Shakespeare: Richard II

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King Richard and Bolingbroke are without doubt the two most central and influential figures in Richard II. It can also be said that to a certain extent that when a degree of hostility is felt towards one character a degree of sympathy is felt towards the other character.


Richard is the focus of Act One. He has the opening lines, which immediately establish him as a central figure. He is faced with a problem as soon as the play opens and he commands the two gentlemen, Mowbray and Bolingbroke, to stand before him and this indicates his power and significance;


‘Then call them to our presence.’


He pleads with Bolingbroke not to carry on with the feud, but Bolingbroke fails to listen to him. This marks Richard as a weak King, which he even recognises himself yet he does not do anything about it;


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‘We were not born to sue, but to command,


Which since we cannot do to make you friends.’


It seems that Richard is all talk and no action, which can be seen throughout the play, and so the audience has little sympathy for him.


Act One Scene Two makes us more aware of the private side of Richard. He appears to be very scheming and evil and this creates much hostility towards him. Gaunt explicitly states that he knows Richard murdered Gloucester and this results in audience hostility towards him;


‘… lieth in those hands


Which made the fault that we cannot correct.’


He also seems quite pathetic, as there is an implicit indication that Richard may have killed Gloucester due to jealousy;


‘By envy’s hand and murder’s bloody axe.’


Act One Scene Three portrays Richard as a very inadequate and perhaps an unfair King. The audience is asked to question Richard’s ability to rule as King. He stops the joust after all the formal proceedings, which creates much dramatic effect. He claims to only be banishing Bolingbroke and Mowbray because he does not want to risk a civil war, but it can also be assumed he has a hidden motive. He is worried about Bolingbroke’s ambition and he is also worried that Mowbray will reveal that he has carried out the murder of Gloucester for him. This makes the audience even more hostile towards him


Act One Scene Four makes the audience increasingly unsympathetic towards Richard. . We see the private face of Richard in a much flattering light as we can see what his private motives are. He is focusing on how to make money for his ‘Irish Wars’. He plans to take John of Gaunt’s land when he dies, which should really be inherited to Bolingbroke. He says that he hopes his uncle will die all the quicker so he can acquire his wealth. This increases hostility towards him.


‘Now put it, God in the physician’s mind


To help him to his grave immediately.


The lining of his coffers shall make coats


To deck our soldiers for these Irish wars.’


There is also a threat implicity when Richard says he is unlikely to see Bolingbroke again. It can be thought that Richard may have him murdered.


He is our cousin but ‘tis doubt,


When time shall call him home from banishment.’


We are also made aware of Richard’s aristocratic arrogance. He appears to notice the love the common people have for Bolingbroke but not for him. He objects to Bolingbroke’s highborn manner and he feels quite threatened. This intensifies the audience’s criticism towards him.


Act Two also shows a deeper insight into the character of Richard. Again we can see his evil and malevolent side to Richard. He visits gaunt on his deathbed and even when his uncle is dying he has little respect for him. There is a quick fire hostile dialogue between the two of them, which emphasises Richard’s wicked qualities. Gaunt’s advice to Richard make us feel all the more sympathetic for the King. Gaunt implies that Richard is guilty of misgovernment of his kingdom. He tells Richard that he has betrayed his royal inheritance by planning to take Bolingbroke’s inheritance


We have an extremely callous response from Richard when his uncle dies.


‘The ripest fruit falls first,


And so doth he.’


He is dismissive of his uncle’s death and his complete change of subject emphasises his total lack of concern and respect.


‘Now for our Irish wars’





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