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| Character | Bastard | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Male | |
| Age Range(s) | Young Adult (20-35) | |
| Type of monologue / Character is | Rejoicing/Excited | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Period | Renaissance | |
| Genre | Historical | |
| Description | The Bastard contemplates on his new appointment as a knight | |
| Location | ACT I, Scene 1 | |
Summary
In the first scene of the play 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. If he refuses the king of France threatens to got o war against him. King John refuses and sends him away.
A sheriff enters and presents two men who are having a land dispute, Robert Falconbridge and his older brother, Philip "The Bastard". Robert claims to be the rightful heir of his father's lands. On his deathbed, Robert claims, his father told him that Philip "The Bastard" was actually King Richard the Lionhearted's son, who slept with his mother when he was away in Germany. He also claims that his father didn't want the Bastard to inherit his lands. King John supports the Bastard since, he argues, their father raised him as his son and legally he is the rightful heir.
Eleanor now asks the Bastard if, as King Richard the Lionhearted's son, would prefer to inherit Falconbridge's fortune or rather be recognized as the bastard son of the previous king of England, but without land. The Bastard tells her he'd rather be the king's bastard son and King John decides to knight him.
Everybody leaves the court except for the Bastard who in this monologue, at the end of ACT I, Scene 1, rejoices on his new appointment as knight. He will now become ambitious but his rise in status will bring new challenges.
A sheriff enters and presents two men who are having a land dispute, Robert Falconbridge and his older brother, Philip "The Bastard". Robert claims to be the rightful heir of his father's lands. On his deathbed, Robert claims, his father told him that Philip "The Bastard" was actually King Richard the Lionhearted's son, who slept with his mother when he was away in Germany. He also claims that his father didn't want the Bastard to inherit his lands. King John supports the Bastard since, he argues, their father raised him as his son and legally he is the rightful heir.
Eleanor now asks the Bastard if, as King Richard the Lionhearted's son, would prefer to inherit Falconbridge's fortune or rather be recognized as the bastard son of the previous king of England, but without land. The Bastard tells her he'd rather be the king's bastard son and King John decides to knight him.
Everybody leaves the court except for the Bastard who in this monologue, at the end of ACT I, Scene 1, rejoices on his new appointment as knight. He will now become ambitious but his rise in status will bring new challenges.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
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| BASTARD Brother, adieu: good fortune come to thee! For thou wast got i' the way of honesty. [Exeunt all but BASTARD] A foot of honour better than I was; But many a many foot of land the worse. Well, now can I make any Joan a lady. 'Good den, sir Richard!'--'God-a-mercy, fellow!'-- And if his name be George, I'll call him Peter; For new-made honour doth forget men's names; 'Tis too respective and too sociable For your conversion. Now your traveller, He and his toothpick at my worship's mess, And when my knightly stomach is sufficed, Why then I suck my teeth and catechise My picked man of countries: 'My dear sir,' Thus, leaning on mine elbow, I begin, 'I shall beseech you'--that is question now; And then comes answer like an Absey book: 'O sir,' says answer, 'at your best command; At your employment; at your service, sir;' 'No, sir,' says question, 'I, sweet sir, at yours:' And so, ere answer knows what question would, Saving in dialogue of compliment, And talking of the Alps and Apennines, The Pyrenean and the river Po, It draws toward supper in conclusion so. But this is worshipful society And fits the mounting spirit like myself, For he is but a bastard to the time That doth not smack of observation; And so am I, whether I smack or no; And not alone in habit and device, Exterior form, outward accoutrement, But from the inward motion to deliver Sweet, sweet, sweet poison for the age's tooth: Which, though I will not practise to deceive, Yet, to avoid deceit, I mean to learn; For it shall strew the footsteps of my rising. But who comes in such haste in riding-robes? What woman-post is this? hath she no husband That will take pains to blow a horn before her? |
