Language Henry VI, Part 3

king henry vi of england @ towton william dyce (1860)

perhaps obvious recurring linguistic motif in play of state power represented crown , throne. both words occur multiple times throughout play. example, in act 1, scene 1 (which set in parliament, york spending of scene sitting on throne), warwick introduces imagery, saying york before see thee seated in throne,/which house of lancaster usurps,/i vow heaven these eyes shall never close (ll.22–24). introduces word crown ; resolve thee richard, claim english crown (l.49). after york sits in throne, henry enters, exclaiming, lords, sturdy rebel sits,/even in chair of state. belike means,/backed power of warwick, false peer,/to aspire unto crown , reign king (ll.50–54). during subsequent debate on legitimacy, exeter tells york thy father traitor crown (l.80), york replies exeter, thou art traitor crown (l.81). during debate, henry asks york, , shall stand, , thou sit in throne? (l.85). york next asks henry, show our title crown? (l.103), henry says title hast thou, traitor, crown? (l.105). debate reaches impasse, richard urges york, father, tear crown usurper s head (l.115). henry refuses yield however, declaring think st thou leave kingly throne? (l.125). subsequently, during debate conflict between henry bolingbrook , richard ii, york asks exeter if richard s abdication prejudicial crown? (l.145) exeter responds no, not resign crown (l.146). york demands henry confirm crown me , mine heirs (l.173), henry reluctantly agrees, here entail/the crown thee , thine heirs forever (ll.195–196).

although not subsequent scenes heavily saturated references monarchical power opening scene, imagery recur throughout play. other notable examples include richard s how sweet thing wear crown,/within circuit elysium/and poets feign of bliss , joy (1.2.29–31) , edward s battle cry, crown or else glorious tomb,/a sceptre, or earthly sepulchre (1.4.16). significant torture of york in act 1, scene 4, forced wear paper crown, whilst margaret alludes both real crown , throne numerous times;

ay, marry sir, looks king.

ay, took king henry s chair,

and adopted heir.

but how it, great plantagenet

is crowned , broke solemn oath?

as bethink me, should not king,

till our king henry had shook hands death.

and pale head in henry s glory

and rob temples of diadem

now in life, against holy oath?

o tis fault too unpardonable.

off crown; , crown, head,

and whilest breath, take time him dead.

(ll.96-108)

later, york takes off crown , throws @ margaret, exclaiming there, take crown, , crown curse (l.164).

another example of language foregrounding authority references crown , throne found in act 2, scene 1, edward laments death of father; dukedom , chair me left (l.90), richard answers, foregrounding issue of language , importance of words, chair , dukedom , throne , kingdom (l.93). warwick says similar later in scene, calling edward no longer earl of march, duke of york;/the next degree england s royal throne (l.192–193). after decapitating york, margaret points out head henry, saying, yonder s head of arch-enemy/that sought encumbered crown (2.2.2–3). later, edward asks henry, wilt thou kneel grace/and set thy diadem upon head? (2.2.81–82). edward says margaret, king, though wear crown (2.2.90). later, in act 2, scene 6, when edward blaming margaret civil war, says henry if hadn t provoked house of york thou day hadst kept thy chair in peace (l.19). says warwick, in thy shoulder build seat (l.99). in act 3, scene 1, henry debates gamekeepers importance of crown role of kingship;

second gamekeeper

but if thou king, thy crown?



henry

my crown in heart, not on head,

not decked diamonds , indian stones,

nor seen: crown called content,

a crown seldom kings enjoy.



second gamekeeper

well, if king crowned content,

your crown content , must contented

to go along us.

(ll.61-68)

during lengthy soliloquy in act 3, scene 2, richard mentions crown numerous times;

i ll make heaven dream upon crown,

and whiles live t account world hell

until misshaped trunk bears head

be round impaled glorious crown.

and yet know not how crown.

(ll.168-173)

in act 3, scene 3, after warwick has joined lancastrians, vows margaret force tyrant seat war (l.206), , promises ll uncrown him ere t long (l.232). muses himself chief raised him crown,/and ll chief bring him down again (ll.263–264). in act 4, scene 6, after warwick has deposed edward, henry says him, warwick, although head still wear crown,/i here resign government thee (l.24). finally, upon meeting richmond (the future henry vii), henry proclaims, head nature framed wear crown,/his hand wield sceptre, , himself/likely in time bless regal throne (ll.72–74).

another recurring motif animal imagery, particularly, bird imagery. first example in act 1, scene 1, when warwick says [no-one] dares stir wing if warwick shake bells (l.47), reference falconry. again in opening scene, henry claims york will, empty eagle/tire on flesh of me , son (ll.269–270). later, york describes failed attempts win concluded battle, muses himself, botched again, have seen swan/with bootless labour swim against tide (1.4.19–20). subsequently, clifford tells york die, york declares ashes, phoenix , may bring forth/a bird revenge upon (1.4.35–36), clifford replies cowards fight when can fly no further,/so doves peck falcon s piercing talons (1.4.40–41). after news of york s death has reached them, richard encourages edward take york s place; if thou princely eagle s bird (2.1.91). later, warwick points out henry has been compelled rescind oath yield throne house of york; clifford , lord northumberland/and of feather many more proud birds,/have wrought easy-melting king wax (2.1.169–171). when clifford urging henry protect prince s birthright, attempts illustrate henry doing right thing children should natural course of action; doves peck in safeguard of brood (2.2.18). during debate rightful king, edward refers clifford fatal screech owl/that nothing sung death , ours (2.6.55–56). bird imagery continues used contemptuously in france, margaret says of edward , warwick, both of birds of selfsame feather (3.3.161). prior battle of barnet, somerset attempts rally troops, says , not fight such hope,/go home bed, , owl day,/if arise, mocked , wondered @ (5.4.55–57). when richard visits henry in tower, henry defends suspicion of richard s intentions; bird hath been lim d in bush,/with trembling wings misdoubteth every bush (5.6.13–14). birds play important part in henry s prophecy of richard s future evil reign, points out many ill omens accompanying richard s birth; owl shrieked @ thy birth, evil sign,/the night-crow cried, aboding luckless time,/dogs howled , hideous tempest shook down trees,/the raven rooked on chimney s top,/and chatt ring pies in dismal discords sung (5.6.44–48).

the flight of henry vi towton william lindsay windus (1860)

another commonly recurring animal motif of lambs , wolves. introduced in opening scene when margaret chastises henry yielding york s demands , relinquishing throne house of york; such safety finds/the trembling lamb environ d wolves (ll.243–244). later, york watches army lose battle of wakefield, laments followers eager foe/turn , fly, ships before wind/or lambs pursued hunger-starv d wolves (1.4.3–5). after being captured lancastrians, york refer margaret she-wolf of france, worse wolves of france (1.4.111). during battle of tewkesbury, richard , clifford fight, interrupted warwick, , clifford flees. warwick attempts pursue him, richard says, nay warwick, single out other chase,/for myself hunt wolf death (2.4.13). prior battle of barnet, margaret rallies troops claiming edward has destroyed country , usurped throne, pointing out , yonder wolf makes spoil (5.4.80). finally, upon being left alone richard in tower, henry proclaims flies reckless shepherd wolf,/so first harmless sheep doth yield fleece,/and next throat, unto butcher s knife (5.6.7–9).

a third recurring image of lion. introduced rutland in act 1, scene 3; looks pent-up lion o er wretch (l.174). later, richard, speaking of york, says methought bore him in thickest troop/as doth lion in herd of neat (2.1.13–14). clifford chastises henry disinheriting prince edward, asks whom lions cast gentle looks?/not beast usurp den (2.2.11–12). lions mentioned in conjunction lambs during battle of tewkesbury; while lions roar , battle dens/poor harmless lambs abide enmity (2.5.74–75). lions , lambs again combined when, before second capture, henry wondering why people prefer edward him; , when lion fawns upon lamb,/the lamb never cease follow him (4.8.49–50). warwick later combines lions , birds during death speech, must yield body earth/and fall, conquest foe./thus yields cedar axe s edge,/whose arms gave shelter princely eagle,/under shade ramping lion slept (5.2.9–13).

other animals referred in play include dogs (1.4.56, 2.1.15 , 2.5.129), woodcocks (1.4.61), rabbits (1.4.62), snakes (1.4.112 , 2.2.15), tigers (1.4.138, 1.4.155 , 3.1.39), cattle (2.1.14), bears (2.1.15, 2.2.13 , 3.2.161), toads (2.2.138), bulls (2.5.126), hares (2.5.131), chameleons (3.2.191) , foxes (4.7.25).