From Van Doren's Shakespeare:
"The capacities required for the composition of 'Love's Labor's Lost' were all but the very highest. They were, to their own loss, purely literary; and this is why, notwithstanding the exquisite skill of the writing, the play is not appreciated."
Van Doren's criticism is surely accurate, because nothing much happens in this play, and what does happen is usually forgettable (that does not mean everything is forgettable; imagine the cadence and atmosphere of a present-day romantic comedy). Reading this play, today, is about reading the poetry. For readers actually interested in language, in poetry, this play should probably be considered required. Van Doren uses the word "exquisite," which might come close to covering it. In any case, never reading this play would mean never meeting Berowne, Armado, or "Jaquenetta, the wench" - which would be a tragedy.
"The capacities required for the composition of 'Love's Labor's Lost' were all but the very highest. They were, to their own loss, purely literary; and this is why, notwithstanding the exquisite skill of the writing, the play is not appreciated."
Van Doren's criticism is surely accurate, because nothing much happens in this play, and what does happen is usually forgettable (that does not mean everything is forgettable; imagine the cadence and atmosphere of a present-day romantic comedy). Reading this play, today, is about reading the poetry. For readers actually interested in language, in poetry, this play should probably be considered required. Van Doren uses the word "exquisite," which might come close to covering it. In any case, never reading this play would mean never meeting Berowne, Armado, or "Jaquenetta, the wench" - which would be a tragedy.
