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| The plays that make up what is commonly called the Second
Tetralogy (Richard II, Henry IV Parts I and II, Henry V) occupied
Shakespeare during the latter half of the 1590s, a time of great
national importance, when Elizabeth's reign was coming to an
end and an uncertain future awaited her subjects. Questions
of kingship inevitably therefore arise in the course of these
plays: if monarchs are divinely appointed, does it follow that
people must suffer under them no matter what they do or how
unequal they may be to the task of governamce, and what happens
if they are overthrown? Does rebellion breed further rebellion?
Who is fit to assume and exercise power and authority? Must
private relationships give way to public considerations? Above
all, perhaps, who speaks for England? In the manner in which
he presents these and other questions, Shakespeare emerges in
these plays as indisputably the national poet. |
| John Lucas is Professor Emeritus of the Universities
of Loughborough and Nottingham Trent. The author of numerous
works of a critical and scholarly nature, he has also published
eight collections of poetry. |
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| About the Student Guide Literary Series |
| The Times Educational Supplement: "The
style of [this series] has a pressure of meaning behind it.
Students should learn from that...If art is about selection,
perception and taste, then this is it." |
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