The Life and Death of King John Act 1 – “Here have we war for war and blood for blood…”

The Life and Death of King John Act 1 – “Here have we war for war and blood for blood…”

After the success of 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'A Midsummer's Night's Dream', William Shakespeare probably moved into other lodgings Bishopsgate. This quieter district probably worked well for his writing regime.

What a strange History play ‘King John’. It was written sometime around 1596 and on one level it could be seen as a rather staid and relatively historically accurate play set in the 13^th century which is much less dramatic and more histrionic than some of Shakespeare’s previous Histories. But on another level, for an Elizabethan audience, this could be seen as a radical examination of who has a legitimate claim to inheritance and the throne. We can see John or even Philip the Bastard as representative of either Elizabeth or even her father Henry VIII and Arthur as representative of Mary Queen of Scots. In this context, the play and events take on a whole new meaning considering that in 1596, Queen Elizabeth I was 66 years old, her beauty was fading, most of her hair had fallen out, the wars in Ireland were looking to have no end and bad harvests early in 1596 seemed to be an ominous sign.

The play starts with King John, the youngest of Henry II’s five sons to Eleanor of Aquitaine (and just like Elizabeth I he was never expected to take the thrown), his mother Queen Eleanor and a host of courtiers waiting to hear what King Philip of France has to say about supporting King John. Chatillon relays that King Philip believes that King John’s elder half brother Arthur (whose mother was Constance) has rightful claim over the throne suggests that war might be the outcome. King John will not give up the throne and answers:

“Here have we war for war and blood for blood…”

Chatillon leaves with war looming over everybody’s heads.

Queen Eleanor sees that Constance (Arthur’s mother) is behind all these machinations:

“What now, my son! have I not ever said

How that ambitious Constance would not cease

Till she had kindled France and all the world,

Upon the right and party of her son?”

Then the Sheriff enters with Falconbridge and Philip the Bastard. At this point the original performance of the play must have been sailing very close to the wind. Being the eldest son of Robert Falconbridge, Philip the Bastard claims he is the legitimate heir while Falconbridge claims even although he is the second son, he is the rightful heir because his father suspected before he died that Philip was illegitimate and that he was not the father. King John argues that both were brought up by Falconbridge as his own sons. Falconbridge asks whether his father’s final will which disinherits Philip the Bastard is not enough. Queen Eleanor suggests that Philip could claim himself to be the bastard son of Richard the Lionhearted and get his title without land or claim his Falconbridge heritage and get property but a lesser name. Philip the Bastard decides to give his land to his brother and join the attack on France. Philip the Bastard is then knighted by King John and is renamed Sir Richard Plantagenet as he joins King John’s forces.

When the new Sir Richard Plantagenet is left alone, we see how ambitious he is. His mother enters bemoaning the fact that her reputation has been questioned. He states that he has given up his claim to the Falconbridge name and land and asks his mother who his father was. She reveals that his father was in fact Richard the Lionhearted. Philip the Bastard placates his mother and thanks her:

“Now, by this light, were I to get again,

Madam, I would not wish a better father.

Some sins do bear their privilege on earth,

And so doth yours; your fault was not your folly…”