SOURCE: "Richard's Divided Heritage in King John" in Essays in Criticism, Vol. XII, No. 3, July, 1962, pp. 231-53.

In the following essay, Matchett argues that, structurally, King John revolves around the question of succession and which of the three potential claimants—Arthur, the Bastard, or Henry—is most fit and has the right to rule England.

In 'Commodity and Honour in King John' (University of Toronto Quarterly, April, 1960, 341-56) Mr. James Calderwood demonstrates the essential role of those themes in Shakespeare's play. I should like to confirm, strengthen and extend his perceptive analysis through a discussion of structure. In brief, my argument is as follows: The plot of King John is built around the question of who should be King of England and thus of what constitutes a 'right' to the throne. In the first act, three characters are shown to have particular claims to the crown. With the...