reading all books referenced on Gilmore girls
Synopsis:
William Shakespeare's "King Richard III" is one of the playwright's classic English historical dramas. It the story of Richard's murderous and deceitful plans to ascend to the thrown. A classic and popular play for performance, "King Richard III" is one of Shakespeare's great historical dramas.
Let's set the scene...
Rory and Lorelai are still studying for Rory's upcoming Shakespeare exam. Lorelai begins by asking a question about The Comedy of Errors...
Lorelai: Published?
Rory: 1698
Lorelai: Ooh 1623 - close
Rory: How is 1623 close?
Lorelai: You got the ‘16’ part right.
Rory: I was off by 75 years
Lorelai: Well anything under 100 years is close.
Rory: What kind of rule is that?
Lorelai: I’m running the study session here. Ok. Richard III?
Rory: 1591
Lorelai: [Makes buzzer sound]
Rory: ’93?
Lorelai: [Makes buzzer sound]
Rory: ’96?
Lorelai: [Makes buzzer sound]
Rory: Ok, that’s getting really annoying nowLorelai: [Makes small buzzer sound]
My thoughts:
"Now is the winter of our discontent...". This opening line has become famous in it's own right and references the civil war (between the House of Lancaster and the House of York) that is depicted in Shakespeare's previous play Henry VI. King Richard III continues the epic tale of The War of the Roses, a fight for the throne of England.
The villainous Duke of Gloucester, so full of vile intentions and so desperate for power, stops at nothing to ensure his throne. Shakespeare's King Richard III is unapologetic in his evil tyranny. Familial blood does not guarantee safety from Richard's vengeance, however, he demands loyalty from everyone around him... the height of hypocrisy.
In the end, his hubris and arrogance are destroyed when he is visited by the ghosts of all the people he has slain in his quest for power and glory. And once his arrogance is removed, he is susceptible to the revenge his countrymen unleash on him.
Who do I see reading this in the Stars Hollow gazebo?
I believe that Richard would love the history behind the story of the Houses of Lancaster and York. I always see Richard as a history buff... it probably doesn't help that he's CONSTANTLY doing voice-overs for The History Channel. I've heard Edward Herrmann speak more about Hitler than I've used the word "dude". And that's saying a lot... dude.
