The Drama of Speech Acts

This study delves into the role of language and speech in Shakespeare’s Lancastrian tetralogy: Richard II, 1 Henry IV, 2 Henry IV, and Henry V. It aims to provide an integrated analysis of how language is conceived and utilized across these plays, exploring both thematic and dramaturgical elements. The discussion challenges the notion of the tetralogy’s disunity, presenting evidence for its aesthetic cohesion, despite initial objections based on Shakespeares evolving vision for the plays. The study adopts a dual approach, balancing the unity of the tetralogy with the integrity of each individual play, supported by a comprehensive methodology that combines linguistic philosophy, particularly the concept of speech acts developed by J.L. Austin. In analyzing the plays, the study introduces three key metaphors to frame the exploration of languages evolution in the tetralogy: the shift from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, the story of the Tower of Babel, and the Biblical Fall. These metaphors help articulate the moral and linguistic transformations seen in the characters, especially in their use of speech to assert authority, control, and identity. Austins speech act theory provides a foundational framework for examining how utterances in these plays are more than just verbal expressions but are active forces shaping the narrative and characters relationships. Through this lens, the study not only reflects on Shakespeare’s manipulation of language but also on its dramatic function in creating meaning and action within the play’s political and social contexts. This title is part of UC Press’s Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Presss mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1979.