Overview
Synopsis
King Ferdinand of Navarre has sworn an oath that for three years, he will transform his kingdom into an “academe” (a little academy). His subjects will reject the world’s pleasures, including women, in favor of an ascetic lifestyle and a complete commitment to their studies. Trouble comes in the form of The Princess of France and her three ladies-in-waiting (Rosaline, Maria and Katherine), with whom the King and his lords (Berowne, Longaville, and Dumaine) fall in love almost immediately. Love’s Labour's Lost details the antics that ensue when one attempts to deny one’s instincts, but is confronted with the overwhelming power of love.
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Context
Love’s Labour's Lost is one of Shakespeare’s early plays, believed to have been written in the mid-1590s. Notably, it is his only story that does not have a plot derived from an already existing source, which has led some scholars to believe that it may be Shakespeare’s only original plotline. The characters, however, may be loosely based on historical figures: a contemporary of Shakespeare’s, Henri King of Navarre, was frequently gossiped about in Elizabethan circles, and two of his
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ACT ONE
Ferdinand, the King of Navarre (a small, independent region in northern Spain) has issued an edict to his countrymen demanding them to eschew various pleasures (including women, food and sleep) and commit themselves to academic learning for a period of three years. Three of his Lords, Berowne, Longaville and Dumain, have agreed to sign a contract detailing the various regulations involved in this agreement. Longaville and Dumain sign, but Berowne expresses doubts. Namely, Berowne
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Character Portrayals
See StageAgent members who have performed roles in Love’s Labour's Lost.
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Key Terms
A form of comedy set in rural, idealized landscapes, often exploring romantic entanglements and class differences. Common in English Renaissance drama.
Works not protected by copyright and available for free use or adaptation. Many classical plays, including Shakespeare's, fall into the public domain.
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