Overview
Synopsis
A play that is deeply concerned with the themes of honor, duty, and chivalry, King Edward III follows the war-time triumphs of its titular character, who ruled England from 1327-1377. Beginning in the midst of the Scottish War of Independence, King Edward extinguishes a Scottish uprising, and in the process, becomes enchanted by the wife of one of his lords, the Countess of Salisbury. But, before their forbidden longing can lead to disaster, Edward and his army must travel to France to continue the two countries’ long and embittered conflict over the French throne. King Edward, ultimately, wins the day, due in large part to the heroism of his son, “The Black Prince.” This Shakespearean history play paints a portrait of Edward III as a conventional and successful ruler struggling with hidden desires and the rigours of war.
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Context
King Edward III is one of Shakespeare’s so-called “doubtful” plays. The text as we know it is based on two anonymously authored plays - both entitled The Reign of King Edward III - which were published in 1596 and 1599. Although the play is now included in the Shakespearean canon, it does not appear in any of the early folios of the playwright's work, and scholars speculate that Edward III was actually a collaborative effort between Shakespeare and one - or several - other prominent
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Act One, Scene One At a castle in Westminster, King Edward is met by Artois, Earl of Richmond. A former Count of France, Artois has fled to England and become an ally of Edward. He explains that King Edward is the rightful heir to the French throne through his mother, Isabel, and implores Edward to launch a campaign against the current French ruler, King John I, and restore the rightful line to its throne.
One of Edward’s knights, Sir James Audley, arrives bringing the Duke of Lorraine -
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