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| Character | Constance | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Female | |
| Age Range(s) | Adult (36-50), Senior (>50) | |
| Type of monologue / Character is | Angry, Flips out, Lamenting | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Period | Renaissance | |
| Genre | Historical | |
| Description | Constance despairs about the King of France's change of allegiance | |
| Location | ACT II, Scene 1 | |
Summary
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, who claims to be the rightful heir of Richard the Lionhearted. If he refuses the king of France threatens to got to war against him. King John refuses and sends him away.
John oversees a land dispute between Robert Falconbridge and his older brother Philip (known as 'the Bastard'), during which it becomes apparent that Philip is the illegitimate son of the previous king of England, Richard the Lionhearted, and therefore King John's half-brother. Queen Eleanor recognises the family resemblance and suggests that he renounce his claim to the Falconbridge land in exchange for a knighthood. John knights the Bastard under the name Richard.
In France a battle between the French, led by Philip, and the English takes place outside the gates of the city of Angers, an English ruled town that refuses to recognize either Arthur or John as kings when they see that neither army has defeated the other. The Bastard proposes to unite the armies and punish the citizens of the Angers. The citizens of Angers however present an alternative, that is to have Philip's son, Louis, marry King John's niece, Blanche. This solution would be more advantageous for both sides. They agree and therefore King Philip of France changes sides, abandoning Arthur and his mother Constance who in this monologue, in ACT II, Scene 1, can't believe the news that Salisbury has brought and despairs because king Philip betrayed them.
John oversees a land dispute between Robert Falconbridge and his older brother Philip (known as 'the Bastard'), during which it becomes apparent that Philip is the illegitimate son of the previous king of England, Richard the Lionhearted, and therefore King John's half-brother. Queen Eleanor recognises the family resemblance and suggests that he renounce his claim to the Falconbridge land in exchange for a knighthood. John knights the Bastard under the name Richard.
In France a battle between the French, led by Philip, and the English takes place outside the gates of the city of Angers, an English ruled town that refuses to recognize either Arthur or John as kings when they see that neither army has defeated the other. The Bastard proposes to unite the armies and punish the citizens of the Angers. The citizens of Angers however present an alternative, that is to have Philip's son, Louis, marry King John's niece, Blanche. This solution would be more advantageous for both sides. They agree and therefore King Philip of France changes sides, abandoning Arthur and his mother Constance who in this monologue, in ACT II, Scene 1, can't believe the news that Salisbury has brought and despairs because king Philip betrayed them.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
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| CONSTANCE Gone to be married! gone to swear a peace! False blood to false blood join'd! gone to be friends! Shall Lewis have Blanch, and Blanch those provinces? It is not so; thou hast misspoke, misheard: Be well advised, tell o'er thy tale again: It cannot be; thou dost but say 'tis so: I trust I may not trust thee; for thy word Is but the vain breath of a common man: Believe me, I do not believe thee, man; I have a king's oath to the contrary. Thou shalt be punish'd for thus frighting me, For I am sick and capable of fears, Oppress'd with wrongs and therefore full of fears, A widow, husbandless, subject to fears, A woman, naturally born to fears; And though thou now confess thou didst but jest, With my vex'd spirits I cannot take a truce, But they will quake and tremble all this day. What dost thou mean by shaking of thy head? Why dost thou look so sadly on my son? What means that hand upon that breast of thine? Why holds thine eye that lamentable rheum, Like a proud river peering o'er his bounds? Be these sad signs confirmers of thy words? Then speak again; not all thy former tale, But this one word, whether thy tale be true. [SALISBURY As true as I believe you think them false That give you cause to prove my saying true.] CONSTANCE O, if thou teach me to believe this sorrow, Teach thou this sorrow how to make me die, And let belief and life encounter so As doth the fury of two desperate men Which in the very meeting fall and die. Lewis marry Blanch! O boy, then where art thou? France friend with England, what becomes of me? Fellow, be gone: I cannot brook thy sight: This news hath made thee a most ugly man. |
