There is a power vacuum after the sudden death of powerful leader Henry V, with a very young Henry VI and squabbling nobles. There is an external threat with Joan of Arc in France, seen as a saint by the French and as a witch by the English. Shakespeare juxtaposes events in England and France to provide dramatic commentary and make causal connections. Discussion Topics: • Joan la Pucelle (Joan of Arc) […]

England slips further into civil war and anarchy with a weak King Henry VI unable or unwilling to make decisions. Two larger than life figures, Richard of York and Margaret of Anjou, are introduced and they will continue to take over the series of plays. Then, there is Jack Cade and his populist rebellion, with the delicious quote “The first thing we do let’s kill all the lawyers!" Discussion Topics: Jack Cade’s […]

The cost of the wars is keenly felt both by the nobles and the commoners as two “monsters” stand in opposition to each other: the misshapen Richard of York and the serpent-tongued Queen Margaret. Fortunes ebb and flow between the Yorkists and Lancastrians. The childlike and saintly King Henry VI tries to keep himself apart from the fray, but horror intrudes into every aspect of life. Discussion Topics: The horrors of civil […]

Richard III is a singular charismatic monster; he both dominates the play and has seeped so far into the cultural consciousness as to surpass historical ‘truth’. Shakespeare ingeniously structures the play as an unrelenting ascent to power followed by an equally steep decline in fortunes; Richard invites the audience into his confidence during the ascent so we feel deliciously complicit in his schemes and then stare in horror as it all goes […]

Edward III is one of the most consequential kings of England, establishing it as a military force and conquering France. The play starts with his campaign in Scotland, and his attempted wooing of the Countess of Salisbury. The king learns valuable lessons in character and then attempts to conquer France in the second half of the play. His son, the charismatic Black Prince, plays a huge role in the battles. Discussion Topics: […]

Shakespeare’s first tragedy is a revenge drama between Roman General Titus and Goth Queen Tamora, with their children caught in between. Quick shifts in political power and differences in ethics and morality between constituencies drive much of the action. Discussion Topics: Cycles of Violence: Revenge cycles often involve disproportionate responses where the retribution exceeds the original wrongdoing. How does Shakespeare structure the revenge cycles and ameliorate audience disengagement? Fragility of the Rule […]

The titular two gentlemen start out as friends, but inconstancy in love leads to strife. The play features the first instance of cross-dressing, much used and abused in Shakespeare’s later comedies. The cast is small, comic plots abound, but the dog Crab steals the show along with its master Launce. Discussion Topics: Friendship and love are the dominant themes with women intruding on male brotherhood. The climactic scene is ambiguous in how […]