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View Full Version : The best female and best male Shakespeare roles?



kelby_lake
02-24-2010, 01:49 PM
10 male and 5 female (seeing as there are so few female roles, I thought we ought to narrow it down). And your reasons why.

prendrelemick
04-25-2010, 05:24 PM
Othello and Iago, a great double act that has to be got just right for the play to work.
Falstaff- Great bombast.
Henry V- Glorious.
Hamlet - the most complicated/introverted.
Brutus- the noblest Roman and character of them all.
Macbeth- Strengh hiding weakness.
Richard III- Unmitigated baddie, and he knows it.

There are many "Great Roles" Lear, Ceasar, Shylock, Mark Antony and the like, but for the last two, Bottom and Mercutio, They are supporting Characters that are absolutely pivotal.

As for the ladies there is only one winner, Lady Macbeth.
others are,
Cressida, Makes the best of the cards she is dealt.
Miranda, you see her character/situation repeated again and again in modern drama.
I'm not really a fan of those who dress up as men and have adventures.
Catherine from Taming of the Shrew- gives as good as she gets.

And one more, I'm a bit torn at the moment so I'm going to think about it.