The Character of King Richard II in William Shakespeare's Play

The Character of King Richard II in William Shakespeare's Play

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 rather negative light, in the middle

section of the play, as he shows Richards refusal to accept the advice

from many of his loyal men which Richard sees as “bitter medicine” and

instead favours his flatterers. He loses many loyal men in doing so

and shows favour to his flatterers who ultima...

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...gbroke, who contrasts Richard by acting the opposite of Richard,

he listens to his advisors, helps put his the English people on the

monarch’s side, he doesn’t waste time with flatterers and only listens

to those who have England’s best interests at heart. The play is

controversial to the Elizabethan audience that would have seen this as

it point out similarities between King Richard II and Queen

Elizabeth’s reign, their inclination towards heavy taxation, their

lack of an heir and the indulgence of their favourites.

In my opinion, King Richard II is an excellent play as it point’s out

that not every monarch is perfect, it has the historical background of

Richard interwoven into Shakespeare’s writing which helps to make a

rather dull topic, a king’s time on the throne, rather more exciting

and enjoyable for the reader.