New Paltz Shakespeare

**This was supposed to be posted Feb 27th**

Richard II seems like every other Shakespeare’s play about a king or a man wanting power. In an effort to gain power he decides to send away two people, Mowbray and Bolingbroke. Richard makes a decision to banish both men. Mowbray is banished forever from England while Bolingbroke is banished for ten years. John of Gaunt is not happy to see his son banished because he knows that he will die and never see his son again. The king reduces Mowbray banishment to only six years. When they are sent away, Richard thinks he will be able to gain Bolingbroke’s land and get money for it. John of Gaunt, while dying, accuses Richard of destroying England with his mismanagement. Richard is not listening to what John of Gaunt and threatens him by telling him if he was not already sick, he would have his head chopped off. Gaunt continues telling Richard that he is running England. The Bolingbroke’s land is seized by Richard’s men so that he pays for the war in Ireland. Also Gaunt’s dying curse upon Richard is a bad omen for his future. “Live in thy shame, but die not shame with thee. These words hereafter thy tormentors be.” (2.1 135-137). We’ve seen in other plays, where the main actors have been cursed upon and in the end something bad has happened to them.

We hardly see women in this play, while in the past two plays women were the main focus. The Duchess of Gloucester wants revenge for her husband’s death and that Mowbray should be killed immediately during the duel with Bolingbroke. John of Gaunt tells her to pray to God for her revenge. The second time we see a woman in this play is in Act 2.2, but we hardly hear from her. The Queen is upset that Richard has been forced to go to Ireland and she misses him. There is a lot of male dominance in this play.

Bolingbroke puts together an army and invades through the North to come back to land that is now legally his because the John of Gaunt has died. York, who is taking place for Richard while he is in Ireland, punishes Bolingbroke for illegally entering England and makes his nephew stand instead of kneel. Someone would think that because they are family, York wouldn’t treat him so harshly, but he does. Bolingbroke said that he only came back to rightfully claim land that is his. York remains neutral, offering help to both sides. Bolingbroke is going to Bristol where he thinks Bushy and Bagot are hiding so that he can remove them from power. Again we see that power is the most important factor is in this play. Everyone is trying to gain power and take over land.