"How far do you agree that we are moved to sympathy, even to admiration, by Richard's journey to awareness?"

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“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.

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        “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 times that Richard’s journey moves me to sympathy. I is clear that Richard’s character is one whom audiences are forced to feel strong ambivalence about, which also reflects Richard’s ever-changing moods. It seems to me that Richard is at his most vulnerable when he is alone ...

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