Power:
- Richard believes he has power because of his belief in the Divine Right of Kings
- “not all water in the rough, rude sea can wash the balm off an anointed King”
- Bolingbrook’s power and dominance over Richard in the court scene.
- AO2: Mirroring how he will dominate over Richard during the course of the play by later usurping him.
- Further shown by how Richard does not speak during the court scene yet Bolingbrook does.
- Gaunt’s power as Uncle to Richard to warn him about his kingship and to prophesise about the state of the nation.
- “This earthly isle is now leased out, I die out pronouncing it to you”
- Is the tragedy of Richard caused because he failed to heed the warnings of Gaunt and surrounded himself with flatters.
- Bolingbrook’s power to heed support from the “common people”
- “Observe his courtship with the common-people, look at how he did dive into their hearts with such humble and familiar curiosity”
- Richard’s power to allow him to leave the country in a time of crisis almost as though he is running away from the crisis he has caused. He unknowingly acknowledges that he has run the country into the ground and thus runs away so he does not have to face up to his problems.
- Shows the signs of a bad king who won’t be able to rule for much longer.
- “We will for Ireland and tis time, I trow”
- Bolingbrook asserting his power over Bushy and Green through their execution
Revenge:
- Bolingbrook’s revenge for Richard taking his land. Gathers his supporters very quickly which speaks of his character and comes back to entice his revenge.
- Bolingbrook is as much as a villain as Richard is. Both use power incorrectly (Richard throughout the play and Bolingbrook at the end)
- What right does Bolingbrook have to usurp the anointed King.
- Possible to interpret the view that Bolingbrook takes revenge because Richard remains in his own world.
Remorse:
- Richard feels the utmost remorse during the mirror scene when it all comes crashing down and he realises that he has wrongfully compared himself to Jesus and ran his country into the ground.
- His speech returns, his noble actions return and he willingly gives away the crown.
- Bolingbrook’s remorse at the end of the play when he also flees the country
- Cyclical structure which adds to this showing that there is no catharsis as Bolingbrook also runs when Richard ran.
- Shakespeare is trying to suggest that ultimately, England will not be destined under greatness in the House of Lancaster.
- Gaunt’s remorse of how England will turn out. Gaunt feels pity and sympathy but gives a bad appraisal, not just of how England will turn out, but also the tenure ship of Richard’s rein on the throne.
- Richard’s remorse at having to leave his wife.
- “betwixt my wife and me”
- Unusual because Richard’s wife does not appear much in the play suggesting that family ownership is ultimately more important than relation.