The Lion In Winter Literary Analysis

Throughout The Lion in Winter, Goldman expresses the theme that deceit destroys relationships for the sake of pride and selfishness. Through his characters, Goldman creates an atmosphere of conflicting egos and a struggle for power that seems too large to be contained within the palace at Chinon. As the members of the royal family each vie for who they think best sits on England’s throne, the clashes between the characters’ arrogance and their presumed privileges begins a game of deceit, where characters will do anything, even against their own blood, to determine who will be the next king. Married to Henry for thirty-one years, Eleanor of Aquitaine grew accustomed to her husband’s ways, not only in his romantic affairs but also in his deceptive maneuvers. In a vengeful

However, when the conflict over his successor was on the brink of war, Henry saw that none of his three sons would be ably strong to keep his empire united. He then reverted to an annulment in order to have a new wife, and thus, a new heir. Therefore, Henry directed his deceptive actions towards his mistress and King Philip’s sister, Alais. When persuading her to join him in coming to Rome, Henry stated, “Alais, will you marry me? . . . We’ll love each other and you’ll give me sons” (87). Henry’s desire for a new heir is evident, and he deserts his own blood in order to satisfy this want. With the selfish desire to keep England united, he deceives the love-struck and astounded Alais by first mentioning the beauty of love in their potential marriage. By playing with her emotions, Henry had utilized his trickery to veil his ulterior motives under the notion of love. Rather than solidify their relationship through matrimony, Henry’s selfish want caused him to play the game of deceit against his family as well as his own partner Alais, the only one who stayed faithfully on his side amidst the drama’s tangle of