# Favorite Shakespeare Character **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 5, 2000, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506 "2000-02-05T22:29:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rousseau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Rousseau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rousseau)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2000, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506/1 "2000-02-05T22:29:00Z")
In my opinion, the best characters in Big Willie’s plays are always the villians. I’m not an evil guy or anything, but he was just better at writing the antagonist. Maybe it says more about him than it does about me. That said, mine favorite is Iago. No doubt about it. Actually, Iago is more or less a fix to be the best character in Shakespeare’s works, since he represents the best literary character ever ([church lady] who could it be…[/church lady]). I don’t think any other character that Shakespeare ever wrote quite matches Iago’s duality, cunning, intelligence, and his certain unspoken depth that you get a feeling for. None of this changes the fact that he was just plain mean, though. I’d like to hear what the teeming millions think, though. * * * The IQ of a group is equal to the IQ of the dumbest member divided by the number of people in the group. ---
**Author:** ![APB9999](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB9999](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB9999)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2000, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506/2 "2000-02-05T22:39:00Z")
With her, on her, what you will. ---
**Author:** ![Rousseau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Rousseau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rousseau)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2000, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506/3 "2000-02-05T22:48:00Z")
No, my favorite line is “Ere I would say I would drown myself for the love of a guinea-hen, I would change my humanity with a baboon.” * * * The IQ of a group is equal to the IQ of the dumbest member divided by the number of people in the group. ---
**Author:** ![Prose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Prose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prose)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2000, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506/4 "2000-02-05T23:22:00Z")
friend D says Ophilia. Though I’m a Richard III myself fan 🙂 * * * I am a fire whose flames lick and spit at the boundless sky forever desiring wonderous consummation -me ---
**Author:** ![WallyM7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5e925/32.png) [@WallyM7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WallyM7)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506/5 "2000-02-06T00:08:00Z")
I always had a soft spot for Petruchio. ## Basically, he said, “I’m the boss, bitch. Deal.” Actually, I said that to my wife once. She said, “Come on out from under the bed, you coward,” I don’t have to do drugs to mess up my head. I went to Catholic school. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506/6 "2000-02-06T01:29:00Z")
I’ve always been partial to Mercutio. He is the only thing that redeems “Romeo and Juliet,” the most overrated piece of tripe in the English language. Richard III is a great villian. I once saw a marvelous version of this play in the Shakespeare in Central Park series (Louisville, not NYC), and the lead actor was incredible. Hamlet, too, is an excellent role for a good actor. I am also partial to Prospero and Ariel from “The Tempest,” Rosamund and Jacque from “As You Like It,” and Shylock. * * * The Coyote gnaws … but he does not swallow. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506/7 "2000-02-06T01:38:00Z")
Funny, when I read the thread title, just before I opened it, the first names that popped into my head were Iago, Malvolio, and MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING’s Don John. So I guess I’m with you on the evildoers. Is Macbeth considered a villain? Or if your name’s on the play, you are de facto the hero? I’m also partial to the clowns, particularly Feste and Dogberry and Sir Anthony Aguecheek and the one from AS YOU LIKE IT whose name I don’t remember. * * * Uke ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506/8 "2000-02-06T01:40:00Z")
Touchstone. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506/9 "2000-02-06T01:53:00Z")
## Hamlet, and the Fool from King Leer. _Eschew Obfuscation_ ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506/10 "2000-02-06T02:00:00Z")
I stick with Iago, too. The way his brain works is marvelous, and seeing his plan unfold just (or almost just) as he envisioned it it fascinating. BTW, I saw a production in 1981/2 of Othello with James Earl Jones in the title role and Christopher Plummer as Iago. Wintergarden Theater, New York. Not only were the performances sterling, but the production values, lighting, scenery changes…all were outstanding. My fave Shakespeare play, though, is Macbeth. Always has been. * * * The Dave-Guy “since my daughter’s only half-Jewish, can she go in up to her knees?” J.H. Marx ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506/11 "2000-02-06T02:33:00Z")
Iago’s my favorite; the reason isn’t straightforward, so I won’t explain it here, but the end result is that Iago’s my fave. * * * Mayor of [Snerdville](http://fathom.org/snerdville), the home of Mortimer Snerd “I’m just too much for human existence – I should be animated.” –Wayne Knight ---
**Author:** ![ChrisCTP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@ChrisCTP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisCTP)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506/12 "2000-02-06T04:18:00Z")
Joseph Fiennes. Oh wait…you said _character_. Puck or Viola, I can’t decide. * * * “…being normal is not necessarily a virtue. It rather denotes a lack of courage.” ---
**Author:** ![JBENZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b77776/32.png) [@JBENZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBENZ)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506/13 "2000-02-06T05:17:00Z")
Poor Jack Falstaff, sweet Jack Falstaff… An eternal inspiration to all of us old, fat drunks. * * * JB Lex Non Favet Delicatorum Votis ---
**Author:** ![TaleraRis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@TaleraRis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaleraRis)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506/14 "2000-02-06T05:34:00Z")
It’s like Lays Chips…I can’t pick just one. I have always enjoyed Beatrice and Benedict from Much Ado About Nothing. I also admire Portia from The Merchant of Venice because she, basically, saved her man’s butt by defending him against Shylock. She was smart and resourceful and you don’t see that very much out of the women in Shakespeare’s plays. Hamlet and MacBeth are very moving, and I’m with Wally here. I always loved Petruchio’s take-charge attitude. Katherina had a very sharp wit, too. * * * When are you going to realize being normal isn’t necessarily a good thing? ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506/15 "2000-02-06T08:28:00Z")
Ophelia. With Juliet coming a close second. * * * If A equals success, then the formula is: A = X + Y + Z, X is work. Y is play. Z is keep your mouth shut. -Albert Einstein ---
**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506/16 "2000-02-06T11:27:00Z")
Dammit Coyote, Mercutio is my favorite. Here is the Queen Mab segment. O, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you. She is the fairies’ midwife, and she comes In shape no bigger than an agate-stone On the fore-finger of an alderman, Drawn with a team of little atomies Athwart men’s noses as they lie asleep; Her wagon-spokes made of long spiders’ legs, The cover of the wings of grasshoppers, The traces of the smallest spider’s web, The collars of the moonshine’s watery beams, Her whip of cricket’s bone, the lash of film, Her wagoner a small grey-coated gnat, Not so big as a round little worm Prick’d from the lazy finger of a maid; Her chariot is an empty hazel-nut Made by the joiner squirrel or old grub, Time out o’ mind the fairies’ coachmakers. And in this state she gallops night by night Through lovers’ brains, and then they dream of love; O’er courtiers’ knees, that dream on court’sies straight, O’er lawyers’ fingers, who straight dream on fees, O’er ladies ’ lips, who straight on kisses dream, Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues, Because their breaths with sweetmeats tainted are: Sometime she gallops o’er a courtier’s nose, And then dreams he of smelling out a suit; And sometime comes she with a tithe-pig’s tail Tickling a parson’s nose as a’ lies asleep, Then dreams, he of another benefice: Sometime she driveth o’er a soldier’s neck, And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats, Of breaches, ambuscadoes, Spanish blades, Of healths five-fathom deep; and then anon Drums in his ear, at which he starts and wakes, And being thus frighted swears a prayer or two And sleeps again. This is that very Mab That plats the manes of horses in the night, And bakes the elflocks in foul sluttish hairs, Which once untangled, much misfortune bodes: This is the hag, when maids lie on their backs, That presses them and learns them first to bear, Making them women of good carriage: This is she– Mercutio had a heart deeper than the ocean… * * * “Universe Man - He’s got a watch with a minute hand, millenium hand and an eon hand and when they meet it’s a happy land - Powerful man, Universe Man” -TMBG ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506/17 "2000-02-06T14:13:00Z")
Another vote for Portia, who rocks my world. And on a tangent: I can’t stand that big stumbling doofus Othello. He’s an idiot and deserves everything that happens to him. - Rick ---
**Author:** ![the\_Scarlet\_Pimpernel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f1d935/32.png) [@the\_Scarlet\_Pimpernel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_Scarlet_Pimpernel)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506/18 "2000-02-06T14:21:00Z")
Thank you for that quote, Demo - Id forgotten how much I loved the Bard - my book of collected works was just too dam’ big to pack when I moved 'cross the pond. Yes, I can find him here, but almost always only in Danish. That said, Id have to go with TaleraRis - I love Beatrice and Benedick’s repartee, plus Im always a sucker for those “We hate each other before we love each other” love stories. And the fool from _Much\_Ado_ - isnt he called Dogberry, or am I confusing him with another play? No matter, I like the fools in general. My all time favorite _line_ is by Polonius: “This above all, to thine own self be true; and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.” It is one of my two life-directing quotes. * * * Ass-Toaster Extraordinaire, SDMBSRC ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2000, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506/19 "2000-02-06T17:03:00Z")
I’m tempted to join the ranks of Richard III fans … the man’s brilliant, witty, evil, and surprisingly sexy. (Of course, by the time I finish writing this damn thesis, I’ll never want to hear his name again.) But really, I think I have to go with Paulina from _The Winter’s Tale_. If you want to know why, check out the sig line… * * * It is an heretic that makes the fire, Not she which burns in it. ---
**Author:** ![Bluepony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Bluepony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluepony)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2000, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506/20 "2000-02-07T06:22:00Z")
Ophelia…I’ve got this soft spot in my heart for insane chicks. * * * _…send lawyers, guns, and money…_ ``` Warren Zevon ``` [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-shakespeare-character/13506.md?page=2)