Man versus Kingdom: The King's Speech

1525 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The King's speech essay

In our everyday struggles as we stammer along in life, we encounter from the day we are born,reflections, struggles, decisions, in regards to ourselves, our family and close friends we come into contact with and lastly society. We all have our own unique abilities in relation to strengths, weaknesses, anxieties, confidence, and what we can and are willing to do to overcome adversity. We all seek praise and recognition in our journey through life. Tom Hooper's historical film adaptation, The King's Speech exemplifies these traits we all have in common as entities of the human race. Examples of these key conflicts, self, family and society are beautifully illustrated by the three main characters, main protagonist, King George VI, played by Colin Firth, Queen Mother, played exquisitely by Helen Bonham Carter and Lionel Logue, played to perfection by Geoffrey Rush. I encourage you to take a moment in time from your day to walk in the shoes of King George and experience the immense pressures that he experiences in relation to a speech impediment that haunts him from early childhood, to his rise to the top of the English Aristocracy in the modern twentieth century.
Hooper’s historical production of King George the VI unexpected rise to the throne, who ruled from 1937 to 1952, is set in the late 1920's to late 1930's, on the cusp of World War Two with Nazi Germany as the back drop. Most of the dialogue and action sequences take place on set, with the relationship between King George and Bertie ( Lionel Logue ), a speech therapist from Australia and his agonizing but eloquent treatment of the future king's speech impediment
J.Vasquez 2 that he has endured since a child taking center stage. Hooper's screenplay is based on the book, Kin...

... middle of paper ...

...ut, through that, his whole life, and outlook on life. I shall always be deeply grateful to you for all you did for him"' (Bowen, C. PHD,CPSD (2011, February 15). Lionel Logue: A Pioneer in Speech-Language Pathology. The ASHA Leader).
Lionel Logue, King George, and the Queen Mother exemplify that a lifetime of ridicule, torment and lack of support from early childhood of Bertie, can be overcome. Endless trust and conviction of a man and a woman to reach into our hearts and plant the seeds of confidence that was always their, but remained hidden. The ability to take the human spirit and spit in the face of past fears and insecurities. The King's Speech, shows the bonds that bind the human spirit will allow us to rise to fulfill the needs deep within ourselves, our family and friends and in the case of Bertie, the needs of his country, God save the spirit of Humanity.

Show More
Related

  • The Code of Chivalry in The Once and Future King

    1147 Words  | 3 Pages

    T.H. White's novel The Once and Future King presents a code of chivalry that outlines the expected knightly behavior of the time. This particular code stresses loyalty to one's liege, love and respect toward women, and absolute devotion to justice. At the height of Arthur's kingdom, this code was widely accepted by all. However, as Arthur's kingdom begins to decline, the code of chivalry begins to hold less importance among the people. The fall of Arthur's kingdom is directly related to the absence of the code of chivalry in the behavior of the Knights of the Round Table. Sir Lancelot betrays Arthur when he has an adulteress affair with Guenever. Sir Lancelot also disrespects women when he leaves Elaine to be with Guenever in Camelot. King Arthur himself is disloyal to justice when he allows Guenever to be rescued by Lancelot.

    Read More

  • All The Kings Men: Man As A Slave To Knowledge

    1328 Words  | 3 Pages

    though in the end, he is overcome by the forces of knowledge. Willie did not

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King Jr.'s Impasse Speech Analysis

    1052 Words  | 3 Pages

    Martin Luther King Jr.’s Impasse in Race Relations is a speech that confronts the audience of the past, present, and future aspects of race relations. The speech addressed by King refers to an impasse as a situation in which there is no escapes or progresses. In the speech, King reveals the different feelings and reasoning’s as to what Negroes have experienced and dealt with. He also shares and interprets various violent and non-violent approaches to racial problems. In this essay, I will present my thoughts and opinions based on King’s ideas introduced in his speech.

    Read More

  • Virgin Queen Elizabeth 1

    685 Words  | 2 Pages

    Queen Elizabeth was an intelligent, courageous person. She could be described as the ideal queen of all times. Her bravery is one of the most admired traits which caused everyone in England to love her, based on her grand encounters. It was quite a popular detail of Elizabeth’s life th...

    Read More

  • Kenneth Branagh's "Much Ado About Nothing"

    1584 Words  | 4 Pages

    Kenneth Branagh creates his own individualistic adaptation of this classic through the use of visual imagery, characterization, and setting. Branagh cut many lines and speeches from the text to better support his interpretation of a more open and informal society of warm-hearted, affectionate characters. Though Shakespeare's mood is more formal, Branagh remains true to the essence of the play as all of the same characters and most of the dialogue are justly included in the film. Although distinct differences can be made between Branagh’s film and Shakespeare’s written work, they both share a common denominator of good old-fashioned entertainment; and in the world of theater, nothing else really matters.

    Read More

  • Henry the Fifth

    717 Words  | 2 Pages

    Charisma is a trait many great leaders possess because it is what allows them to lead nations and bond with citizens. Henry, in WIlliam Shakespeare's “Henry V,” exudes charisma. Henry has numerous archetypical subsets of his own personality, and using situational awareness Henry exposes these sides of himself. Henry’s three major facets, his personableness, facetiousness, and leadership, show that he is a multi-dimensional figure in the story. Henry does not act just as one man, but manipulates his own personality, showing specific character types that he formulates to best suit his situations.

    Read More

  • King’s Letter Considered a Classic Argument

    1268 Words  | 3 Pages

    After being jailed in the Birmingham city jail, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister who preached nonviolence, wrote this response to a published statement by eight fellow clergymen from Alabama. This letter was not only composed under somewhat constricting circumstances but was written in a way that can be analyzed to be considered as a classic argument. Not only does it contain the five elements needed in a rhetorical situation, but the letter includes the six parts of an argument, the five types of claims, and even the three types of proofs. Dr. King’s letter fully satisfies all requirements needed in order to be considered a classic argument.

    Read More

  • Elizabeth

    3060 Words  | 7 Pages

    The movie is beautifully made, with eloquent and realistic costumes, and prominent actors, and it successfully turns an important historical period into a riveting drama filled with action and romance. However, looking at “Elizabeth” from a historical standpoint, it is lacking in terms of accuracy. The chronological events in the movie do not follow with the historical events, and instances that happened over many years are crammed into a short period of time. Also, many events are exaggerated, or even completely made up in order to add to the dramatic appeal of the movie. Despite these flaws, “Elizabeth” does correctly relate the main aspects of Queen Elizabeth I’s rule.

    Read More

  • The Struggle of Power

    1326 Words  | 3 Pages

    Who holds the power? Which religion is stronger? In Bless Me Ultima, a coming of age story of a young boy, the protagonist struggles with the issue of which God should be followed, worshiped, and reverenced. The theme of power in religion is portrayed throughout Anaya’s book in various ways and means such as Ultima, Mrs. Marez, the sign of the cross, and Antonio himself.

    Read More

  • Shakespeare's Henry V

    579 Words  | 2 Pages

    Henry V by William Shakespeare is a play showing King Henry V of England and his goal of obtaining the French crown for himself. After the English learned of their severe disadvantage and their small chance of getting back to home safely, Henry V’s true leadership abilities were seen. Henry’s ability to make the smart, but less courageous decision; his ability to step down from his position as king, and join his soldiers in the camp; and his ability to be ruthless and heartless towards those who were stopping him from reaching his goals all helped his army and him reach England safely even though they were facing numerous different problems. King Henry’s admirable and intelligent leadership ability is what makes him a great king, and allowed him to save the English troops from their almost certain demise against the French.

    Read More

  • Henry V by William Shakespeare

    1379 Words  | 3 Pages

    King Henry was once young and seemingly uninterested in his role as a future King of England. Many of Henry’s legendary and heroic traits did not originate in Henry V; instead, they appeared in previous Shakespearean plays including Henry IV. As the British heir apparent, young Henry was known as “Prince Hal, Henry, Harry, Prince Harry, Harry Monmouth, and the Prince of Wales” (Britannica). In Henry V, King Henry is this play’s main protagonist. Shakespeare’s audience briefly witnesses the gradual transformation of Henry from a youthful hell-raiser and playboy to a dignified King. Henry’s immature reputation is described by the Bishop of Canterbury when he says that “a heady currance scour[s] his faults” (I.i.36). In Henry IV, the audience is first introduced to Prince Hal, at his apartment in London and a cheap tavern called the Boar’s Head in Eastcheap, where the future King mingled and formed networks with drinking buddies. There he pla...

    Read More

  • The Case Against Monarchy

    1620 Words  | 4 Pages

    The idea that a monarchy is the ideal form of government is a fallacy. Al-Farabi and Aquinas’ ideas about government are wrong, and are filled with irreparable holes. In modern times, the idea of a monarchy has become counter-intuitive and counter-productive. A democratic republic paired with an educated and empowered middle-class is the solution to the quandary of how to create the perfect government. While the ideas of the Arabic philosophers are interesting, there ideas on the perfection of monocratic rule are outdated by both new technology and new ideas

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Devices Used in Queen Elizabeth's Speech

    779 Words  | 2 Pages

    Queen Elizabeth masterfully used imagery in her speech to boost the soldier’s morale and gain loyalty and respect as a woman leader. In the beginning of the speech, Queen Elizabeth said, “Let tyrants fear, I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects”. The queen’s intent was to paint her as a trusting and respectful leader an...

    Read More

  • The Effects of Targeting the Audience in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet

    1308 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this speech, Shakespeare targeted his Elizabethan audience through allusions to the Great Chain of Being, which governed their society, with the intent of influencing the themes that his audience interpreted. Targeting the audience with that aspect of their lives had the effect of developing Hamlet’s underlying themes: the frailty of man, appearance versus reality, and the uncertainty of death.

    Read More

  • Ethos, And Logos In Abraham Lincoln's The First Inaugural Address

    661 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... He showed his people in his speech that he was a strong leader and had the mindset to overcome a war. Not only did he appeal to ethos, but also he connected to his people emotionally through pathos. The King asked them to stand firm and unite in this time of trial. The King did not demand them to do this, rather asked this of them. By using this formal approach to reach out to the nation, he showed that he cared about them on a respective level. The King did not talk down to the nation when giving this speech. He made this speech as formal as possible because this speech was given one day before the outbreak of World War II and he wanted to show the nation he cared and they could overcome this time of terror. Through using these rhetorical devices, The King empowered the nation and reminded his citizens of their strength and abilities to overcome adversity in life.

    Read More

More about Man versus Kingdom: The King's Speech

Open Document