 Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Table of Contents Act I, Scene III Summary The Duke of Gloucester arrives at the cover of London to inspect the artillery and ammunition stored there. The men guarding the tower inform him that Winchester’s order forbids him entry into the tower. Gloucester’s men are about to forcibly break in when Winchester enters with his men. A heated argument between the two men is followed by an attack on Winchester’s men by Gloucester’s soldiers. The Mayor of London and his officers appear on the scene and read out a proclamation forbidding the handling of weapons. This puts an end to the fight, but before departing, the two men swear revenge on each other in the future. Notes The action turns once more to England and focuses specifically on the hostility between Gloucester and Winchester. The animosity that had been brewing between the two men erupts into open violence in this scene, precipitated by the argument that takes place over Winchester’s order forbidding Gloucester access to the Tower of London. The Tower of London serves as the royal armory and the royal residence. Gloucester is the Lord Protector and this thwarting of his authority by Winchester, a man whom he mistrusts and dislikes incites him to rage. Winchester sees him as a threat to his ambition and not to be outdone, he throws a verbal brick for brick. Gloucester’s order to his men to overcome the other party shows the extent to which their disharmony has escalated. It points out clearly the disunity that is rampant in the English ranks. The words of the Mayor are a reminder to the two men to the extent to which they have let their personal feelings overpower their civil rank and duties. But the two are too far-gone to be reminded of their civic responsibility. When the appeal to their reason fails, the Mayor has to resort to the authority of the law to establish peace. He succeeds in doing this but it is clear that he has achieved only a momentarily respite. The fight has been postponed and the swearing of revenge by the two men foreshadows more violence. This is an important scene as it shows the progression of the plot. The disharmony that existed in the English has now deteriorated the entire situation leading to a complete breakdown in unity. The fight has come out in the open and its resolution promises only doom for the English. The momentum of the scene is at its highest when the two side fight and calms down with the entrance and proclamations of the Mayor. The scene ends on a note of crude comedy with the Mayor’s ejaculation "I myself fight not once in forty year." Although it does provide momentary comic relief it only serves to highlight, by its very contrasting nature, the grim significance of what has just occurred. Table of Contents | |
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