The life and death of King John William Shakespeare 9781468042955 Books
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The life and death of King John
The life and death of King John William Shakespeare 9781468042955 Books
“King John” is often overlooked when one reads Shakespeare, and it should not be, as it has some great things to add to the canon. By the way, I give "King John" a 3.5 star rating compared to other Shakespeare, not to literature as a whole. The Bard is in a class of his own.The Pelican series edition of this play has a very nice introduction by Claire McEachern in which she gives an informative discourse on the character of Philip the Bastard. Although Philip usually gets all the critical attention in this piece my favorite character is Constance, sister in law to King John and the mother of John’s rival for the English throne. Act III:1 give Constance a chance to really show her stuff. She has some blistering moments, and Act III as a whole is by far the most engaging and strongest in the play. Constance’s exit from the piece is her best scene and Shakespeare writes a grieving mother’s storm of emotions as strongly as in any of his other works.
At its core “King John” is really a play about the medieval issues brought about by “Pope v. Prince” and how secular and religious power used each other for gain. You can almost feel Shakespeare’s Protestant Elizabethan audience hissing at the machinations of the Catholic villain Cardinal Pandulph as he manipulates the French and English royal powers in some of the plays most intriguing scenes. Another fine moment is Act III:3 when King John and Hubert share a conversation that is delicious in its duplicity, and all of it achieved with minimal words.
Despite a weak Act V (the only reason I feel this is not a 4 star effort by Shakespeare) the play ends on a patriotic note, sounding a clarion call for Englishmen to always unite in common cause. One can see how “King John” was an early indication of Shakespeare’s skill and why it still endures.
As for the Pelican Shakespeare series, they are my favorite editions as the scholarly research is usually top notch and the editions themselves look good as an aesthetic unit. It looks and feels like a play and this compliments the text's contents admirably. The Pelican series was recently reedited and has the latest scholarship on Shakespeare and his time period. Well priced and well worth it.
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The life and death of King John William Shakespeare 9781468042955 Books Reviews
KING JOHN Though you and all the kings of Christendom Are [mis] led so grossly by this meddling priest (the Pope), Dreading the curse that money (purchase of an “indulgence”) may buy out (excuse), And, by the merit of vile gold, dross, dust, Purchase corrupted pardon of a man (purchase an “indulgence” from a man), Who in that sale sells pardon from himself, (who by selling “indulgences” supposedly pardons his own sins but actually damns himself) Though you - and all the rest so grossly [mis]led - This juggling witchcraft with revenue cherish, (cherish this juggling of revenue by means of witchcraft) Yet, I, alone, alone do me oppose Against the Pope and count his friends my foes.
Having already read Professor Warren's 1977 biography of Henry II of England, when I was an undergraduate and having read the book twice more since that time, I recently began to look forward to obtaining and reading Dr. Warren's earlier (1961) book on Henry II's fourth son, John, who was King of England from 1199 until 1216, of the current era (C.E.). Just like "Henry II", Professor Warren's, "King John" is part of the English Monarch series of books which are published by Yale University Press in conjunction with the University of California Press.
King John was another of those English kings during the Middle Ages that had trouble with his nobles. Indeed, King John is most famous of the English medieval kings because trouble with his nobles led him to sign the "Magna Carta" during his reign. He signed the Magna Carta to mollify the nobility of his realm. By imposing limitations on the power and authority of the king, the Magna Carta is regarded as the first step toward the English constitution. This is the reason that I wanted to read this book. This extremely readable book did not disappoint me in this quest to learn the details of the beginning of English constitutional history.
“King John” is often overlooked when one reads Shakespeare, and it should not be, as it has some great things to add to the canon. By the way, I give "King John" a 3.5 star rating compared to other Shakespeare, not to literature as a whole. The Bard is in a class of his own.
The Pelican series edition of this play has a very nice introduction by Claire McEachern in which she gives an informative discourse on the character of Philip the Bastard. Although Philip usually gets all the critical attention in this piece my favorite character is Constance, sister in law to King John and the mother of John’s rival for the English throne. Act III1 give Constance a chance to really show her stuff. She has some blistering moments, and Act III as a whole is by far the most engaging and strongest in the play. Constance’s exit from the piece is her best scene and Shakespeare writes a grieving mother’s storm of emotions as strongly as in any of his other works.
At its core “King John” is really a play about the medieval issues brought about by “Pope v. Prince” and how secular and religious power used each other for gain. You can almost feel Shakespeare’s Protestant Elizabethan audience hissing at the machinations of the Catholic villain Cardinal Pandulph as he manipulates the French and English royal powers in some of the plays most intriguing scenes. Another fine moment is Act III3 when King John and Hubert share a conversation that is delicious in its duplicity, and all of it achieved with minimal words.
Despite a weak Act V (the only reason I feel this is not a 4 star effort by Shakespeare) the play ends on a patriotic note, sounding a clarion call for Englishmen to always unite in common cause. One can see how “King John” was an early indication of Shakespeare’s skill and why it still endures.
As for the Pelican Shakespeare series, they are my favorite editions as the scholarly research is usually top notch and the editions themselves look good as an aesthetic unit. It looks and feels like a play and this compliments the text's contents admirably. The Pelican series was recently reedited and has the latest scholarship on Shakespeare and his time period. Well priced and well worth it.
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