 & 136. Made me laugh a little.
And then 130 probably the most unflattering love confession but so honest. Liked that one too.

Week 28: Romeo and Juliet

I had to read this for university at least twice before. And reading this for a third time did not change my opinion.
I dislike this one [mainly because it is romanticised to much].

Week 27: The Tragedy of King Richard the Third

Finally the last of the historical plays.
So much murder for a crown that he would give up for a horse at the end.

Week 26: The Tragedy of King Richard the Second

And again, I couldn't care less for the historicals.
Thankfully next weeks play will be the last historical I have to read.
I probably should have read them in chronologically order for better understanding, but I forgot most of them by now anyways. All of the Richards and Henrys...

Week 25: Pericles, Prince of Tyre

Starting of with an incestrous King is crazy.
And the part where Marina is converting everyone in the brothel was wild.

Telling sad stories to feel better about yourself is a mood.

Moral of the story: Always check if someone is really dead yourself.

Didn't know anything about this one before, but it was entertaining.

Week 23:Othello, the Moor of Venice

A play about Racism & Jealousy
Iago thou profane wretch, though truly art a villain!
"Drown thyself? Drown cats & blind puppies" if that isn't proof enough of his despicable character, I don't know what is. And then his wicked plots and foul racist speech. Truly the inherently evil machiavellian villain.

I love the random comedic scenes like the clowns & musicians in this one.

Week 23: Much Ado About Nothing

Climate change is Beatrice's fault then, because she did "catch the Benedick" and now there will be a hot January.

Beatrice & Benedick are the "hate-to-love" blueprint. Their banter is truly iconic.
As is this play. Messy & fun.

Week 22: Measure for Measure
I live for the characters with random names like Elbow.
"Throth, and your bum is the greatest thing about you; so that in the beastliest sense you are Pompey the Great." Pompey the big booty pimp 😂

Angelo you despicable man..

"If I must die, I will encounter darkness as a bride, and hug it in mine arms"

That open end though? Will Isabella become a nun or marry the Duke?

Week 21: Macbeth

"What you egg?"

I've been waiting for this one. And I was not disappointed.
I loved the weird sisters [obviously]!

"Come what come may, time and the hour runs through roughest day"
And so it did & Macbeth got what had been coming for him.