Henry VI Part 1 Society and Class Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)

Quote #1

WINCHESTER
Each hath his place and function to attend.
I am left out; for me nothing remains.
But long I will not be Jack-out-of-office.
The King from Eltham I intend to steal,
And sit at chiefest stern of public weal. (1.1.176-180)

Whew—not all is well with the in crowd. Winchester's pretty annoyed that he didn't get any jobs for taking care of the young king. He's plotting to get more power, though. Fortunately he doesn't succeed in kidnapping the king, but you can see how much he wants to be one of the cool kids.

Quote #2

PUCELLE
Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherd's daughter,
My wit untrained in any kind of art.
Heaven and Our Lady gracious hath it pleased
To shine on my contemptible estate. (1.2.73-76)

Joan's explaining here why the clique should take her seriously. Yes, she says, she's not part of the aristocracy. But she says that God and the Virgin Mary ("Our Lady") have favored her. She may not be part of the club yet, but she claims to have supernatural power—which the French could use, especially since they've just lost a battle to the English in this scene.

Quote #3

SOMERSET
Was not thy father Richard, Earl of Cambridge,
For treason executed in our late king's days?
And, by his treason, stand'st not thou attainted,
Corrupted, and exempt from ancient gentry?
His trespass yet lives guilty in thy blood,
And till thou be restored thou art a yeoman. (2.4.91-96)

Like any clique, the aristocracy sometimes kicks people out, and when it does, it isn't pretty. Richard's father was executed for treason, so his title and property can't pass to Richard. This is reversible, but it takes an act of Parliament a bit later in the play for Richard to get the family title back, and in the meantime, he's the target of jokes from Somerset, who's well established in the aristocracy.