RICHARD II KEY LITERARY ELEMENTS SETTING Richard II is located in various parts of England and Wales.
RICHARD II KEY LITERARY ELEMENTS SETTING Richard II is located in various parts of England and Wales. The tournament scene (Act I, Scene 2) is at Coventry, in the Midlands. Bolingbroke, although coming from Brittany, in France, lands on the north coast of England and undertakes the tediously long march southwest through the Cotswolds to Berkeley and on to Bristol. Richard returns from Ireland and lands at Barkloughly. He moves in a northwesterly direction towards Flint Castle, where he encounters Bolingbroke. The climactic scene takes place in Parliament in London. Then Richard is sent to the prison of Pomfret Castle, which is in Yorkshire. CHARACTERS Major Characters King Richard - Richard, the play's protagonist, is a poetic and intensely charming man, but a fatally weak monarch. His unshakable faith in his own quasi-divinity constitutes his tragic flaw, as does his bad judgment. He enjoys the role of performer, and after he is deposed, he casts himself as a martyr. Henry Bolingbroke - Bolingbroke is the Duke of Hereford and the son of John of Gaunt. After the latter's death, he becomes the Duke of Lancaster. Bolingbroke is a practical and ambitious man who replaces Richard on the throne. At the beginning of the play, Bolingbroke believes in the divinity of kings and in the need to obey them, regardless of their cruelty. He
Write about the dramatic methods used by Shakespeare to portray the character of Queen Isabel.
Write about the dramatic methods used by Shakespeare to portray the character of Queen Isabel. Shakespeare uses dramatic methods in portraying the character of Queen Isabel to effectively express the particular importance of the character of the Queen in this play. Shakespeare imbues the character of the Queen with several qualities which are typical to her role. She is mainly portrayed as a figure of grief, along with such characters as the Duchess of York and the Duchess of Gloucester. Shakespeare creates Isabel as a choric figure, to add emotional colour to the plot. Isabel also serves Shakespeare as a dramatic device to evoke pathos from the audience for her husband Richard. In Isabel the audience are able to see Richard as a man, not just a fallen King. Through Isabel Shakespeare allows us to view Richard also as a husband and a lover, a more compassionate soul. Through this characterisation and Shakespeare's staging of certain key events we can appreciate Isabel's contribution the play. Though not a central figure, she compliments the character of Richard and expresses some important points about the conventional role of women. The passage in question occurs after Queen Isabel has overheard the news of Richard's abdication in Act 3 scene 4 and resolves " To meet at London London's king in woe", to hear the truth for herself, distressed at the news of her husband's
Explore Shakespeare's presentation of Kingship in Richard II
Maria Tennant Mr Marston English Coursework Explore Shakespeare's presentation of Kingship in Richard II Richard II is a play that centres on Kingship; Shakespeare presents vanity and flattery using rich language throughout the play to articulate the hazards a King must avoid to ensure their position as King is maintained. During the play we see the character of Richard presented as vain and tyrannical; as a man who is attempting to escape the responsibilities that Kingship brings such as succession and leadership. Written almost wholly in verse, Shakespeare contrasts Richard with his successor Bolingbroke to emphasize how care of the kingdom of England and good judgement is inextricably linked with being a successful King. From the onset, Shakespeare presents Richard as vain. In Act I of the first scene Richard's interruption of the duel suggests his egotism. The duel gives Richard the opportunity to make a dramatic and grand public gesture, asserting himself as King. As the brawl develops Richard calls Mowbray and Bolingbroke to "forgive, forget, conclude and be agreed". Shakespeare's use of verbs in the imperative makes this statement a command. It implies Richard has paid little attention to the reason behind the quarrel, and is instead more interested in people concentrating on his lavish words and public display. The repetition of the "o" sounds and alliteration
What do we learn of the motivations & characters of both Richard & Clarence in Act I, scenes III & IV ?
What do we learn of the motivations & characters of both Richard & Clarence in Act I, scenes III & IV ? We first start to unravel the complex web of deceit which Richard has woven over the eyes of the characters in the play in Act I, Scene III, Richard addresses the characters, onstage and offstage in an oblique and brash manner, "They do me wrong. and I will not endure it!", (line 44). Here Richard was referring to the people in court or general public slandering him and spreading rumour, however his description of them is non specific, rather than addressing the people of court by title, his answer is rather generic or anonymous, Richard also repeats this when Lord Rivers interrupts him to defend Queen Elizabeth, only addressing her as "She", thrice consecutively; we are well aware within Elizabethan Society that royalty was given the highest respect, and within the actual tradition of aristocracy, several strict social codes were enforced, Richard's opposition to these rules, shows great disrespect towards the Queen. Although such behaviour from Richard is not executed in a seemingly random fashion, Richard's confidence and dare to oppose these strict rules reinforces the belief that Richard is again executing an intricate plan, further onwards the pace of the script is rapid, and Richard fires off several rhetoric questions which are aimed at the Queen and people
How does Shakespeare portray the character of Richard?
Michael Warden How does Shakespeare portray the character of Richard? King Richard II Coursework Shakespeare wrote 'King Richard II' in the 16th/17th Century, about 200 years after Richard was on the throne. His initial intent was to point out key factors within the Elizabethan monarchy. Queen Elizabeth was compared to King Richard because of her lack of an heir, her inclination towards heavy taxes and the indulgence of her favourites. Elizabethan critics viewed the play as being politically dangerous towards Queen Elizabeth's monarchy. Richard is presented , by Shakespeare, as being a man who pays more attention to his appearance rather than the duties and responsibilities of a king. Shakespeare also shows two key sides to Richard's persona: Richard's more weak and sympathetic side (seen towards the end of the play after his deposition as king) and also his rather cruel-hearted, more selfish side (his taking of Gaunt's possessions after his death, the banishment of Bolingbroke and Mowbray etc...) There is major contrast between Richard and Bolingbroke. Shakespeare shows the power shift between the king and the soon-to-be king. Bolingbroke starts with pretty much nothing and works his way up to the throne, whereas Richard is on the throne from the age of ten and ultimately goes from having everything he could desire, to having nothing. Shakespeare portrays Richard in a
Power and Betrayal in Shakespears Power and Betrayal.
Christina Kimerle December 2, 2003 Power and Betrayal One must know how to use betrayal and power to achieve goals. Shakespeare's Harry Bolingbroke and Archbishop of Canterbury use their keen sense of betrayal and power to achieve many of their goals. While trying to return from banishment, Bolingbroke betrays Richard II, and Bolingbroke uses his power to gain support for his confrontation with Richard. Archbishop of Canterbury betrays Henry V into thinking that he has claims to invade France. He then uses the power of his position to gain the support of the people and the nobles while encouraging a war with France. Shakespeare's Richard II begins with a dispute between nobles Bolingbroke and Mowbray, and from the outcome Richard will be betrayed by Bolingbroke. King Richard banishes both Bolingbroke and Mowbray as the result of the dispute. Bolingbroke's father, John Gaunt, dies leaving his inheritance within Richard's sight. Warning Richard of the consequences of stealing Bolingbroke's inheritance, the Duke of York says, If you do wrongfully seize Hereford's rights, Call in the letters patents that he hath By his attorneys general to sue His livery, and deny his offered homage, You pluck a thousand dangers on your head, You lose a thousand well-disposed hearts (2.1, 202-207). Bolingbroke believes that he deserves the right to come home to claim his father's
The Tragedy of King Richard the second - In what ways do the speeches of the characters help you to understand the relationships between Richard, Bolingbroke and Mowbray in the play as a whole?
Melissa Cherry The Tragedy of King Richard the second In what ways do the speeches of the characters help you to understand the relationships between Richard, Bolingbroke and Mowbray in the play as a whole? In this scene Henry Bolingbroke and Thomas Mowbray are about to fight in the King's royal lists to settle a dispute that they had in the beginning of this act. We have learnt from previous scenes that the dispute they were having was over Bolingbroke's accusations to Mowbray. So now, they are both prepared to risk their lives in 'chivalrous design of knightly trial' to prove their honour and loyalty to the King. We learn very early in the play that they are stubborn and angry when Richard tells us that they are both 'high-stomach'd'. It's not surprising that Bolingbroke and Mowbray are 'foes' rather than friends. We know of the crimes that Mowbray is said to have committed and the crimes that he has definitely done, as Mowbray himself even confesses. Mowbray is accused of eighteen years of treason, steeling 'eight thousand nobles' and most serious of all, murdering the Duke of Gloucester. We know that Bolingbroke knows that it wasn't Mowbray who killed the Duke because it was commonly known that the King participated in the death of the Duke of Gloucester. But, it is 'The Divine Rights of Kings' that is holding Bolingbroke back from accusing the King. Though in
How is Richard II portrayed in Act I?
How is Richard Portrayed in Act I? In Act I of Richard II, Richard is portrayed as powerful, pompous and arrogant, all somewhat contrastingly to his portrayal towards the end of the play. We see even as early as Act I glimpses of Richard’s fatal flaws and the crucial mistakes he makes which determine his dramatic fall. The genre of the play is historic tragedy, so the audience know the main protagonist; in this case Richard; is doomed from the start. So, in Act 1 Shakespeare’s portrayal of him is not only purposeful for his fall, but also hugely ironic, making his descent to …… even more dramatic. Immediately in Act I, Richard’s power and authoritative presence is apparent. The setting in Windsor Castle is a very formal occasion, as Richard gives Bullingbrook and Mowbray a formal hearing. It is really overblown and grandeur setting for the opening scene and so even before any speech, Richard is perceived as being powerful and omnipotent. On stage Richard, is central and stationed upstage to observe the proceedings. When he descends from his raised platform (which was traditional) and walks downstage to stop the proceedings later in the scene, he travels quite a distance on stage, reinforcing his pivotal place on the stage and in the political picture. These proxemics physically symbolise how Richard was the most powerful, which is extremely ironic as at the end of
'Richard II' by William Shakespeare
'Richard II' by William Shakespeare During the course of the play, the audience is encouraged to feel different emotions for Richard and Bolingbroke. Their weaknesses are exposed, but Shakespeare also highlights areas where sympathy can be attached. In the first scene of the play, it becomes clear that Richard is out of his depth and has no idea of how he should be acting as king. During the confrontation between Mowbray and Bolingbroke surrounding Gloucester's death, Richard offers: "impartial are our eyes and ears.....Should nothing privilege him (Bolingbroke), nor partialize / The unstooping firmness of my upright soul." However, Richard is not impartial, as he reduces Bolingbroke's period of exile at the drop of a hat at Coventry, whilst Mowbray is banished for life. This shows Richard's general weakness in his position as king, supported by his cronies, desperate for his praise. At the duel Richard again shows his bias towards Bolingbroke. After halting the duel at the last possible moment, even after the charge had been sounded on trumpets, Richard hands out unconsidered, perhaps even random, terms of exile. Mowbray gets life, and Bolingbroke only ten years. Neither man has done any worse than each other, and Richard does not hazard an explanation for the length of the terms, or why Mowbray's is longer. This shows that he really doesn't know how to go about being
"How far do you agree that we are moved to sympathy, even to admiration, by Richard's journey to awareness?"
"How far do you agree that we are moved to sympathy, even to admiration, by Richard's journey to awareness?" Because King Richard is the eponymous character of this play, it is his emotional journey which readers follow in details. Through the play, numerous traits of his personality are clearly exposed, giving readers plenty of evidence on which to form opinions. In the opening scene of the play, Richard at first comes across as an authoritative ruler, with full control over the situation and an evident sense of fairness and justice. This gives readers scope to feel admiration for him, because he is apparently displaying vital qualities in a good monarch. However, it is not long before Richard slips up and allows his weakness to be exposed. After regally announcing, "We were not born to serve, but to command", he immediately falters and adds "Which since we cannot do..." This shows from the beginning that Richard is not a king capable of impressing us with authority and strength of mind, which I found to weaken the chance of me admiring him. "Richard II", as well as being a play about history, can also be seen as an exploration of psychological depth. Richard is a character who always makes his emotions known, through introspective, lyrical and highly metaphorical poetry. This allows us to trace his journey to awareness far more empathetically. Personally, I agree at