著者

小野 良子

出版者

桃山学院大学総合研究所

雑誌

人間文化研究 = Journal of Humanities Research,St.Andrew's University (ISSN:21889031)

巻号頁・発行日

no.16, pp.137-174, 2022-02-23

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In Shakespeare's King Richard Ⅱ, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster,described England before the reign of Richard Ⅱ as "other Eden,"lamenting "This land of such dear souls …/ Is now leased out." TheDuke implied that the political failure of the king had corrupted the "garden"image of England and destroyed England's greatness inherited fromthe Black Prince, Richard Ⅰ. King Richard Ⅱ was written and staged in 1595 as the initial play in asequence about the Lancastrian phase of English history. The first edition(Q1) was published in 1597 and promptly followed by two furtherissues (Q2 and Q3) in 1598. It was the first play-text to prove its popularity,which indicates the "garden" image of England should have beenshared among the Shakespearian audience and readers. This paper is an attempt to examine the myth of England as "the secondEden," tracing back the origins of the legend to Classical mythologyand history. The first chapter consists of three parts: a survey of "Britannia,"ancient Greek and Roman mythology, and Arthurian legends. Thesecond chapter gives a closer reading of "Britannia" under the RomanEmpire.