一般認為莎士比亞的第二輯四部曲是詩人探討權力的作品。在這部十四世紀末、十五世紀初的英國歷史中，使用契約經濟的語言修辭被描繪成眾多權力來源中，極重要的一種權力形式。本論文檢視該系列歷史劇中的經濟契約修辭。在《理查二世》和《亨利四世，上》兩劇中，兩位國王的價值取決於面對政治權力和經濟利益衝突時展現的能力。理查二世依賴慷慨手段及儀式化的語言，亨利四世則堅持使用契約經濟的語言修辭。在一段轉化的歷史中，此二者的語言反映面對政治經濟衝突時，國王的管理是否有效率。我主張經濟危機使得理查統治下的政治動盪更形惡化;而亨利四世，作為理查的對照，則因其善用靈活的契約經濟語言修辭，化解政治危機，使他的政權得以鞏固。針對在審判場景及國王與部屬的社會關係所使用的語言加以比較，亦顯示亨利四世是比較有效率的領導者，因此，以文藝復興觀點而言，他也是較有價值的國王。

Shakespeare’s second tetralogy is generally regarded as the Bard’s study of power. Among the various sources of power, the ability to command the language of economic contractualism is depicted as a prominent form of power in this retelling of late fourteenth century and early fifteenth century English history. In Richard II and 1 Henry IV, the value of Richard and Henry IV is strongly related to their in/ability to confront the tension between political power and economic interests. The language employed by Richard II, who relies on his largesse and ceremonial language, and Henry IV, who insists on economic contractual language, during such political and economic crises reflects the effectiveness in the monarch’s stewardship during the period of historic transition. I argue that the political instability under Richard’s reign is further exacerbated by his economic crisis; the economically astute Henry IV, constructed as Richard’s foil, however, avoids his political crisis with the dexterity of the language of economic contractualism and secures his throne. A comparison of the two kings’ language in the trial scenes and their social relationships with their subjects also shows Henry IV the more effective steward, and thus the more worthy king from the Renaissance perspective.

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