Power and barbarism Henry VI, Part 3

illustration of death of henry in act 5, scene 6; works of mr. william shakespeare, edited nicholas rowe (1709)

despite prevalence of revenge in earlier parts of play, loses significance motivating factor nature of conflict changes , develops pursuit of power, without recourse past antagonisms. revenge ceases primary driving force many of characters, lust power taking over, , past conflicts rendered unimportant each side desperately races victory; revenge ethic has been outstripped expedient violence no aim other seizure of power.

for example, when edward , richard urging york break oath henry, edward says, kingdom, oath may broken;/i break thousand oaths reign 1 year (1.2.16–17), showing attraction power has characters, , willing attain it. later, echoing warwick s statement reasons joining lancastrians, richard outlines why has remained loyal yorkists; stay not love of edward crown (4.1.125), again showing attraction of power , subversion of other concerns, including familial relations. example when prince edward killed in act 5, scene 5. death brought because taunts plantagenet brothers, , lose temper him, not because exacting revenge ongoing feud family. similarly, when richard kills henry, motives have nothing conflict between family , henry s. murders him because henry stands in way of attempts gain throne. michael hattaway writes, family loyalties may have been initial cause of feuds, audience watching 3 henry vi feel individual ambition rather family honour fuels vendettas inform play. both [families] seem have forgotten quarrel between [them] dynastic one: claims legitimacy , authority in play validated forces can muster jane howell, director of bbc shakespeare adaptation argues, anarchy loosed , re left different set of values – every man himself. re time of change in there no code except survival of fittest – happens richard.

the play depicts happens when nation turns on in epic savagery, dissolving own social foundations. in sense, play has no antagonist, , both sides in conflict depicted capable of atrocities in pursuit of victory. example, opening moments of play see richard introduced carrying head of duke of somerset, killed @ end of 2 henry vi. degradation of chivalric customs , human decency emphasised when york responds richard s arrival talking head itself; grace dead, lord of somerset (1.1.18). michael hattaway sees scene important prologue play insofar act of desecration signifies extinguishing of residual chivalric code of conspicuous virtue, eclipsing of honour main force.

another example of barbarism perpetrated yorkists abuse of clifford s body in act 2, scene 6, edward, richard, clarence , warwick speak corpse in derision, sardonically wondering why doesn t answer them. richard s treatment of henry s body in final scene example of lack of reverence dead; after henry s death, richard stabs corpse, proclaiming down, down hell, , sent thee hither (5.6.67).

as such, power being seen many of characters ultimate goal, play deals themes of disloyalty , betrayal, , outlines results of political factionalism , social breakdown; once calm world seen spiralling toward chaos barbarism , immorality come fore. e.m.w. tillyard has written of henry vi trilogy; second part had showed murder of duke humphrey of gloucester, rise of york, destruction of 2 of humphrey s murderers , enmity of 2 survivors, york , queen margaret. through these happenings country had been brought edge of chaos. in third part, shakespeare shows chaos itself, full prevalence of civil war, perpetration of 1 horrible deed after another. in second part there had remained chivalric feeling [...] in third part decencies of chivalric warfare abandoned.