Gorboduc (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Thomas Norton, Thomas Sackville
- First Published: 1565
- Type of Work: Play
- Type of Plot: Tragedy
- Time of Work: Before the Saxon invasion of Britain
- Setting: England
- Genres: Drama, History play, Tragedy
- Subjects: Class conflict, Murder or homicide, Revolutions, Kings, queens, or royalty, Sixteenth century, Middle Ages, Great Britain, Nobility, Heads of state
- Locales: England
Characters Discussed
Gorboduc (gohr-BOH-duhk), a king of ancient Britain. After ruling his land wisely for many years, he disregards the advice of his sage counselors, divides the realm between his two sons, and thus brings tragedy on his family and his country. He recognizes the folly of his decision too late, when he learns of the unnatural deaths of his sons. Filled with remorse, he learns that as a human being, he must grieve; the patience prescribed by his advisers is an attribute of gods alone. He is finally murdered by his people, who have fallen into anarchy as a result...
[The entire page is 874 words long]
