LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 11 : 8 August 2011
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.

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A Critical Comment on Shakespeare’s Life and Death of King John

P.S.R.Ch.L.V.Prasad

Introduction

King John begins with King Richard the First being killed by a man called Austria. King Richard's youngest brother ascends to the throne as per King Richard's will but Constance, the widow of King Richard's other brother Geoffrey believes the crown should have gone to her teenage son Arthur. Not letting the issue rest, Constance seeks the help of King Phillip of France to replace King John with Arthur as King of England. Phillip, the illegitimate son of King Richard I and called the "Bastard" throughout this play, also makes a claim for the throne, but is generally ignored by Arthur and John. Phillip bears an uncanny resemblance to the late King Richard I.

We learn that Austria is helping the French with Phillip's son, The Dauphin (Prince Lewis) also is siding against the English. A battle ensues between the English and French armies to prove to Hubert, the ruler of Algiers who truly holds the English crown. Hubert suggests that the Dauphin marry the daughter (Blanch) of the late King Richard I, thereby settling the dispute by uniting the two nations in marriage. The dowry is to be peace between the two rulers and some English land. Arthur is made Earl of Richmond and Duke of Britain.

Constance is far from satisfied. Even the Bastard feels Hubert's plan will only end in disaster. Constance agrees to this assessment since the deal robs Arthur of ever holding the crown.

This Shakespearean English history play is in praise of King John. Here he is shown in a better light as the first English monarch to oppose the Pope. For Bale, John was a proto-Protestant hero, although in the end he had to accept the papal demands.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

P. S. R. Ch. L. V. Prasad
Assistant Professor of English
BVC College of Engineering
Rajahmundry
Andhra Pradesh
India
pulugurthaprasad@gmail.com
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