In the plays devoted to Henry IV and V, Shakespeare tries to delineate exactly what comprises the character of a good Christian King. We see this most in the embodiment of Prince Hal, who is equally at home from King to commoner. However, before Henry IV comes to the throne, Richard II is portrayed in The Life and Death of King Richard II. The War of the Roses, the battle for power between the houses of Lancaster (Henry) and York (Richard II and III) begins with the death of Richard II by Henry IV, the former Henry Bolingbroke. It will end when Richard III is defeated some thirty years later and Henry VII comes to power. In all of the historical plays of kingship Shakespeare is trying to demonstrate what qualities constitute a good Christian king. In Richard II and Richard III, despite the contrasting portrayals of the two Richards, we see that neither does in Shakespeare’s portrayals. While Richard II is portrayed more sympathetically than the crafty, hunch-backed Richard III, whose physical deformity mirrors his deformed mentality, both are portrayed as selfish kings who rule more for personal gain and power than because either cares about the commonwealth of the people whom they rule.
In Richard II, we see a Richard at the opening of the play who banishes both Henry Bolingbroke and Thomas Mowbray. When Henry’s father, John of Gaunt, (Richard’s uncle) dies, Richard steals Henry’s inheritance so he can help pay for the war in Ireland. Once he travels to Ireland, Henry invades England and has Richard imprisoned upon his return. Once Henry IV is crowned, Richard is executed in prison by Sir Pierce of Exton. Henry acts as if the deed is horrific and plans a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in order to do penance. However, Richard II is portrayed in the play as a man who cared nothing for the people of England, only his personal gain and power. We see this initially when in Act I, Scene IV, where Richard is portrayed a...