Queen Margaret in Shakespeare and Chronicles: She-Wolf or Heroic Spirit

Abstract

In Shakespeare’s Henry VI part III, Richard, Duke of York, calls Queen Margaret—Henry VI’s wife known to history as Margaret of Anjou—“the she-wolf of France.” Margaret is furious with her husband for giving the power of the crown to York, and even more with York for taking it, thus nullifying the rights of her son Prince Edward. Margaret—not her weak husband Henry— raises an army to challenge York. Margaret’s army defeats York’s and he is captured. Earlier versions had York die in battle. Here he is brought before the queen who mocks him and crowns him with a paper crown: Ay, this is he that took King Henry’s chair And this is he was his adopted heir. … Off with the crown, and with the crown his head! And whilst we breathe, take time to do him dead.1