King John

Roles

• Bastard - Young Adult (20-35), Male

About this piece

The Bastard contemplates on his new appointment as a knight

Summary

In the first scene of the play King John is visited by a French emissary, Chatillon. In the presence of his mother Eleanor and several lords, the king of England is asked by the French King Philip to abdicate in favor of Arthur, the king's elder brother's son. If he refuses the king of France threatens to got o war against him. King John refuses and sends him away. A sheriff enters and presents two men who are having a land dispute, Robert Falconbridge and his older brother, Philip "The Bastard". Robert claims to be the rightful heir of his father's lands. On his deathbed, Robert claims, his father told him that Philip "The Bastard" was actually King Richard the Lionhearted's son, who slept with his mother when he was away in Germany. He also claims that his father didn't want the Bastard to inherit his lands. King John supports the Bastard since, he argues, their father raised him as his son and legally he is the rightful heir. Eleanor now asks the Bastard if, as King Richard the Lionhearted's son, would prefer to inherit Falconbridge's fortune or rather be recognized as the bastard son of the previous king of England, but without land. The Bastard tells her he'd rather be the king's bastard son and King John decides to knight him. Everybody leaves the court except for the Bastard who in this monologue, at the end of ACT I, Scene 1, rejoices on his new appointment as knight. He will now become ambitious but his rise in status will bring new challenges.

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