Setting: England and France
Main Characters
King Henry the Sixth, English
Duke of Gloster;Henry's uncle and Protector, English
Duke of Bedford;Henry's uncle, Regent of France, English
Thomas Beaufort;Henry's great-uncle, Duke of Exeter, English
Henry Beaufort;Henry's great-uncle, Bishop of Winchester, English
John Beaufort;Earl of Somerset, English
Richard Plantagenet;Richard the Earl of Cambridge's son, English
Earl of Warwick, English
Earl of Salisbury, English
Earl of Suffolk, English
Lord Talbot, English
John Talbot;Lord Talbot's son, English
Edmund Mortimer;Earl of March, English
Sir John Fastolfe, English
Sir William Lucy, English
Sir William Glansdale, English
Sir Thomas Gargrave, English
Mayor of London
Woodville;Lieutenant of the Tower of London
Vernon;of the York faction (white rose), English
Basset;of the Lancaster faction (red rose), English
Charles;Dauphin of France
Reignier;Duke of Anjou, titular King of France
Duke of Burgundy, traitor
Duke of Alencon, French
Bastard of Orleans, French
Shepherd;Joan's father, French
Margaret;Reignier's daughter, French
Countess of Auvergne, French
Joan la Pucelle;Joan of Arc, French
A (Very) Brief Plot Summary
Act 1: Opens with the funeral of Henry V and the news that the war is going badly in France. Joan agrees to lead the French army. Ends with the French reclaiming the town of Orleans.
Act 2: When the English reclaim Orleans, Charles accuses Joan of betraying him. The English pursue the French. Richard Plantagenet vows to have his family's name restored.
Act 3: Gloster's men fight Winchester's men. Richard is made Duke of York. The French take the town of Rouen and the English take it back. The Duke of Burgundy agrees to fight for France. Talbot is made Earl of Shrewsbury.
Act 4: Henry VI's coronation and the news of Burgundy's desertion. Talbot is attacked and neither York nor Somerset can help him. Talbot dies with his son and Lucy claims the bodies.
Act 5: Henry agrees to marry the Earl of Armagnac's daughter. Joan is captured and burnt at the stake. Peace is declared between England and France. Henry decides to marry Margaret instead (and you just know that will mean trouble later)
A Few Words
Bullbeeves: sides of beef
Daw: black bird that can be taught to talk
Purblind: partially blind
Obloquy: disgrace
Darnel: grass
Gleeks: scoffs, jests
Reguerdon: reward
Louted: made a fool of
Giglot: loose, wanton
Periapt: amulet
What Do We Really Know About Joan of Arc?
It's important to remember that these histories are docudramas, not documentaries. Shakespeare was the Hollywood screenwriter of his day and, while he did follow the general course of history, some events were adapted for dramatic effect and to suit Elizabethan audiences. This is well illustrated by comparing Shakespeare's treatment of Joan of Arc and historical accounts of her life.
We remember Joan of Arc as a heroine who died for her faith. In the play, Shakespeare paints a different picture. When Joan meets Charles, he disguises himself and she identifies him correctly. According to legend, this identification was interpreted as confirmation of Charles' legitimacy and right to the throne. In the play, this identification is taken as proof of Joan's divine mission. The legend says that the French tested her several more times, but Shakespeare has them hastening to accept her. Joan met her end when she was accused of heresy and witchcraft and burnt at stake. The legend would have us believe that she was falsely accused. But in Act V, Scene III, she is seen calling up demons. To her surprise they refuse to help her, which tells the audience that she has had supernatural assistance all along. As Joan is being led to her death, she denounces her father and claims to be pregnant by one of the French nobles. This is far from the image of the virgin warrior in white armour going bravely to her death that we are used to seeing.
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