Scene I explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Clemency and Justice

  Edward initially condemns the Calais citizens to death but yields to Queen Philippa's plea for mercy, demonstrating the tension between justice and clemency.

• Kingship and Leadership

  Edward asserts his authority over the Calais citizens, knights Copland for his loyalty, and receives the captured French king, embodying the role of a victorious monarch.

• Duty and Obedience

  Copland's defiance of the queen's command is framed as loyalty to the king's person, and the Prince of Wales presents his victory as a dutiful offering to his father.

Characters to notice

• King Edward III

  Commands the siege of Calais, shows clemency at Queen Philippa's request, knights Copland, and rejoices at his son's victory.

• Queen Philip

  Pleads for the lives of the Calais citizens and later expresses grief over the reported danger to her son.

• John Copland

  Presents the captured King David of Scotland, defends his refusal to yield the prisoner to the queen, and is knighted by Edward.

• King David of Scotland

  Brought as a prisoner before King Edward by Copland.

• Prince Edward

  Triumphantly returns after the Battle of Poitiers, presenting the captured King John of France and his crown to his father.

• King John of France

  Captured and brought before King Edward as a prisoner.

• Lord Audley

  Enters with Prince Edward after the victory.

• Robert of Artois

  Enters with Prince Edward after the victory.

Key passages

• “It is a glorious thing, to stablish peace; And kings approach the nearest unto God, By giving life and safety unto men.”

  Establishing peace is a noble act, and kings are most like God when they grant life and safety.

  Queen Philippa argues for clemency, linking mercy to divine kingship.

• “All rivers have recourse unto the sea; And Copland's faith, relation to his king.”

  Just as all rivers flow to the sea, Copland's loyalty naturally returns to his king.

  Edward justifies knighting Copland by comparing his allegiance to a natural law.

• “The pillars of his hearse shall be his bones; The mould that covers him, their cities' ashes; His knell, the groaning cries of dying men; And, in the stead of tapers on his tomb, An hundred fifty towers shall burning blaze.”

  The structure of his funeral will be made from enemy bones, his grave covered with the ashes of their cities, his funeral bell the cries of dying men, and instead of candles, a hundred fifty towers will burn.

  Edward vows a terrible revenge if his son is dead, using vivid imagery of destruction.