King John is a five-act historical play by the great English dramatist William Shakespeare. Its full title is The Life and Death of King John.
As a source for his play, Shakespeare probably used The Troublesome Raigne of John, King of England, a play published in 1591 by an unknown English author. The date of the first performance of King John is uncertain, but some experts have suggested that it was first staged about 1594. It was not published until 1623.
The story concerns the efforts of England’s King John to defend his throne against the claims of Arthur, the young Duke of Brittany. The powerful king of France supports Arthur. John has the allegiance of the brave and able Sir Robert Faulconbridge and of the English nobility. But in time, John’s evil and weak policies cost him the loyalty of his followers. Near the end of the play, both Arthur and John die violently. John’s son then takes the throne as Henry III.
Probably the most interesting character in King John is Philip Faulconbridge, supposedly the son of Sir Robert Faulconbridge but really the illegitimate son of King Richard I. Many critics believe his sarcastic and witty comments on the personalities and motives of the other characters provide the play’s best dialogue.
