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| Character | Queen Margaret | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Female | |
| Age Range(s) | Young Adult (20-35), Adult (36-50) | |
| Type of monologue / Character is | Angry, Scolding | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Period | Renaissance | |
| Genre | Historical, Drama | |
| Description | Margaret upbraids King Henry VI for disinheriting his son | |
| Location | ACT I, Scene 1 | |
Summary
The play starts with a heated argument between the Duke of York, who is claiming the throne, and King Henry VI. Also involved are several lords and York's sons. After being intimidated by Warwick, King Henry accepts to make York his heir as long as York lets him be king for the rest of his life.
Margaret enters the scene with he son Edward. She scolds the king for disinheriting his own son. The king argues that he was forced to do it and Margaret replies that he is king and shouldn't be forced into anything. He has ruined his sons future by giving in to the Yorks. He is now like a "lamb environed with wolves", allowed to reign only by York's consent. If she had been there she would have preferred to die instead of accepting those terms. She vows to distance herself from the king until undoes what he has done.
Margaret enters the scene with he son Edward. She scolds the king for disinheriting his own son. The king argues that he was forced to do it and Margaret replies that he is king and shouldn't be forced into anything. He has ruined his sons future by giving in to the Yorks. He is now like a "lamb environed with wolves", allowed to reign only by York's consent. If she had been there she would have preferred to die instead of accepting those terms. She vows to distance herself from the king until undoes what he has done.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
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| QUEEN MARGARET Who can be patient in such extremes? Ah, wretched man! would I had died a maid And never seen thee, never borne thee son, Seeing thou hast proved so unnatural a father Hath he deserved to lose his birthright thus? Hadst thou but loved him half so well as I, Or felt that pain which I did for him once, Or nourish'd him as I did with my blood, Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood there, Rather than have that savage duke thine heir And disinherited thine only son. [PRINCE EDWARD Father, you cannot disinherit me: If you be king, why should not I succeed?] [KING HENRY VI Pardon me, Margaret; pardon me, sweet son: The Earl of Warwick and the duke enforced me.] QUEEN MARGARET Enforced thee! art thou king, and wilt be forced? I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch! Thou hast undone thyself, thy son and me; And given unto the house of York such head As thou shalt reign but by their sufferance. To entail him and his heirs unto the crown, What is it, but to make thy sepulchre And creep into it far before thy time? Warwick is chancellor and the lord of Calais; Stern Falconbridge commands the narrow seas; The duke is made protector of the realm; And yet shalt thou be safe? such safety finds The trembling lamb environed with wolves. Had I been there, which am a silly woman, The soldiers should have toss'd me on their pikes Before I would have granted to that act. But thou preferr'st thy life before thine honour: And seeing thou dost, I here divorce myself Both from thy table, Henry, and thy bed, Until that act of parliament be repeal'd Whereby my son is disinherited. The northern lords that have forsworn thy colours Will follow mine, if once they see them spread; And spread they shall be, to thy foul disgrace And utter ruin of the house of York. Thus do I leave thee. Come, son, let's away; Our army is ready; come, we'll after them. |
Comments
The main emotions are anger and disgust as the queen is angry at the king for accepting York's terms and for being weak. The lines by Prince Edward and the King can be ignored and the two parts of Margaret's monologue can be performed continuously.
