Structure:
- The tragic progression of a King who is at the height of his power already vs his downfall.
- Shakespeare’s authorial intent that we have to see Richard up until his death – which is largely pointless.
- The uneventful play where there isn’t much action, one battle and we don’t see much of the action involved
- Shakespeare’s intention of choosing to ignore the drama and battle by replacing it with discussion.
- Is this why Richard is such a good speaker in the play vs Bolingbrook is about action?
- Start off with Richard on the throne, we see his downfall, the rise of a new King and end with a new King on the throne.
- The presentation of Richard’s guilt in the early part of the play to allow his regal suffering in prison later on in the play
- The double complementary plot which sees Richard’s downfall with the uprising of Bolingbrook
Setting:
- The constant changing setting which shows the unfamiliar surroundings in which Richard is going to fine himself confined to.
- Windsor Castle: Where we start the play, a lot more familiar. Pomp and circumstance in this setting
- Ely House: Gaunt’s dying wish.
- Ireland: Represents the dying and already dead. A pointless place for the pointless war.
- Pomfret Castle: Represents the imprisonment of Richard who is trapped behind four walls. Leads to him thinking about what he has done to the country.
Dialogue &
Voices:
- Richard’s word which speak actions. Richard who is perhaps scared to use action (unlike Bolingbrook) but feels more comfortable using words.
- Gaunt’s dying words as a prophecy for Richard and England. His harsh words which always come back to haunt Richard.
Language:
- The nobles who speak in iambic pentameter and the lower classes who speak in prose.
- Almost every line is written in blank verse
- Richard speaks the most soliloquies emphasising his perception as a man of thought and reflection
- Religious imagery: Ties into divine right of Kings. How Richard views himself as God’s representative on Earth.
- The language of betrayal: Most characters betray their own family. The Queen is who is not made aware of what the King is doing up until the Garden scene.
- Richard’s language is so powerful that it essentially becomes law
- Richard and the power of speech. Richard who uses speech instead of action whilst Bolingbrook is the opposite. Uses speech to enact peace but it has the opposite effect.