 Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
Table of Contents Act IV, Scene 7 The scene is before the entrance to York. King Edward, Richard, Hastings and soldiers enter. From Edward's conversation it is clear that they have received help from Burgundy and have arrived from Ravenspurgh before the gates of York. He finds a way to enter the gates but Richard warns him that the men at the gates are very alert. Edward says by fair and foul means they should enter it or else their friends will overcome them. He engages in a conversation with the Mayor of York whom Edward manages to cajole into opening the gates. Edward takes the keys of the gates and tells the Mayor not to shut these gates in the night or in the time of war and assures him that he will defend the town. Sir John Montgomery enters to offer his service to Edward as a loyal subject should do. Sir John bids them farewell saying that he has come to serve a king and not a duke. He begins to go, and Edward calls him back and asks him if there are any means of recovering the crown. Edward says it is safer to remain quiet until they become stronger and then they will make their claim. The others disagree and provoke him to claim his title to the crown once again, and he agrees. He then thanks Montgomery for his kindness to help him and promises to repay it when Fortune smiles at him. They play to fight Warwick in the morning and he despises his brother Clarence who betrayed his own brother for Henry's favor. Notes: Edward has received help from Burgundy and with Richard, Hastings and soldiers is at the entrance of the York gates. His dubious and crooked nature is relevant in his words: 'By fair and foul means we must enter in.' Having come all the way from Ravenspurgh, they try their best to enter the York gates. Yet with a lie, the gates are opened. This reveals the people as being easily duped and their loyalties easily swayed. Sir John Montgomery's arrival is significant. He introduces himself as a loyal subject who has come to help King Edward and not the Duke of York. Edward, who has temporarily forgotten his title to the crown, is provoked by Montgomery to reclaim the title to the throne. Reassured by Montgomery's brave words, Edward becomes optimistic once more and provoked by Montgomery to reclaim the title to the throne, he says 'For well I know that Henry is no soldier' Henry's inability to fight makes him famous for his cowardice. Edward also expresses his hatred towards Clarence who has betrayed him and has gone to win the favor of Henry. 'Ah, forward Clarence, how evil it beseems thee To flatter Henry and forsake they brother.' These lines show Edward's hurt feelings over his own brother deserting him at times of adversity. The scene ends with Edward's proclamation; 'Come on, brave soldiers: Doubt not of the day, And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay'. He encourages the soldiers to fight well and promises them handsome rewards if they win the battle, an idea that was originally Clarence's. Table of Contents | |
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