Introduction

This chapter explores political strategy and its inherent dramatic potential. It delves into how strategy influences Shakespeare’s conceptualization about drama at this early stage of his career. The chapter focuses on numerous scenes and characters that have generally been given perfunctory attention or none at all. Shakespeare is nevertheless conscious of the limitations of strategies, and the notion that while the ends may seem to justify the means, they do not necessarily justify themselves. The various strategies employed by Clarence, Elizabeth, Rivers and Grey, Hastings, Buckingham, and Stanley reveal that the exclusive focus on a sole character disregards many fruitful elements.