King John

Roles

• Constance - Adult (36-50), Senior (>50), Female

About this piece

Constance despairs about the King of France's change of allegiance

Summary

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, who claims to be the rightful heir of Richard the Lionhearted. If he refuses the king of France threatens to got to war against him. King John refuses and sends him away. John oversees a land dispute between Robert Falconbridge and his older brother Philip (known as 'the Bastard'), during which it becomes apparent that Philip is the illegitimate son of the previous king of England, Richard the Lionhearted, and therefore King John's half-brother. Queen Eleanor recognises the family resemblance and suggests that he renounce his claim to the Falconbridge land in exchange for a knighthood. John knights the Bastard under the name Richard. In France a battle between the French, led by Philip, and the English takes place outside the gates of the city of Angers, an English ruled town that refuses to recognize either Arthur or John as kings when they see that neither army has defeated the other. The Bastard proposes to unite the armies and punish the citizens of the Angers. The citizens of Angers however present an alternative, that is to have Philip's son, Louis, marry King John's niece, Blanche. This solution would be more advantageous for both sides. They agree and therefore King Philip of France changes sides, abandoning Arthur and his mother Constance who in this monologue, in ACT II, Scene 1, can't believe the news that Salisbury has brought and despairs because king Philip betrayed them.

Tone

Use cases