(no subject)

[fajrdrako]

A big "happy birthday" to rayne_on_me, an artistic person with good taste in characters! Have a great year - filled with inspiration.

Comments

[widget-alley.livejournal.com]

Um, I'm reading Becket... and is Henry supposed to be a complete boor or what? 0_0

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Henry a boor? In that play, yes he is. I told you it was incredibly unhistorical! Everything is set up to make Henry look bad and Becket look good, even if it has to be anachronistic. When I think about it, I find it annoying - though I still think it's a good script. It's just that it would be nice to have a good script that is also historically accurate. I am somewhat indignant on Henry's behalf - the real Henry being something of a favourite of mine, and no boor at all.

Moreover - if I may continue to rant a little - the pictured is skewed because it doesn't have a historical context. The average 20th century viewer isn't going to know about the Gregorian reform and the growing hegemony of the Papal church; they aren't going to know that similar scenarios (of Popes humiliating kings and forcing them to submission) had been happening elsewhere in that era.

The story and characters are cool either way, but it gives an untrue impression of both.