[简答题,10分] What do Shakespeare’s historical plays about?

Shakespeare’s historical plays are political plays. The principal idea of these plays is the necessity for national unity under one wise sovereign. At his time, this idea was anti-feudal in nature, and it summered up the general opinion of the rising bourgeoisie in Shakespeare’s own day. Shakespeare’s historical plays reflect the historical events of two centuries from Richard II to Henry VIII. They show the horrors of civil war, the necessity for the national unity, the responsibilities of efficient ruler and the importance of legitimate succession to the throne. Like the majority of humanists of his time, Shakespeare believed in a wise and humane king who would love to serve his country. While in the historical plays, Shakespeare’s treatment of real kings is extremely critical, Richard II is condemned for his vanity, political blindness and inability to subdue the feudal lords. Even Henry IV, though glorified for his suppression of the rebellion of feudal lords, is criticized for his participation in the murder of Richard II and his treacherous arrest of the rebels after the truce.