How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #1
KING JOHN
Now say, Chatillon, what would France with us?
CHATILLON
Thus, after greeting, speaks the King of France
In my behavior to the majesty,
The borrowed majesty, of England here.
QUEEN ELEANOR
A strange beginning: "borrowed majesty"!
KING JOHN
Silence, good mother. Hear the embassy. (1.1.1-6)
Have you ever heard the expression, "It isn't what you say; it's how you say it"? Well, the opening lines of King John kind of fit into that category. Or maybe they show that how you say something can actually affect what you say. When Châtillon says that the King of France has a message for the "borrowed majesty" of England, it's almost unnecessary for him to go on to the rest of his speech, in which he says King John's got no legal right to the throne; he's already said it, just from what he calls King John. All the same, King John politely insists on hearing Châtillon out. King John is big on manners and polite speech, even when he's threatening to go to war with France.
Quote #2
KING JOHN
What men are you?
BASTARD
Your faithful subject I, a gentleman,
Born in Northamptonshire, and eldest son,
As I suppose, to Robert Falconbridge,
A soldier, by the honor-giving hand
Of Coeur de Lion knighted in the field.
KING JOHN
What art thou?
ROBERT
The son and heir to that same Faulconbridge.
KING JOHN
Is that the elder, and art thou the heir?
You came not of one mother then, it seems. (1.1.50-59)
These lines show us how language is related to social conventions. When the Bastard initially introduces himself as the "eldest son" of Robert Falconbridge, King John automatically assumes that he is also Robert Falconbridge's heir. That's because in the society of King John's day, "eldest son" and "heir" were basically synonyms. (In Shakespeare's day, eldest sons automatically inherited all their dads' wealth, land, and titles, too.) Thus, when Robert Falconbridge, Jr. introduces himself as the "son and heir to that same Falconbridge," King John is momentarily confused, as if the gears in his brain are turning and spitting out the message: DOES NOT COMPUTE.
Quote #3
BASTARD
Now your traveler,
He and his toothpick at my Worship's mess,
And when my knightly stomach is sufficed,
Why then I suck my teeth and catechize
My pickèd man of countries: 'My dear sir,'
Thus, leaning on mine elbow I begin,
'I shall beseech you'—that is Question now,
And then comes Answer like an absey-book:
'O, sir,' says Answer, 'at your best command,
At your employment, at your service, sir.'
'No, sir,' says Question, 'I, sweet sir, at yours.'
And so, ere Answer knows what Question would,
Saving in dialogue of compliment
And talking of the Alps and Apennines,
The Pyrenean and the river Po,
It draws toward supper in conclusion so. (1.1.195-210)
In these lines, the Bastard reflects on the conversation techniques of the rich and famous. In these conversations, it looks like sharing information and ideas is far from the point; instead, language is devoted to elaborate displays of politeness and familiarity with the world (hence the lists of geography). What does the Bastard's attention to the subtleties of language use tell us about his character?