It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see why this is not one of Shakespeare's more popular plays. A lot of politics, not much plot, and what story there is isn't similar or even close to the truth of what the reign of England's King John actually was. So why read this play? Especially given that the most significant event of his reign was completely overlooked in the play: the signing of the Magna Carta. Taken as a cautionary tale, there are some significant details. Within the context of Shakespeare's times, King John's conflict with the representative from the Pope that results in the war that dominates the play is obviously meant to remind the contemporary (then contemporary audience) of the split between England and the Roman Catholic church. That his fate turns so drastically when he goes to the Popal representative simply reinforces that theme. One of the characters, in the final act, monologues about how important it is that England stand strong, that its citizens are not only its greatest strength but also its greatest weakness. This play being written and originally performed in a country still reeling from the repurcussions of the Hundred's Year War.
BTW, if I were reading these plays chronologically then the next play ought to have been Henry VI Part One. However, I decided to go ahead and read the historical plays, or at least the English ones, in historical chronology. Which means I'll be reading Richard II next. Then Henry IV, V, and VI . . . all the parts and such. I have Henry V on dvd so I am looking forward to watching the dvd (again) after reading the play for the first time.
0 comments:
Post a Comment