On being King

[bookburn]

Rather good treatise on Shakespeare's picture of British kingship at:

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2023/05/07/commentary/world-commentary/king-charles-king-richard/

[Margaret]

On Monday, 8 May 2023 at 02:48:14 UTC+1, bookburn wrote:
> Rather good treatise on Shakespeare's picture of British kingship at:
>
> https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2023/05/07/commentary/world-commentary/king-charles-king-richard/

Can't read unless a subscriber but the King's attachment to Shakespeare is in part the deep meditation the plays provide on a unique position - both supreme and vulnerable. Shakespeare grew up, after all, in the Elizabethan age. A monarch without heirs of the body in an hereditary monarchy, making England one assassin's knife or bullet away from complete upheaval and civil war. Only outliving Philip II could stop that. (Philip III was also hostile but his attempted invasion of Ireland failed and he would conclude a treaty with James - with Shakespeare in the room where it happened!)