Richard II story
The Life and Death of King Richard the Second, commonly called Richard II, is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in approximately 1595. It is based on the life of King Richard II of England (ruled 1377–1399) and is the first part of a tetralogy, referred to by some scholars as the Henriad, followed by three plays concerning Richard's successors: Henry IV, Part 1; Henry IV, Part 2; and Henry V. Although the First Folio (1623) edition of Shakespeare's works lists the play as a history play, the earlier Quarto edition of 1597 calls it The tragedie of King Richard the second.
15 total · 1 choice · 7 major · 7 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| civil war | choice | the exiled Bolingbroke returned to England to overthrow Richard II who had angered the nobility with his cloddishness |
| absolute monarchy | major | central to the story were the various character flaws of King Richard II, which arguably lead to uprising and dynastic change |
| betrayal | major | Richard II lamented the vile people that had once cheered him but now turned coat and cheered Henry IV |
| courtly intrigues | major | British noblemen schemed and maneuvered for honor, prestige and power in the court of Richard II. |
| father and son | major | John of Gaunt and Bolingbroke; York and Aumerle |
| history | major | we saw an idea of how Richard II might have fallen to Bolingbroke who became Henry IV |
| self-confidence | major | the story hinged on Richard II indecisiveness, insecurities etc. of Richard II |
| treason | major | Bolingbroke did not take well to being exiled by King Richard II. Bolingbroke therefore returned secretly to England to overthrow Richard and crown himself King Henry IV. |
| aunt and nephew | minor | Duchess of York and Henry IV |
| corruption in society | minor | Henry accused Mowbray of embezzlement |