Colonialism, Politics, and Romanization in John Fletcher's Bonduca

The essay first explores the ways in which John Fletcher's Roman play Bonduca engages with early-seventeenth-century British colonial ambitions, particularly in relation to the Virginia colony. Secondly, the article focuses on the topical political allegory in the play. The leadership styles of the two Britons Caratach and Bonduca are read in terms of the colonial policies of James I and Elizabeth I. Fletcher's Britons and Romans are shown to serve multiple political functions as both groups are seen to represent aspects of contemporary British colonial concerns.