In John of Gaunt’s dying speech in Shakespeare’s Richard II he appears to rhapsodise over the many qualities of England – ‘this other Eden’. ‘this earth of majesty’, ‘this precious stone’ and so on. While this may be taken at face value, more is being conveyed than simple praise for the country’s virtues.
Gaunt is alluding to the destruction of the old ways brought about by the Plantagenet wars. His description of ‘this sceptered isle’ is not only imagery of England as a jewel set in the sea. England’s kings wear sceptres and the land and its people are ‘sceptered’, that is, subject to the throne. Also, the reference to the country as ‘this seat of Mars [the god of war] and ‘this fortress’ suggest that the throne is a military prize, rules by the strongest, not necessarily the best.