Fictions of Sovereignty: Shakespeare, Theatre and the Representation of Rule

Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part II includes a number of scenes representing the Kent rebellion of 1450, led by Jack Cade. In these, we argue, Shakespeare explores the ways in which claims to legitimate rule are often secured through performances of word, deed and gesture. We examine some of the concerns about drama expressed by political theorists alongside some of the techniques of political dramatists, and argue that a reason for the often tense relationship between drama and politics is this power of the former to make visible the aesthetic and theatrical aspects of the latter. The brilliance of Shakespeare's representation of Cade, we argue, lies in the way in which it holds up the performance of sovereignty for public scrutiny and assessment.