History and the Nation in "Richard II" and "Henry IV"

Cohen discusses the roles of the king in Shakespeare's "Richard II" and "Henry IV" in terms of the England of his time. What is good or bad in Shakespeare's medieval or Tudor monarchies is always subordinated to the simple fact of kingship. The king simply is: his monar...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Studies in English literature, 1500-1900 1500-1900, 2002-04, Vol.42 (2), p.293-315
Main Author: Cohen, Derek
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Betrayal
British & Irish literature
Drama
English literature
Heroism
History
Kings
Literary criticism
Monarchy
Murder
Narrative history
Narratives
Rebellion
Royalty
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)
Theater
Wordplay
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Summary:Cohen discusses the roles of the king in Shakespeare's "Richard II" and "Henry IV" in terms of the England of his time. What is good or bad in Shakespeare's medieval or Tudor monarchies is always subordinated to the simple fact of kingship. The king simply is: his monarchy survives until his death or until he's usurped. The king, in his lifetime, while making history, is feeding the maw of his posterity.
ISSN:0039-3657
1522-9270
1522-9270
DOI:10.1353/sel.2002.0014