What’s it about? We have our main character/hero/antihero, King Richard. He is endearing in some ways, but foolish and makes some powerful enemies. When he goes a bit too far, events start to turn against him. He ends up being forced to hand over his crown, but that is not even the culmination of the tragedy.
What is it really about? Richard II follows the misfortunes of King Richard. We follow his downfall and watch as everything around him crumbles, even his sense of self.
No, really. What’s it ACTUALLY about? The play asks a lot of questions about leadership, divine right, and loyalty.
My thoughts:
First off, Richard II is one of my favorite plays. I’m not quite sure why. I mean, I think the writing/language is actually some of Shakespeare’s best – and that’s saying something. And there is something wonderfully endearing about Richard. As flawed as he is, I can’t help but love him as a character and feel heartbroken watching everything crumble around him.
In an election year, I think it’s kind of impossible to read this play without looking at the politics. Richard II is a perfect example of the concept that the personal is political – even more so when you’re talking about divine right and absolute monarchy.
Along those lines, part of how I think of this play is as an Machiavellian exploration of power. We know that Richard is not a very good king, and he makes many mistakes. Does that mean that Henry is justified at all in his actions to overthrow him? In plays like Macbeth and Richard III it is clear that our main characters are not heroes. In Richard II, I almost feel like we’re supposed to be a little unsure who we should be rooting for. (Of course when you have wonderful people like David Tennant and Ben Whishaw playing Richard, it makes the decision a little easier.)
I love this play for its beauty, its powerful lessons, and for the idea that every decision, even if it’s the right thing to do, is not without complexity.
Favorite moment:
One of my favorite moments in all of Shakespeare’s work that I have read so far:
“For God’s sake, let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of the death of kings; how some have been deposed; some slain in war, some haunted by the ghosts they have deposed; some poisoned by their wives: some sleeping killed; all murdered. For within the hollow crown that rounds the mortal temples of a king keeps Death his court and there the antic sits, scoffing his state and grinning at his pomp, allowing him a breath, a little scene, to monarchize, be feared and kill with looks, infusing him with self and vain conceit, as if this flesh which walls about our life, were brass impregnable, and humoured thus comes at the last and with a little pin bores through his castle wall, and farewell King!”
