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Critical Essay by George D. Gopen
SOURCE: “Private Grief into Public Action: The Rhetoric of John of Gaunt in Richard II,” in Studies in Philology LXXXIV, No. 3, Summer, 1987, pp. 338-67.
In the following essay, Gopen analyzes the rhetorical structure of Gaunt's deathbed speech and discusses how this speech informs other issues in the play.
John of Gaunt's Deathbed Speech
| 31 | Methinks I am a prophet new inspired | ||
| And thus, expiring, do foretell of him: | |||
| His rash fierce blaze of riot cannot last | |||
| For violent fires soon burn out themselves; | |||
| 35 | Small show’rs last long, but sudden storms are short; | ||
| He tires betimes that spurs too fast betimes; | |||
| With eager feeding food doth choke the feeder; | |||
| Light vanity, insatiate cormorant, | |||
| Consuming means, soon preys upon itself. | |||
| 40 | This royal throne of kings, this scept’red isle, | ||
| This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, | |||
| This other... (read more)
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Richard II - Critical Essay by George D. Gopen from Literature Criticism Series. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.
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