Fight for Rule

Fight for Rule
So far…
In the beginning of the play, Richard has sent away two noblemen, Bolingbroke and Mowbray, from England; Bolingbroke for ten years and then reduced to six, and Mowbray for life. They were accusing each other of treason and Mowbray was being accused of killing the Duke of Gloucester. Usually Shakespeare shows a great deal of betrayal in his stories so I automatically assume that somehow, he is involved, just like the Duke in Measure for Measure was in a great deal of the on goings and betrayals.

What if Richard sent them away to save himself? It is possible that Richard had something to do with the Duke’s death, such as ordering Mowbray to murder him. Sending him away for such an act would keep Richard’s reputation sealed and would have the city think Mowbray is a traitor. Throughout the rest of Act 1 scene 3, there is another issue that Bolingbroke may have had the ability to overthrow Richard and that would have been a threat. Sending Bolingbroke away would stop this from happening. Even though he reduced the banishment, Bolingbroke is old and probably would not have survived six more years. Also, Richard told the assembled men "Observed his courtship to the common people, / How he did seem to dive into their hearts" (1.4.23-24). This meant that Bolingbroke was admired by the townspeople and was becoming “dangerous.” Was this Richard’s way of saying he was dangerous as in taking over?

So far, we see that the throne is a main issue. Richard sees the possibility of Bolingbroke taking his place because the townspeople will elect him with majority ruling. Richard wants to keep his position and the other two noblemen may not have even thought about the possibilities that they could over throw him. There is a sense of foreshadowing as well "We will descend and fold him in our arms" (1.3.54). After Richard establishes this, we find that Richard actually does come down from his throne and Bolingbroke gets it anyway.