Shakespeare | Henry VIII | A Review
Shakespeare’s Henry VIII’-A Review
“Henry VIII,” also known as “All Is True,” is a play written by William Shakespeare in collaboration with John Fletcher. It tells the story of King Henry VIII’s reign, his tumultuous marriage to Catherine of Aragon, and his eventual divorce from her, as well as the events leading up to the birth of his daughter, Elizabeth I.
The play opens with a prologue in which the Chorus sets the scene and introduces the main characters. We are then introduced to Cardinal Wolsey, who is Henry’s trusted advisor and the most powerful man in England. Wolsey is shown to be a cunning and ambitious man who is willing to do whatever it takes to maintain his position of power. He is also shown to be corrupt and willing to use his position for personal gain.
As the play progresses, we see the tensions between Henry and Catherine escalate, as he seeks to annul their marriage in order to marry Anne Boleyn. Catherine is a devout Catholic and refuses to consent to the annulment, leading to a confrontation between her and Henry. This leads to the infamous trial scene, in which Henry is declared the Supreme Head of the Church in England and Catherine is banished from court.
We also see the rise of Anne Boleyn, who becomes Henry’s mistress and eventually his second wife. Anne is shown to be a strong-willed and ambitious woman, who is determined to become queen at any cost. She also has a complicated relationship with her father, who is revealed to have incestuous desires towards her.
Throughout the play, we also see the political machinations of various characters, including the Duke of Norfolk and the Duke of Suffolk, as well as the downfall of Cardinal Wolsey. Wolsey’s corruption is eventually exposed, and he is stripped of his power and forced to flee to York, where he dies.
The play culminates with the christening of Elizabeth, who is shown to be the future queen of England. The play ends on a note of hope, with the Chorus encouraging the audience to look to the future and the greatness that Elizabeth will achieve.
Overall, Shakespeare’s “Henry VIII” is a complex and engaging play that offers a fascinating insight into the political and personal tensions of Henry VIII’s reign. The characters are well-drawn and complex, with each one having their own motivations and desires. The language is rich and poetic, with many memorable lines and speeches. The play is also notable for its use of spectacle, with lavish pageants and ceremonies that were designed to impress the audience. While it may not be as well-known as some of Shakespeare’s other plays, “Henry VIII” is definitely worth a read for anyone interested in history or drama. 0 0 0.
Shakespeare Henry VIII A Review
N. B. This article originally belongs to the book ‘Reviews on William Shakespeare’s Works‘ by Menonim Menonimus.
Books of Literary Criticism by M. Menonimus:
- World Short Story Criticism
- World Poetry Criticism
- World Drama Criticism
- World Novel Criticism
- World Essay Criticism
- Indian English Poetry Criticism
- Indian English Poets and Poetry Chief Features
- Emily Dickinson’s Poetry-A Thematic Study
- Walt Whitman’s Poetry-A Thematic Study
- Critical Essays on English Poetry
- Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Novel: Return of the Spirit-An Analytical Study
- Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Novel: ‘Yawmiyyat Naib Fil Arayaf’-An Analytical Study
- Analytical Studies of Some Arabic Short Stories
- A Brief History of Arabic Literature: Pre-Islamic Period (500 AD-622 AD)
- A Brief History of Arabic Literature: Early Islamic Period (622 AD-661 AD)
- Reviews on William Shakespeare’s Works …
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