They love not poison that do poison need, Nor do I thee: though I did wish him dead, I hate the murderer, love him murdered. The guilt of conscience take thou for thy labour, But neither my good word nor princely favour: With Cain go wander through shades of night, And never show thy head by day nor light. Lords, I protest, my soul is full of woe, That blood should sprinkle me to make me grow: Come, mourn with me for that I do lament, And put on sullen black incontinent: I’ll make a voyage to the Holy Land, To wash this blood off from my guilty hand: March sadly after; grace my mournings here; In weeping after this untimely bier (Shakespeare, Act V. Scene VI).
The development of theme in William Shakespeare's Richard II reveals political controversy between the "divine" and "legal" right to rule.
William Shakespeare is recognized as one of literatures greatest influences and finest poets to write in the English language. Very little is known about Shakespeare's life and works comes from wills, marriages, court and other records. "Shakespeare was born in 1564 to John and Mary Arden. He married Anne Hathaway at age 18 in 1582, and had three children (Wadsworth 344). "Shortly after marriage Shakespeare left Stratford, to find his fame in the theatrical world.
Shakespeare wrote at least thirty seven plays in his lifetime. He produced most of his know work between 1589 and 1613. In 1609, his personal sonnets became published without his permission. Shakespeare is considered dramatist to ever live, Sadly he died on April 23rd 1616 and is buried at the Holy trinity church in Stratford England his tombstone reads : "Good friend, for Jesus' sake forbear to dig the dust enclosed here: blessed be the man that spares these stones and curst be he that moves my bones (Absoluteshakespeare Int)."The majority or William Shakespeare's plays were published seven years after his death in collection of work called the first folio.
Shakespeare's primary source for Richard II, was Raphael Holinshed's: Chronicles of England Scotland And Ireland. Holinshed published his chronicles in 1577, the second edition, in 1587. The second editions the source of which Shakespeare was influence to write Richard II. "Many of the embellishments Shakespeare makes to the information he found in Holinshed's: Chronicles are directed toward stressing and reaffirming Richards's status as a divinely- sanctioned king (Mabillard Int)." Shakespeare also drew on a number of other resources in writing his history plays.
Richard II is the first play in Shakespeare second "History Tetrology." The play was written around the fourteenth century. Shakespeare uses King Richard II and Henry Boling broke Duke of Herford (Cousins) to show political controversy in the beginning and all throughout the play. Richard banishes Henry his cousin from England for six years. While banished Henry's Father John of Gaunt dies, and Richard seizes everything that was rightfully left to Henry, land, and title.
Hearing of this Henry Bolingbroke returns and demands everything that is rightfully his. On Richards return from his war in Ireland, he comes home to find Henry and a force of nobles against him. Henry easily overthrew Richard causing Richard to not only look like a corrupt king but a weak one as well. Richard is the imprisoned by Henry in the castle of Pomfret. While imprisoned, Richard II is assassinated by a knight who mistook the new King Henry IV words. In the end Henry mourns for Richard and prays a prayer of forgiveness to God vowing to take a voyage to the Holy land in order to wash his hand of his sin.
King Richard II in the play is a stereotypical self centered king. He is said in the play to be one of the most handsome men of his time, and show himself through the play to be vain. "He spends much of his time spending money on close friends, and raising taxes to fund wars in Ireland and other place. Richard also becomes involved with fraud and greedy men (Sparknotes Int)." Richards's biggest flaw is his belief in his own divinity, and that God appointed him, so no man can go against him. He focuses more on material things and appearances rather than his responsibilities and those actions lead to him being deposed.
Henry Bolingbroke Duke of Herford is Richard's cousin and son of John of Gaunt (Richards's uncle). "He is favored among the Englishmen and commoners, making himself a target of potential threat to Richard II (Sparknotes Int)." Henry is banished by Richard for six years over a dispute between him and Thomas Mowbray who was also banished. Henry returns when his father dies to take back everything that is rightfully his. At this time in the play Henry gets a strong force of nobles against Richard, and Henry does so easily showing himself to be a very powerful and political man.
The main issue of the play Richard II is a focuses on kingship. Whether Richard, or Henry is the most effective leader. "The play shows and examines the conflict between the legal and dive right to rule. The "divine right" to rule is being ordained by God, and "critics agree that Richard II is the rightful king, being identified in the play as being of divine nature and ordained by God, but does not show himself to be an effective leader(Napierkowski Int)." Richards's stubborn belief that he has to do nothing for his nation and subjects but sit divinely on his throne ; he is committing the crime of gross negligence against his subjects (Mabillard Int)." What Richard is lacking is the ability to make political decisions or at least good political decisions that not only benefit him, but his subjects also. He is ordained and has the rightful authority and obligation to lead his subjects, but by him being weak and self absorbed, he cannot fulfill his duty."Critics continue to debate whether Richard is weak or evil, overthrown or deposed (Napierkowski Int)."
On the opposite end of the spectrum there is Richards's cousin Henry Bolingbroke, the "Legal right to rule" being supported by the people He is strong, successful and the more capable ruler. In the play Henry claims to have only come back to take back what was his rightfully. "Henry, who sees Richards's unpopularity, sees it would not be difficult for him to seize the crown . "Henry quickly wins the support from many power nobles and some of Richards followers leading up to the fall of Richard and the rise of Henry. Another issue of debate among critics is whether Bolingbroke motivations are political or personal (Napierkowski Int)."
Through the use of Theme William Shakespeare shows political controversy in Richard II. The main theme of the play is the controversy between the legal and divine right to rule. The political controversy of the removal of a corrupt but ordained by god king, to a king more capable and more supported by the people. Going against God for the better good of the commoner, when Richard II is killed even Henry is sad because he knew he was appointed of God thus him saying his prayer of forgiveness at the end.
