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King John Play
King John begins with King Richard the First,
(Geoffrey Plantagenet) being killed by a man called
Austria. King Richard's youngest brother ascends to
the throne as per King Richard's will but Constance,
the widow of King Richard's other brother Geoffrey believes
the crown should have gone to her teenage son Arthur.
Not letting the issue rest, Constance seeks the help
of King Phillip of France to replace King John with
Arthur as King of England. Phillip, the illegitimate
son of King Richard I and called the "Bastard"
throughout this play, also makes a claim for the throne,
but is generally ignored by Arthur and John. Phillip
bears an uncanny resemblance to the late King Richard
I.
We learn that Austria is helping the French with Phillip's
son, The Dauphin (Prince Lewis) also siding against
the English. A battle ensues between the English and
French armies to prove to Hubert, the ruler of Algiers
who truly holds the English crown. Hubert suggests that
The Dauphin marry the daughter (Blanch) of the late
King Richard I, thereby settling the dispute by uniting
the two nations in marriage. The dowry is to be peace
between the two rulers and some English land. Arthur
is made Earl of Richmond and Duke of Britain. Constance
is far from satisfied... Even the Bastard feels Hubert's
plan will only end in disaster, Constance agreeing since
the deal robs Arthur of ever holding the crown..
Sure enough, trouble quickly brews when Cardinal Pandulph
insists as representative of the Pope, that the Archbishop
of Canterbury be appointed by the Pope, King John refusing,
the Cardinal excommunicating him. Nervous of this, Phillip
walks away from peace, a battle quickly following where
the Bastard slays Austria for killing his father (Richard
I), Algiers is captured by the English and Arthur is
captured. Wanting the threat of Arthur gone for once
and for all, Hubert is ordered to return to England
with Arthur and then to kill him. Meanwhile the Cardinal,
knowing that the English will be far from pleased at
Arthur's death, manipulates the Dauphin into making
a play for the English throne. Arthur, however lives.
Hubert hesitates to burn out Arthur's eyes, instead
lying to King John that he is dead as ordered. The Lords
of England now decide to side with The Dauphin upon
hearing of Arthur's death. Constance passes away in
grief for Arthur, Queen Elinor also passing away.
Hubert reveals that Arthur is not dead. Unfortunately
Arthur actually is dead; he jumped to his death trying
to escape from the castle where he was kept. King John,
deeply remorseful over this, is accepted back into the
church after admitting his guilt over Arthur but soon
falls ill and becomes unable to rule, so much so that
the Bastard assumes command of the army which is still
fighting the French. The Bastard wins over the French,
the English Lords learning what The Dauphin really has
planned for them should he rule England... Beheadings
for all noblemen! Unsurprisingly, the Lords now side
with the English once more. Meanwhile, King John is
poisoned in a monastery. Prince Henry, another claimant
for the throne watches his father die, taking the crown
after the Cardinal convinces the French to leave English
soil, peace settling between England and France..
Contents
Dramatis
Personæ
Act I
Scene I
Act II
Scene I
Act III
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV
Act IV
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III
Act V
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV, Scene V, Scene
VI, Scene VII
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