The Drama of Speech Acts

This study delves into the role of language and speech in Shakespeare's Lancastrian tetralogy: Richard II, 1 Henry IV, 2 Henry IV, and Henry V. It aims to provide an integrated analysis of how language is conceived and utilized across these plays, exploring both thematic and dramaturgical elements. The discussion challenges the notion of the tetralogy's disunity, presenting evidence for its aesthetic cohesion, despite initial objections based on Shakespeare’s evolving vision for the plays. The s