The play begins at a critical point of English history, marking the passage from the supposedly stable reign of Edward-I to a chaotic one of his son, who unfortunately could match neither the valour nor the statesmanship of his predecessor. ... The very beginning of the play gives us a hint to the character of Edward, his irresponsibility towards his kingdom, as he writes in a letter to Gaveston, "My father is deceased; come Gaveston, and share the kingdom with thy dearest friend.... Keeping to the Aristotelian triangular plot structure of a tragedy, the play reaches its climax in the Act...

• Word Count: 949
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

As the suffering outcast whose daughter cannot reciprocate his affection, Henchard is far grander--and far more sympathetic--than the leader of the town council at the King Arms' dinner. ... Like Shakespeare's King Lear, even in his youth Henchard is one who but scantily knows himself (Hardy's phrase is "introspective inflexibility"), and permits his passions, especially the desire to save face in the furmity vendor's tent, to overwhelm his common sense. ... The theme and spirit of tragedy found a new vehicle in the novel in the 19th century, its form being originally used ...

• Word Count: 1167
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate