Day Ten

Henry VI, Part 1

2.4

SYNOPSIS

Plantagenet, Warwick, Somerset, Suffolk, and Vernon argue in the Temple Garden because they were too loud inside. Plantagenet is talking about his nobility, and I guess whether or not he deserves to be next in line? Plantagenet says that whomever supports him should take a white rose:

Plantagenet

Let him that is a true-born gentleman

And stands upon the honor of his birth,

if he suppose that I have pleaded truth,

From off this brier pluck a white rose with me.

Somerset says that whomever disagrees, like he does, should take a red one:

Somerset

Let him that is no coward nor no flatterer,

But dare maintain the party of the truth,

Pluck a red rose from off this thorn with me.

They get one supporter each before Vernon tells them to stop plucking roses until they know how many supporters they have. They both agree to the terms, then Vernon plucks a white rose:

Vernon

I pluck this pale and maiden blossom here,

Giving my verdict on the white rose side.

...and then some lawyer plucks a white rose, too:

Lawyer

In sign whereof I pluck a white rose too.

Which means Plantagenet wins! But what...?

Apparently, Plantagenet’s father was put to death by H5 for treason, though Plantagenet says his father’s treason was never proven. Somerset says his followers and those who believe Plantagenet’s father to be treasonous will wear red roses; Plantagenet says his followers will wear white roses. Warwick is under the impression that Plantagenet’s name will be restored, and will wear the white rose for him, but fears war, and death.

IMPRESSIONS

What the hell is going on here? I read this scene multiple times and it confounded and bored me. It wasn’t until I started to read the Spark Notes commentary (which, thankfully, is free), that I started to see what was going on. It’s a little embarrassing, but it totally helped.. As you can see, this is the birth of the “War of the Roses” which is interesting, and upon reading it a fourth time, the scene is actually pretty good, and I appreciate the writing now that it’s a little more clear to me.

...AND THEN SOME

Episode 322, the third season finale for the West Wing, entitled “Posse Comitatus,” features scenes from “The War of the Roses,” a performance of several consecutive Shakespeare plays, including the three Henry VI plays. They get little air time, but it’s interesting to note. I wonder if a War of the Roses sequence is ever produced...

LINE OF THE DAY

After the white roses have been cropped by Vernon and the lawyer, Plantagenet gets all up in Somerset’s grill:

Plantagenet

Now, Somerset, where is your argument?

To which Somerset replies, with the line of the day:

Somerset

Here in my scabbard, meditating that

Shall dye your white rose in a bloody red.

Snap!