Family conflict and family dissolution Henry VI, Part 3

h.c. selous illustration of father , son tragedy in act 2, scene 5; plays of william shakespeare: historical plays, edited charles cowden clarke , mary cowden clarke (1830)

the dissolution of house of york doesn t end death of york himself. later, in act 3, scene 2, richard further dissolves family revealing ambition usurp edward s throne, , thereby disinherit edward s children, own nephews; ay, edward, use women honourably./would wasted, marrow, bones, , all,/that loins no hopeful branch may spring/to cross me golden time (ll.124–127). after murdering henry, richard outlines plan bring about, vowing turn edward against clarence:

clarence beware, thou keep st me light,

but sort pitchy day thee,

for buzz abroad such prophecies

that edward shall fearful of life,

and purge fear, ll thy death. (5.6.84–88)

in ambition, richard proves successful, utterly destroying own family in process.

act 2, scene 5 1983 bbc shakespeare adaptation.

also important theme of family dissolution act 2, scene 5, father unwittingly kills son, , son unwittingly kills father. stuart hampton-reeves argues scene symbolic 1 referring conscription debate in england during 1580s , 1590s. dutch revolt against spanish empire had begun in 1568, , although england , france both supporting dutch, had officially remained neutral fear of angering spanish. however, in 1585, elizabeth signed treaty of nonsuch, officially brought england conflict, promise of 6,500 troops (which changed 8,000 troops) dutch. such, supply these troops, mobilisation needed , government replaced traditional feudal system, whereby local nobles raised armies among own tenantry, national conscription. not without controversy, , incident involving fathers , sons allude both practices; feudal system , national system. upon discovering has killed father, son laments london king pressed forth./my father, being earl of warwick s man,/came on part of york, pressed master (2.5.64–66). son had left family home , travelled london, had been conscripted king s army upon outbreak of war. father had stayed @ home , had been compelled join army of local noble (i.e. warwick). ended on opposite sides in conflict, regional stability gives way national discord , social breakdown, , war begins quite literally tear families apart.