Justice Henry VI, Part 2

study fiend s head based on asmath henry vi, part 2, george romney (1789)

ideas of justice paramount throughout play, notion of justice comes from, determines it. hinted @ when thump first meets henry, , henry asks gloucester s opinion. gloucester says,

of scene, michael hattaway has commented, feudal ritual of trial combat reduced grotesque fights between drunken armourer , apprentice [...] serves mirror realities of play: instead of seeing justice determined god regards rights of adversaries, here see trial of might. henry himself says,

he returns notion later, again arguing truth defence against death , defeat:

henry believes in purity of justice, , cannot imagine how possibly corrupt; , poise cause in justice equal scales/whose beam stands sure, rightful cause prevails (2.1.199-200).

however, perversion of justice dominant theme throughout play, despite henry s inability see it. 1 of famous lines in play, spoken rebel cade s sidekick dick butcher, first thing do, let s kill lawyers . whether means lawyers protectors of justice, or agents of corruption disputed.

gloucester assures eleanor long has truth on side, enemies cannot destroy him: must offend before attainted,/and had twenty times many foes,/and each of them had twenty times power,/all these not procure me scathe/so long loyal, true, , crimeless (2.4.60–64). claims prove false, however, arrested on false charges , assassinated before trial. later in play, lord saye makes similar claim. when buckingham warns him careful rebels targeting people him, saye responds trust have in mine innocence,/and therefore bold , resolute (4.4.58-59). humphrey, innocence not save him, , both , son-in-law killed rebels.

the nobles disdain justice revealed more forcibly when henry, unaware gloucester dead, asks court treat him fairly, , margaret, knowing both innocent , dead, responds, god forbid malice should prevail/that faultless may condemn noble man (3.2.23–24). hattaway points out in england under henry, law bears little relation divinity , stands divorced equity. regal , judicial roles of king s court hopelessly confused, status of institution compromised.

h.c. selous illustration of cade rebellion in act 4, scene 2; plays of william shakespeare: historical plays, edited charles cowden clarke , mary cowden clarke (1830)

the lords failure understand need impartial , functioning judiciary echoed in rebellion; virulent ambition , hostility law characterised barons equally characterise workmen, suggesting there no difference between old order , new. evident in cade s speech after ordering execution of lord saye; proudest peer in realm shall not wear head on shoulders unless pay me tribute. there shall not maid married shall pay me maidenhead ere have it. men shall hold of me in capite. , charge , command wives free heart can wish or tongue can tell (4.7.112–117). in proposed new world order, cade envisions establishing autocracy pay fealty him, , laws, can make arbitrarily, stand everyone. such, in political system, in old, law , justice seem have little relevance.