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Like most of Shakespeare's history plays, ''King John'' presents a struggle for the English crown. The struggle this time, however, is strikingly cold-blooded and brutal. | |||
John, the younger brother of the late Richard I, is the king, and a savage one. His opponent is a boy, his nephew Arthur, supported by the King of France and the Duke of Austria. After Arthur falls into John's hands, John plots to torture him. Arthur's capture gives Louis, the Dauphin of France, the opportunity to lay claim to John's crown. John's nobles support Louis, but he schemes to betray them. | |||
The play finds its hero in another figure: the Bastard, Sir Richard Plantagenet, an illegitimate son of Richard I. Although he has an appetite for war, he also has a strong conscience and speaks with trenchant irony. | |||
Research suggests that Shakespeare wrote ''King John'' in 1594-96. It was published in the 1623 First Folio. Sources include Raphael Holinshed's ''Chronicles''. A contemporary play, ''The Troublesome Reign of John King of England'', may be a source, too.<ref>Adapted from the Folger Library Shakespeare edition, edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. © 2000 Folger Shakespeare Library.</ref> | |||
== Productions at the Folger == | == Productions at the Folger == | ||
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== Other media == | == Other media == | ||
== Notes == | |||
<references> | |||
Revision as of 08:24, 17 June 2014
Like most of Shakespeare's history plays, King John presents a struggle for the English crown. The struggle this time, however, is strikingly cold-blooded and brutal.
John, the younger brother of the late Richard I, is the king, and a savage one. His opponent is a boy, his nephew Arthur, supported by the King of France and the Duke of Austria. After Arthur falls into John's hands, John plots to torture him. Arthur's capture gives Louis, the Dauphin of France, the opportunity to lay claim to John's crown. John's nobles support Louis, but he schemes to betray them.
The play finds its hero in another figure: the Bastard, Sir Richard Plantagenet, an illegitimate son of Richard I. Although he has an appetite for war, he also has a strong conscience and speaks with trenchant irony.
Research suggests that Shakespeare wrote King John in 1594-96. It was published in the 1623 First Folio. Sources include Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles. A contemporary play, The Troublesome Reign of John King of England, may be a source, too.[1]
Productions at the Folger
Early editions
First Folio
- LUNA: First Folio: a1r - b5v
- Hamnet: STC 22273 Fo. 1 no. 68
Second Folio
- LUNA: Second Folio: a1r - b5v
- Hamnet: STC 22274 Fo. 2 no. 07
Modern editions
King John can be read online with Folger Digital Texts and purchased from Simon and Schuster.
- Hamnet link to Folger Edition: PR2753 .M6 2003 copy 2 v.16
Translations
Performance materials
Other media
Notes
<references>
- ↑ Adapted from the Folger Library Shakespeare edition, edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. © 2000 Folger Shakespeare Library.