Shakespeare: Richard II

William Shakespeare’s Richard II is a historical tragedy that explores themes of kingship, identity, power, and legitimacy. Set in late 14th-century England, the play opens with a dispute between two noblemen: Henry Bolingbroke, son of John of Gaunt, and Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk. Both accuse each other of treason, and King Richard II, unable to resolve the matter diplomatically, calls for a trial by combat. However, he unexpectedly halts the duel and banishes both men—Bolingbroke for ten years (later reduced to six) and Mowbray for life.

Soon after, John of Gaunt dies, and Richard seizes his estate to fund a military campaign in Ireland. This act is seen as an abuse of royal power, alienating many nobles. Bolingbroke, outraged by the confiscation of his inheritance, secretly returns to England while Richard is in Ireland. With the support of disaffected nobles like the Duke of Northumberland, Bolingbroke quickly gathers momentum. Though he initially claims he only wants his rightful inheritance, his ambitions grow.

Richard returns from Ireland to find his support crumbling. Many of his allies have defected or been executed. His authority collapses, and he is eventually captured. In a powerful and poetic scene, Richard confronts his own identity and the nature of kingship, reflecting on how fragile the divine right of kings truly is when unsupported by loyalty and force.

Bolingbroke forces Richard to abdicate the throne. Parliament endorses the transfer of power, and Bolingbroke is crowned King Henry IV. Richard, now a prisoner, is sent to Pomfret Castle. In the final act, he is murdered by Sir Exton, who believes he is acting on Henry’s unspoken wishes. The new king is wracked with guilt over Richard’s death and vows to make a pilgrimage to cleanse his conscience.

The play marks the beginning of Shakespeare’s Henriad—the four plays that chart the rise of the House of Lancaster. Richard II is unique among Shakespeare’s history plays for being written entirely in verse, with a lyrical and reflective tone. It offers a complex portrait of a flawed but poetic king undone by misjudgment and political inexperience, and it raises enduring questions about the nature of legitimate rule, the responsibilities of leadership, and the human cost of political ambition.