King John Theme of Power

When it comes to the theme of power in King John, Shakespeare is mostly interested in these three questions:

• What makes a monarch fit to rule? 
• What gives a monarch the legal right to rule?
• What the heck happens when someone has a legal right to rule but isn't fit to be a monarch?

In the play, Arthur has the best legal claim to England's throne, but the problem is that he's just a little kid, and he isn't exactly fit to rule. As we see, Arthur's legal right to rule is nothing without the power to back it up. That's why John, who has all the power, gets to keep the crown... until he gets poisoned by a monk, anyway.

That brings us to our next point. The play also explores the monarch's relationship with the Catholic Church. King John thinks that he can defy Pandolf and the Pope and get away with it because he is a king, with military power, while the Church only has spiritual power. But he underestimates the Church's power of moral authority—basically, the power of its words. Through these words, the Church can actually inspire armies to rise up against John, and then presto, he's got a military problem on his hands.

One of the lessons of the play seems to be that power comes in many forms, and a king must constantly be on his toes in order to maintain it.

1. How is it that Arthur can challenge King John's right to the throne? Why doesn't it work?
2. What role does the Church play in John's kingship?
3. Which does the play portray as more powerful: words or military force?
4. Could King John have done anything differently to keep his power more secure?

The play portrays power as potentially very bad, since it can inspire senseless murder and warfare; but it takes power to resist such injustices, as well.

The play portrays both words and military force as powerful, but at different times and in different contexts.