Love's Labour's Lost by William Shakespeare

Shakespeare Project 2020

This was one of Shakespeare's earlier comedies  and I have to say I didn't much enjoy this one. I found the humor and word play lacking, but it could be because some of the references were for the Elizabethan crowd at the time (1500's-1600's)

This play is known for having the single longest word in all of the plays: honorificabilitudinitatibus. Which is translated to "the state of being able to achieve honours." 

This is said by Costard, the clown as he converses with the other comedic and wordy character, Holofernes, the school master. The preacher, Sir Nathaniel, in trying to impress, move, affect Holofernes:

V.1

"...Your reasons at dinner have been sharp and sententious; pleasant without

scurrility, witty without affection, audacious without

impudency, learned without opinion, and strange

without heresy...."

Berowne, a lord of the court, was by far the most outspoken of the 4 gents who swore off women for 3 years to study, until they learn that the Princess of France and her ladies are coming to the court. 

IV.3

"I will not love; if I do, hang me.

I' faith, I will not. O, but her eye! By this light, but for

her eye, I would not love her - yes, for her two eyes."

When he busts his buddies for reading and writing love notes, he tries to deny his own feelings of love for one of the ladies:

IV.3

"I am betrayed by keeping company

With men like you, men of inconstancy.

When shall you see me write a thing in rhyme?

Or groan for Joan? or spend a minute's time

In pruning me? When shall you hear that I

Will praise a hand, a foot, a face, an eye,

A gait, a state, a brow, a breast, a waist,

A leg, a limb..."

Berowne owns up to his own failings of their sequestered study group and tries to convince them instead the best way to learn is by studying women!

IV.3

"From women's eyes this doctrine I derive:

They are the ground, the books, the academes,

From whence doth spring the true Promethean fire."

There is a serious moment when the French Princess is informed that her father has died and she must return home. Berowne has a poignant line (though I'm taking this out of context):

V.2

"Honest plain words best pierce the ear of grief;..."

The play ends on a weird song of winter and spring sung by an owl and a cuckoo. And we gladly exeunt this play.