Richard II in William Shakespeare's Play
This is an excerpt from the paper...
Richard II in William Shakespeare's play Richard II is a ruler who is not suited to the role fate has created for him. In the passage in question (IV.1.273-290), Richard is literally face to face with his own failure as he is about to abdicate to Bolingbroke, an act that will have repercussions throughout history. Richard's intemperance as a rule has endangered the kingdom, and this intemperance is Richard's fatal flaw, the flaw that leads him to take actions that go against the accepted social order and the order of succession. He endangers his own throne, which he has acquired by succession, when he exiles Bolingbroke and refuses to allow the latter to inherit from John of Gaunt as he is supposed to do. Richard is a historical character, but Shakespeare shapes the story to emphasize the flaw in Richard's character and the way this flaw leads to his downfall as a tragic hero. Richard has a potential as ruler of England that he will never fulfill because of his flaw. Richard's intemperance is shown early in the play when he first allows a duel between Bolingbroke and Mowbray and then cancels it and banishes both. His refusal to follow the rules of succession is a foolish act that again shows he does not consider the consequences of his actions and is too given to exercising the prerogatives of his office without exercising discretion. This flaw leads to his destruction, first the losing of his throne and second his death. The ascension of Bolingbroke restores the n
. . .
does not have the temperament to be a ruler and is always changing his mind and acting out of temperament rather than reason. Yet, here again his actions are not so much by choice as they are the result of character traits he cannot control. Richard seems to be a man in the grip of his impulses and unable to control himself as he should. He suffers greatly for this, as does his kingdom.
Richard also lacks the necessary leadership ability of being able to judge character, and indeed he is a very poor judge of character, including his own. He gives Bolingbroke the excuse the other man needs to challenge his leadership. He foolishly places his uncle, York, in charge when he goes to Ireland. He seems to have few supporters among his retinue, and many in the court switch allegiance to Bolingbroke at the first opportunity. Richard also does not seem to comprehend his own failures.
In the passage in Act Four, he is brought literally face to face with himself in the glass. He has just stated that he will read all his sins in the book, and now he comes face to face with himself in the glass and can read his sins directly. The word "face" is repeated in these 13 lines some 9 times. What Richard sees in his face is grief at the
. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
Killing Richard, IV Scene, Duke Lancaster, Gaunt York, IV1273-290 Richard, Richard II, Bolingbroke Mowbray, John Gaunt, York Richard, Thomas Mowbray, flaw leads, rules succession, richard ii, own failure, inherit john gaunt, inability understand, literally face, understand true, true nature, read sins, changing mind, understand true nature, inability understand true,
Approximate Word count = 1651
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)
More Essays on Richard II in William Shakespeare Play
|