Henry VIII story
Henry VIII is a collaborative history play, written by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher, based on the life of Henry VIII. An alternative title, All Is True, is recorded in contemporary documents, with the title Henry VIII not appearing until the play's publication in the First Folio of 1623. Stylistic evidence indicates that individual scenes were written by either Shakespeare or his collaborator and successor, John Fletcher. It is also somewhat characteristic of the late romances in its structure. It is noted for having more stage directions than any of Shakespeare's other plays. Aliases: All Is True
8 total · 1 choice · 5 major · 2 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| fall from grace | choice | various characters lost their lofty statuses: Buckingham, Queen Katherine, Cardinal Wolsey |
| courtly intrigues | major | Intrigues were variously implied thought the truth of them often remained muddled. |
| divorce | major | Henry VIII wriggled out of his marriage by means of annulment |
| husband and wife | major | Henry VIII and Katherine, then Ann |
| treason | major | King Henry prosecuted Buckingham for treason, and threatened to do the same for queen Katherine. |
| what is truth | major | the play leaves us wondering who is really honest and who is not |
| facing one's own execution | minor | Buckingham spoke wistfully as he was lead to his own execution |
| what if I was accused of a crime that I didn't commit | minor | Buckingham was wrongfully accused and then condemned for treason |