King John

The Life and Death of King John, written by William Shakespeare before 1596, but first published in 1623, chronicles the struggle for the English crown during the War of the Roses. Unlike his earlier historical plays, Shakespeare doesn’t give any fundamental importance to King John’s reign and tends to depict the events as unpredictable and not having any ultimate end. John’s rival to the throne, Arthur, son of John’s elder brother, was backed by King Philip of France, and had the stronger right to the throne since he was the son of the older child. John ordered Arthur’s death while trying to distance himself from it, lending him some degree of deniability.

The play begins with King Philip’s threat of war if John does not step down from the throne and allow Arthur to take his rightful place. John refuses, so France threatens to attacks the English-held town of Angers if it doesn’t swear allegiance to Arthur. John arrives with his army and asks the town which king they support. The citizens say they support the “rightful heir to the throne” but don’t say whether it is John or Arthur. The two armies fight, but since they are equally matched neither side wins. The two armies decide to join forces to attack the town and then fight each other. However, the citizens talk them out of it and suggest that Philip’s son Louis marry John’s niece Blanche in order to seal a peace treaty. Both armies agree and an ambassador from the Pope comes to marry the couple. The ambassador ends up excommunicating John because he refused to obey the Pope, and then charges Philip with the duty of overthrowing John.

More fighting ensues and John’s army captures Arthur. John sends Hubert to kill Arthur, but Arthur, tearfully pleading with his uncle, talks him out of it. Hubert orders Arthur to hide and then tells John that Arthur is dead. When the people of England become angry with King John for ordering Arthur’s death, along with robbing the monasteries to pay for the war, Hubert reveals that Arthur is still alive. However, Arthur tries to escape by leaping off the castle wall and falls to his death. The nobles find Arthur’s mangled body and accuse Hubert of severe brutality. In anger, they leave to join forces with Louis’ army.

John apologizes to the Pope and asks for the Pope to turn back the French army. During the battle a wounded French lord tells the English nobles that Louis plans to kill them after the battle, so they defect and return to John. Louis’ reinforcements are lost at sea and he realizes that he cannot win. Meanwhile, King John is poisoned by some monks and falls ill on the battlefield. John’s son Henry is declared king and a peace treaty is made with Louis.


The most impressive part of this play was the emotionally charged pleading of Arthur for his uncle Hubert to spare his life:

ARTHUR
Have you the heart? When your head did but ache,
I knit my handercher about your brows,
The best I had, a princess wrought it me,
And I did never ask it you again;
And with my hand at midnight held your head,
And like the watchful minutes to the hour,
Still and anon cheer'd up the heavy time,
Saying, 'What lack you?' and 'Where lies your grief?'
Or 'What good love may I perform for you?'
Many a poor man's son would have lien still
And ne'er have spoke a loving word to you;
But you at your sick service had a prince.
Nay, you may think my love was crafty love
And call it cunning: do, an if you will:
If heaven be pleased that you must use me ill,
Why then you must. Will you put out mine eyes?
These eyes that never did nor never shall
So much as frown on you.

HUBERT
I have sworn to do it;
And with hot irons must I burn them out.

ARTHUR
Ah, none but in this iron age would do it!
The iron of itself, though heat red-hot,
Approaching near these eyes, would drink my tears
And quench his fiery indignation
Even in the matter of mine innocence;
Nay, after that, consume away in rust
But for containing fire to harm mine eye.
Are you more stubborn-hard than hammer'd iron?
An if an angel should have come to me
And told me Hubert should put out mine eyes,
I would not have believed him,--no tongue but Hubert's.

ARTHUR
Hubert, the utterance of a brace of tongues
Must needs want pleading for a pair of eyes:
Let me not hold my tongue, let me not, Hubert;
Or, Hubert, if you will, cut out my tongue,
So I may keep mine eyes: O, spare mine eyes.
Though to no use but still to look on you!
Lo, by my truth, the instrument is cold
And would not harm me.

HUBERT
I can heat it, boy.

ARTHUR
No, in good sooth: the fire is dead with grief,
Being create for comfort, to be used
In undeserved extremes: see else yourself;
There is no malice in this burning coal;
The breath of heaven has blown his spirit out
And strew'd repentent ashes on his head.

HUBERT
But with my breath I can revive it, boy.

ARTHUR
An if you do, you will but make it blush
And glow with shame of your proceedings, Hubert:
Nay, it perchance will sparkle in your eyes;
And like a dog that is compell'd to fight,
Snatch at his master that doth tarre him on.
All things that you should use to do me wrong
Deny their office: only you do lack
That mercy which fierce fire and iron extends,
Creatures of note for mercy-lacking uses.

HUBERT
Well, see to live; I will not touch thine eye
For all the treasure that thine uncle owes:
Yet am I sworn and I did purpose, boy,
With this same very iron to burn them out.

ARTHUR
O, now you look like Hubert! all this while
You were disguised.