The Lion in Winter by James Goldman Essay

However, an argument contradicting this idea lies in the persona of Richard, Duke of York, who was the King’s closest adult male relative and the most famous and influential of the great magnates in 1450. Also before 1453 York was heir presumptive. He was descended from Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York and fourth son of Edward III on his father’s side. On his mother’s side he was descended from Lionel of Clarence, Edward’s second son. York’s close blood relationship to the king could admit him to the throne. Not only did he claim the descent from King Edward III, but also claimed to the throne. The Battle of St. Albans is the straightforward proof of it. He evidently felt that he had a sense of duty and a right to play a fundamental role in government. Richard was an obvious threat to Henry’s kingship: unlike the last one he was a competent politician, a distinct warrior and a father of healthy sons. In other words, his power of personality harmonized his goal, which by 1450s, had come to embrace the crown of England.

Upon Richard's return to England, he learns of the events that had transpired in his absence. At first his own arrogance allows him to believe that since it is his God given right to rule as King, he will be protected. But then just as quickly, Richard's arrogance turns into despair upon the realization that Henry has gained support of the nobles and the people of England. Henry and Richard finally meet at Ramparts Castle leading to the climax of the play. Henry demands retribution for the allocation of his families' possessions and

Richard’s political ambition is revealed through his strategic calculations based on the order of birth in his York family which puts him third away from the throne. Ahead of him is his elder brother, George Clarence, a barrier which will have to eradicate. His brother, King Edward, is another political barrier, by simply being alive, in power and equally by being the father of the two young princes . Richard’s creates a political mistrust between his two

Raising a child is always a challenging and time-consuming task, and raising a prince is even more difficult. Henry puts his leadership aside to focus his efforts upon preventing Prince Hal from absolute corruption or even betrayal. Hal enjoys the company of an unruly thief, the drunkard John Falstaff, as well as several other less respectable persons. Henry is more realistic and rational than Richard, and he is able to see that his position is not a good one. He may fear that he is a bad example for his son, for he too was a robber when he stole the throne. He fears that his son will ruin his image as king or even assist in overthrowing him;

Ambition is an earnest desire for achievement. Both texts are self reflexive and emphasise Richard’s obsessive ambition, desire and longing for the throne. Each Richard strives towards capturing the throne regardless of consequences and bloodshed. Richard is depicted in both texts as an ambitious character who strives to gain power and independence through deception and self confessed villainy. ‘Since I cannot prove a lover. . . I am determined to prove a villain’ This obsession which drives Richard to commit horrific evils to gain and then protect his claim to the throne. His ambition, power and evil blinds him and inevitably is responsible for his downfall in both of the texts. A connection is formed between Looking for Richard and King Richard III in the final scenes Al Pacino’s interpretation and ‘Hollywood’ background influences an ending which can be interpreted as portraying Richmond as a coward. Elizabethan audiences

Richard then gloats over his success in a soliloquy stating how he has won her heart even though he is regarded by her as the devil with dissembling looks and he stabbed Edward her love just 3 months earlier. This highlights how he thinks of himself as the best as he brags about his misdeeds as though he is immortal.

As King John I grew up with his father as king, he was able to learn how to govern a country, and how he would lead the people when he later became king. As a Child, feud between family members was common. John often fought with his brother, and John’s mother was seen as his father’s prisoner (English Edward). Since there was conflict in John’s life as a child, conflict surfaced later on during his reign against other government officials and countries. Even though John was his father’s favorite son, he was not heir to his father’s throne and it took John many years to become king. John’s older brother Richard was the heir to the

Richard’s aspiration for power caused him to sacrifice his morals and loyalties in order to gain the throne of England. Shakespeare refers to the political instability of England, which is evident through the War of the Roses between the Yorks and Lancastrians fighting for the right to rule. In order to educate and entertain the audience of the instability of politics, Shakespeare poses Richard as a caricature of the Vice who is willing to do anything to get what he wants. As a result, the plans Richard executed were unethical, but done with pride and cunningness. Additionally, his physically crippled figure that was, “so lamely and unfashionable, that dogs bark at me as I halt by them,” reflects the deformity and corruption of his soul. The constant fauna imagery of Richard as the boar reflected his greedy nature and emphasises that he has lost his sense of humanity.

Here it sounds like he is talking about how cruel Richard is because he has destroyed good people, Namely; Anthony, Richard Grey, and Thomas Vaughan. Each were considered loyal to the children and would never have come to their untimely demise if Richard had never gained the Crown. So, how could anyone consider themselves safe under his

The Lion in Winter both accurately and inaccurately portrays the sons. First, the movie portrays John more negatively than how he really was in real life. The book, “Medieval History the Life and Death of a Civilization” by Norman F. Cantor states, “John... was something of an administrative genius.”5 This description does not even closely align with the characteristics of John in film. John in the movie may simply be described as weird, socially awkward, paranoid and often foolish. The Lion in Winter directors and writers have failed to present the other side of John, which is a

As innocent and young the Disney movie “The Lion King” may seem, it is, indeed, loosely based off of the renowned Shakespeare play “Hamlet”. It would seem strange to the typical audiences of each, but when looked at closer, it is seen that they are actually related underneath the youthful, animated surface of The Lion King.

He is also a very known wealthy man in his town who is respected by many. When writing to John I, Margaret refers to their property as “your estate” which leads one to infer he had all the power and money tied to the estate. Richard Calle comes off as a genuine man and a hopeless romantic. He proposes a letter to Margaret stating how much he loves her daughter Margery. Richard is also a respectful man since he wants to get Margaret’s blessing before he marries his love Margery.

In 1994, the critics hail an animated masterpiece, not only for its artwork and music, but also for the plotline: an evil uncle displaces the heir to the throne and sends him into exile. Years later, following both a prophecy and an encounter with the ghost of the old king, the heir is persuaded to return to his home, avenge his father's death, and take his proper place as the ruler of the kingdom. At first glance, Disney's The Lion King has all the classic motifs of the revenge plot. These archetypal patterns occur in many stories, and Disney writers Jim Capoblanco and Irene Mecchi may well have built the plot's structure from the ground up. However, if we disregard the Serengeti setting, the

He is convinced that King Philip will show mercy and give the common people the liberty they need to survive in England. But, many times stories are the same. In most epic stories there is a good guy and a clever bad guy. The opposing King often demands respect, but does not give it in return. Something that is clearly understood through time is that the honor and the word of a man is all he has. Anything that was said and valued is what accredits him to be respected. King Philip was not the type of man who received respect from his people, because he never kept his word. He was nothing like his brother King Richard. Richard fought next to his men and received respect from the promises he made his men. By concurring others, he showed that he was a man to be feared. He gave his men what they need and showed them how to be great. The opposing monsters that had to be fought were the French and the Monarchy of England that was ruled by King

In season one of A Game of Thrones, King Robert, of Westeros, asks his old friend, Lord Stark, to serve as Hand of the King, or the second in command. Secretly warned that the previous “Hand” and dear friend to both Lord Stark and the King Robert was assassinated, Lord Stark accepts the offer only to investigate the former Hand 's assassination further. Meanwhile the Queen 's family, the Lannister’s, the wealthiest house in the realm may be hatching a plot to take power of the Seven Kingdoms.