Shakespearean Histories

DEFINITION

The plays normally described as histories are those based on the lives of English Kings . The plays that depict older historical figures such as '' Pericles, Prince Of Tyre '', '' Julius Caesar '', and the legendary '' King Lear '' are not usually included in the classification. '' Macbeth '' is also normally regarded as a tragedy, not a history.

SOURCES

The source for most of these plays is the well known Raphael Holinshed 's ''Chronicle'' of English history. Shakespeare's plays focus on only a small part of the characters' lives and frequently omit significant events for dramatic purposes.

POLITICS

Shakespeare was living under the reign of Elizabeth I , the last monarch of the House Of Tudor , and his history plays are often regarded as Tudor Propaganda because they show the dangers of Civil War and celebrate the founders of the Tudor dynasty. In particular, '' Richard III '' depicts the last member of the rival House Of York as an evil monster ("that bottled spider, that foul bunchback'd toad"), a depiction disputed by many modern historians, while portraying his usurper, '' Henry VII '' in glowing terms. Political bias is also clear in '' Henry VIII '', which ends with an effusive celebration of the birth of Elizabeth.

LIST OF SHAKESPEARE'S HISTORIES

'' King John ''

'' Edward III '' (attributed)

'' Richard II ''

'' Henry IV, Part 1 ''

'' Henry IV, Part 2 ''

'' Henry V ''

'' Henry VI, Part 1 ''

'' Henry VI, Part 2 ''

'' Henry VI, Part 3 ''

'' Richard III ''

'' Henry VIII ''

'' Sir Thomas More '' (attributed)

Information About

Shakespearean Histories