The Tragedy of King Richard II

Theatre 250/376 Seminar Fall 2008

Play Overview

This is the first play of the second tetrology (The Henriad) dealing with the years between 1398 and 1485. The Henriad continues with Henry IV (parts 1 and 2) and Henry V.

Fiona Shaw, Royal National Theatre 1995

Date Written: The play was probably written no earlier than 1595.

First mentioned or performed: On February 7, 1601, the day before Essex led his failed Gunpowder Rebellion against Elizabeth, his fellow conspirators commissioned a special performance of the play in the hope of arousing popular support.

Published: The play first appeared in print in 1597 (Q1), possibly from Shakespeare's own manuscript. In the first and the two succeeding editions (Q2 and Q3), all of which were printed during Elizabeth's life, the episode (IV,1,145-308) in which Richard yields the crown was omitted. Q4 (probably a memorial version) appeared in 1608 and Q5 in 1615. The folio version in 1623 was taken from Q3 and Q5.

Sources: The principal source of information about Richard III available to Shakespeare was Sir Thomas More's
History of King Richard III in Raphael Holingshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1587);The Union of the Two Noble and Illustre Families of Lancastre and York by Edward Hall (1550); Sir Jean Froissart's The Cronycles of England (1523-25); A Mirror for Magistrates (1554-87); Samuel Daniel's The First Four Books of the Civil Wars Between the Two Houses of Lancaster and York (1595); and Woodstock (1592-93), a play.

Setting: Late 14th century England.

Ian McKellan, 1969

Characters:

KING RICHARD, the Second.
JOHN OF GAUNT, Duke of Lancaster, uncle to the King
EDMUND OF LANGLEY, Duke of York, uncle to the King
BOLLINGBROKE (HENRY) Duke of Hereford, son to John of Gaunt; afterwards King Henry IV.
DUKE OF AUMERLE, son to the Duke of York.
THOMAS MOWBRAY, Duke of Norfolk
DUKE OF SURREY, friend of Aumerle
EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND, follower of Bollingbroke's party
HENRY PERCY, surnamed HOTSPUR, his son
LORD FITZWATER, opponent of Aumerle
LORD ROSS, member of Bollingbroke's party
LORD WILLOUGHBY, member of Bollingbroke's party
EARL OF SALISBURY, member of Richard II's party
BISHOP OF CARLISLE, member of Richard II's party
Abbot Of Westminster, member of Richard II's party
SIR STEPHEN SCROOP, member of Richard II's party
LORD BERKELEY
BUSHY, servant to King Richard
BAGOT, servant to King Richard
GREEN, servant to King Richard
SIR PIERCE OF EXTON, murderer of Richard
QUEEN to King Richard
DUCHESS OF YORK, mother of Aumerle
DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER, aunt of Richard
LORD MARSHAL
Captain of a band of Welshmen.
Lady attending on the Queen
Lords, Heralds, Officers, Soldiers, two Gardeners, Keeper, Messenger, Groom, and other Attendants

Derek Jacobi , 1988

Synopsis:

Act I:
It is 1398 in England. Richard II and Henry Bollingbroke, son of John of Gaunt, and Duke of Hereford, are both grandsons of King Edward III and there is no logical successor to Richard. The somewhat vain and self-involved Richard rules England by divine right. England is bankrupt and close to civil war. Thomas, Duke of Gloucester, one of Richard’s powerful uncles, has been murdered. Richard is unconcerned that the wife of Gloucester accuses him of having had her husband killed. She begs her brother-in-law, John of Gaunt to challenge Richard on this matter, but he refuses to do so, claiming that only God can avenge a wrong committed by a king.

At Windsor, Bollingbroke accuses Thomas Mowbray, the Duke of Norfolk, in the presence of Richard II, of plotting treason, the murder of Gloucester, and of embezzling money intended for his troops. Norfolk protests his innocence and accepts the challenge thrown down by Bollingbroke. When Bollingbroke and Norfolk are about to fight at Coventry, the king cancels the combat and banishes both rivals, Bollingbroke for six years and Norfolk for life. Mowbray predicts that Bollingbroke will retaliate and eventually defeat Richard. Richard is concerned about the people's affection for Bollingbroke.

Richard is informed of the serious illness of his uncle, John of Gaunt. He hurries to him hoping for his speedy death so that he can apply his estate to the cost of his campaign to end the rebellion in Ireland.

Act II:
One his deathbed, John of Gaunt, bitter about the loss of his son, reproaches Richard for his destructive irresponsibility in mismanaging England. Upon his death, Richard orders the confiscation of his estate. This shocks and saddens The Duke of York, Richard's uncle, Edmund of Langley, who believes that Bollingbroke is his father's only rightful heir.

While Richard is in Ireland, York rules as Regent in England. York is overwhelmed when he learns of the death of the Duchess of Gloucester.

Bollingbroke lands an armed force on the English coast. A good number of nobles including Northumberland, Berkeley, Ross and Willoughby join him. According to Harry Percy (Hotspur, Northumberland's son), Worcester also supports Bollingbroke. They are united in their belief that Richard has wasted England's fortune, overtaxed the commoners, and has unfairly fined the nobility for the crimes of their ancestors.

When York demands an explanation, Henry says that he has come to claim his inheritance. York cannot deny Bollingbroke's claim and chooses to remain neutral, though he condemns the way in which Bollingbroke pursues his goals.

The Welsh forces waiting for Richard presume him dead and disband.

Act III:
Bollingbroke condemns Sir John Bushy, Sir Henry Green and the Earl of Wiltshire, havingBushy and Green executed for giving bad advice to the King.

Richard returns to England and hears of Bollingbroke's invasion. The Duke of Aumerle helps Richard II defend the crown, believing that Heaven will support him, since Richard II is the rightful King of England. Learning news of the defection of the Welsh, the popular unrest and the executions of Bushy and Green, he depicts himself as a tragic victim of Fortune that has turned against a rightful sovereign. He realizes that his strength is seriously depleted and he meets with Bollingbroke. Henry says that all he demands is the return of his estates and the repeal of the sentence of banishment. Richard, though aware of the popularity and ambitions of Henry to usurp the throne, is forced to agree to his demands and accompanies him to London.

The Queen walks sadly in her garden and learns of her husband's misfortunes when she overhears a conversation between a gardener and two serving men wherein they compare England to an untended garden.

Act IV:
In London, Bagot, supported by Fitzwater, accuses Aumerle of complicity in Gloucester's death. Bollingbroke says he will recall Mowbray and restore his lands, but the Bishop of Carlisle announces that Mowbray has died in exile.

Bollingbroke confronts the king with many charges. Through Northumberland, he forces Richard to make a public voluntary abdication of his throne, adopting Bollingbroke as his heir. Though he relinquishes his crown, he refuses to read a list of alleged crimes. He calls for a mirror which he breaks after bitterly examining his face. He is then imprisoned in the Tower.

Bishop Carlisle predicts discord and violence and arrested for treason. Carlisle, Aumerle and the Abbot of Westminster plan for overthrowing Bollingbroke.

Act V:
King Henry has Richard transferred to Pomfret Castle. Richard bids farewell to his queen who is banished to France by Henry. Richard foresees a time when Northumberland and Bollingbroke will be in conflict with each other.

The Duke of York learns of a plot by his son and others to unseat Henry and he demands their punishment for treason. Aumerle is pardoned by Henry as a result of the pleas of his mother, the Duchess of York.

Exton understands that Henry would be relieved were Richard dead. Richard, alone in prison, contemplates his failures and his sorrows. Exton visits Richard and then kills him after a struggle.

Henry has Salisbury, Lord Spencer, Sir Thomas Blunt and the Earl of Kent executed for treason. Sir Leonard Brocas and Sir Bennet Seely are also executed for plotting with Aumerle. The Abbot of Westminster has killed himself and the Bishop of Carlisle is banished. Learning of Richard's murder when Exton brings Richard's coffin to the court, Henry denounces it and vows to do penance by traveling to the Holy Land.

Kevin Spacey as Richrd II, The Old Vic 2005

Themes and Motifs:

Role and responsibilities of the King
Legitimacy and the right of succession
World view of Renaissance (Christian, Humanist, and Machiavellian)
Appearances vs. reality
Honor
Time and the nature of change
Acceptance of destiny
Artistic vs. utilitarian temperments
Disease
Gardening
Flattery
Judgment
Sun

Miscellaneous:

The 2,803 lines are written entirely in verse, 20% of which is rhymed
Queen Elizabeth I identified with the character of Richard II and despised the deposition scene.

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