What’s it about? Four (wealthy/upper class) young men make a deal that they are going to study together for three years. They agree on a set of rules for this time, which includes not seeing any women. However, a princess comes to visit and, with her retinue containing a total of four women, well…let’s just say some pairing off definitely takes place. In the end, though, the princess must return to France and we are left hanging. Unlike many of Shakespeare’s romantic comedies, we are left to decide for ourselves whether or not the couples get together in the future.
What is it really about? Some guys agree to study really hard and not get involved with women for three years, but their resolve is tested when some very beautiful women show up. They have a load of good-spirited fun together and fall in love. We do not end with a marriage, however, and are left wondering what the couples’ futures hold.
No, really. What’s it ACTUALLY about? There’s a lot of ways to read this play, but to me what stands out is the futility that I see very clearly. As much as we can fight fate, sometimes things just don’t work out the way we want them to–no matter how hard we try to make them happen.
My thoughts:
Love’s Labour Lost is quite unique in several ways from most of Shakespeare’s play. I believe it is one of the only of the Bard’s dramatic works that does not end in either a wedding or a death/funeral. (Correct me if I’m wrong.) But just because we don’t have a wedding, that doesn’t mean there is any lack of romantic tension. This play has particular physical comedy potential and it is very easy to find its humor. It may not be the best or most complex of Shakespeare’s plays, but it is thoroughly enjoyable.
I think my favorite thing about this play is the lovely way that it points out that sometimes we fall short, even with our best efforts. The group of young men really had every intention of following their word, only to find themselves fall helplessly in love. Not only that, but their best efforts to win over the women end up not being quite enough in the end as the princess and her ladies are needed back in France. It almost seems like the Bard’s way of saying, “Sometimes things don’t turn out the way we think they will, and that’s okay.” I really feel for the silly group of guys as events beyond their control whisk their loves away. And I like to believe that not long after the curtain closes, our lovely pairs do indeed end up together.
I love how Love’s Labour Lost also really speaks to how desperately each of us strive to maintain appearances. Even though all four of our young men are falling in love with the visiting ladies, none of them want to admit it, providing us with one of my favorite scenes in all of Shakespeare’s canon: act 4 scene 3 where a hilarious round robin of confessions are overheard and the air is cleared between the men. The whole play is really a lesson in how important open communication is–and what a hilarious lesson it is!
If you are looking for a version of this play to watch, I highly recommend the version performed and filmed at the Globe Theatre in 2010, available on iTunes. It has an outstanding cast and has me bursting with laughter every time I watch it.
