Richard II Summary

 

The play The Tragedy of King Richard II by William Shakespeare was likely first performed in 1595 and published in 1597. It tells the story of the last two years of King Richard II’s life, from 1398 to 1400. During this time, he is removed from the throne by Henry Bolingbroke, who becomes King Henry IV in 1399. The play explores Richard’s increasing unpopularity and weak leadership, which leads to his downfall. Bolingbroke, in contrast, is ambitious and has the strength of character to take and hold power. As Richard loses his throne, he becomes more thoughtful and self-aware, which adds a sense of sadness to his fate. The play raises questions about corruption and opportunism, the issue of rightful rule, and the struggle with personal identity.

Summary

The play begins in 1398, about a year and a half before Richard is overthrown. In Act I, Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Hereford, accuses Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, of treason. Richard tries to stay neutral and encourages them to make peace, but they refuse. He then sets a date for them to fight in a trial by combat. Meanwhile, the Duchess of Gloucester urges her brother-in-law, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, to take revenge for the murder of her husband, the Duke of Gloucester. However, Gaunt refuses.

Before the combat can begin, Richard stops it. Instead, he banishes Mowbray for life and Bolingbroke for ten years, later reducing Bolingbroke’s exile to six years. Richard hints to his supporters that he knows Bolingbroke is popular with the common people and might be a threat. He then announces that he will go to Ireland to fight a war and will raise money for it by taxing his subjects.

In Act II, Scene 1, Gaunt, who is dying, gives a speech praising England while criticizing Richard’s poor leadership. He blames the king for Gloucester’s death. Richard reacts with anger. After Gaunt dies, Richard seizes his money and property to fund his war in Ireland, denying Bolingbroke his rightful inheritance. This action sets off the events that lead to Richard’s loss of the throne.

Meanwhile, Northumberland, Ross, and Willoughby sympathize with Bolingbroke and are upset with Richard’s bad decisions. When Northumberland learns that Bolingbroke is returning to England, they all decide to join him. In Scene 2, Richard’s allies, Bushy and Greene, feel threatened by Bolingbroke’s return and flee to Bristol Castle. The Duke of York is confused about what to do but remains loyal to Richard for now. In Scene 3, Northumberland and Bolingbroke meet in Gloucestershire, and York confronts Bolingbroke about his return. Bolingbroke insists he only wants his rightful title as Duke of Lancaster. York has no power to stop him and chooses to stay neutral. Meanwhile, the Welsh army that had been waiting for Richard gives up and leaves, assuming the king is dead. This weakens Richard’s position even further.

In Act III, Scene 1, Bolingbroke captures Bushy and Greene and orders them to be executed. In Scene 2, Richard arrives in Wales with Aumerle and the Bishop of Carlisle, expecting to crush the rebellion. However, when he learns that many of his supporters have switched sides, he loses hope. He dismisses his remaining army and retreats to Flint Castle, realizing his reign is ending.

In Scene 3, Bolingbroke arrives outside the castle and claims he only wants his exile to be lifted and his lands returned. He does not openly state that he wants the crown. Richard, however, warns Bolingbroke that taking the throne is treason and will lead to war. But when Northumberland insists that Bolingbroke has only come to claim his rights, Richard agrees. He understands this means he will be deposed and taken prisoner to London, which Bolingbroke silently accepts. In the final scene of the act, Richard’s queen overhears gardeners talking about her husband’s downfall.

Act IV takes place in Parliament at Westminster Hall in London. Various people accuse each other of being responsible for Gloucester’s murder. York announces that Richard is ready to give up the crown. Bolingbroke declares that he will take Richard’s place. The Bishop of Carlisle protests, calling it treason and predicting civil war, but he is arrested. Richard then enters and speaks directly to Bolingbroke, officially giving up his title. He claims that removing a king is a sin but still accepts his fate. He looks at himself in a mirror, then smashes it on the ground, symbolizing his shattered identity. Bolingbroke orders Richard to be taken to the Tower of London and announces his own coronation. After most people leave, the Abbot of Westminster secretly plans a rebellion with Carlisle and Aumerle.

In Act V, Scene 1, on a London street, Northumberland tells Richard he will not be held in the Tower but will be sent to Pomfret Castle in Yorkshire. Richard and his wife say a tearful goodbye. At York’s house, York discovers that Aumerle is part of the plot against Bolingbroke. He rushes to warn the new king, while York’s wife urges Aumerle to seek a pardon. In Scene 3, Aumerle arrives at Windsor Castle and begs for mercy. York insists that his son should be punished, but his wife pleads with the king to spare him. Bolingbroke agrees to pardon Aumerle, but the other conspirators will be executed.

In Scene 4, Sir Pierce Exton believes the new king wants Richard dead. He decides to go to Pomfret Castle and kill him. In Scene 5, Richard is in prison, reflecting on his situation in a long speech. A groom visits and tells him how Bolingbroke rode Richard’s horse, Barbary, during his coronation. A guard enters, and then Exton and his men attack. Exton kills Richard. In Scene 6, King Henry IV receives news that the rebellion has been stopped. Exton enters with Richard’s dead body, but Henry does not thank him. Instead, he expresses sorrow over Richard’s death and announces that he will go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to ease his guilt.

Analysis

William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of King Richard II, written around 1595 and first published in 1597, dramatizes the downfall of King Richard II of England and the rise of Henry Bolingbroke, who would go on to rule as King Henry IV. Covering the last two years of Richard’s life, the play blends history and tragedy, focusing on themes of kingship, legitimacy, power, identity, and betrayal. Shakespeare explores how a divinely ordained monarch can lose his authority through weakness, mismanagement, and disconnection from his people.

Act I: Conflict and Exile

The play opens in 1398, about a year and a half before King Richard II loses his crown. The immediate situation sets the tone for the political unrest that follows.

Scene 1

At Westminster, Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Hereford, accuses Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, of treason. Bolingbroke claims Mowbray is guilty of several crimes, including embezzling royal funds and murdering Richard’s uncle, the Duke of Gloucester. Both men challenge each other with fierce language, demanding trial by combat to prove their honor.

King Richard II tries to remain neutral, urging them to reconcile and abandon their quarrel, but neither man backs down. Richard reluctantly grants them permission to settle the matter in a duel, setting a date for combat.

Scene 2

The Duchess of Gloucester, mourning the murder of her husband (Richard’s uncle), urges her brother-in-law John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, to avenge Gloucester’s death. However, Gaunt refuses, saying vengeance belongs to God and not to men. His refusal emphasizes his loyalty to both divine justice and the monarchy, even if Richard himself may be guilty.

Scene 3

At Coventry, the stage is set for the trial by combat between Bolingbroke and Mowbray. Both men take solemn oaths and prepare to fight, but just as the combat begins, Richard suddenly interrupts. He fears that the battle could destabilize the realm and prefers to resolve the matter by decree. Instead of allowing the fight, Richard banishes Mowbray from England for life and Bolingbroke for ten years (later reduced to six years as a show of mercy).

This decision pleases neither man. Mowbray laments his permanent exile, while Bolingbroke accepts his sentence with dignity. Richard, however, hints to his inner circle that Bolingbroke’s popularity among the people could one day threaten his reign.

Scene 4

Richard discusses his concerns with his flatterers, Bushy, Bagot, and Greene. At the same time, he announces plans to lead a military campaign in Ireland. To fund this war, he intends to raise money by levying heavy taxes and even seizing noble estates—a move that alienates many of his subjects and foreshadows greater trouble.

Act II: Death of Gaunt and Growing Discontent

Scene 1

John of Gaunt, now old and dying, delivers one of Shakespeare’s most famous speeches, a poetic tribute to England as “this royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle.” Yet his praise turns to condemnation as he criticizes Richard for squandering the country’s wealth, misruling the land, and dishonoring England’s glory. He blames Richard for Gloucester’s death and warns of disaster.

Richard, far from listening, reacts with anger. When Gaunt dies, Richard immediately seizes his estates and wealth. By doing so, he denies Bolingbroke his rightful inheritance as Gaunt’s heir. This unjust act infuriates many nobles, confirming Richard’s greed and recklessness.

Scene 2

The Queen is troubled by ominous signs and her husband’s uncertain fortune. Meanwhile, Bushy, Bagot, and Greene—Richard’s favorites—try to reassure her. The Duke of York, left in charge of the kingdom while Richard campaigns in Ireland, also expresses worry about the king’s decisions.

Scene 3

News spreads quickly: Bolingbroke has returned from exile, landing in England with an army. He is joined by powerful nobles such as Northumberland, Ross, and Willoughby, who sympathize with him and resent Richard’s misgovernment.

When Bolingbroke meets York, he insists his purpose is not treason but merely to reclaim his rightful inheritance as Duke of Lancaster. York, though loyal to Richard, finds himself powerless to oppose Bolingbroke’s growing strength and chooses to remain neutral.

Meanwhile, Richard’s Welsh army—uncertain of his fate—disbands, weakening his position dramatically.

Act III: The Turning Point

Scene 1

Bolingbroke captures Bushy and Greene at Bristol Castle and has them executed, both to punish them for corrupting Richard and to show his determination.

Scene 2

Richard returns from Ireland, expecting loyalty and victory, but he is devastated to learn that many of his allies have abandoned him. The Welsh army’s dispersal leaves him vulnerable. For the first time, Richard expresses deep despair, realizing his hold on power is slipping. In one of the play’s most poignant passages, he reflects on the frailty of kingship: despite being God’s anointed, he is still mortal and subject to fate.

Richard retreats to Flint Castle, accompanied by his cousin Aumerle and the loyal Bishop of Carlisle.

Scene 3

Bolingbroke marches to Flint Castle. He claims his intentions remain limited to restoring his inheritance and lifting his exile, but his army’s strength suggests otherwise.

Richard appears on the castle walls and confronts Bolingbroke. Although he warns that usurping the crown is treason, he senses that his reign is doomed. His speeches reveal his growing self-awareness and tragic resignation.

Northumberland acts as Bolingbroke’s spokesperson, assuring Richard that Bolingbroke only demands his rights. But Richard recognizes that he is effectively being deposed. He surrenders, agreeing to accompany Bolingbroke to London.

Scene 4

In the royal gardens, a group of gardeners discuss Richard’s misrule and Bolingbroke’s rise, using the metaphor of neglected gardens to describe the state of the kingdom. Queen Isabel overhears them, realizing her husband’s downfall is inevitable. This scene provides a symbolic reflection on Richard’s failure to “garden” his realm properly.

Act IV: Deposition and Humiliation

Scene 1

The act opens in Westminster Hall, where Bolingbroke consolidates his power. Various nobles quarrel over who was responsible for Gloucester’s death, but Bolingbroke silences them. York then announces that Richard has agreed to abdicate.

The Bishop of Carlisle courageously protests, declaring that deposing a king is unlawful and will plunge England into civil war. He is arrested, but his prophecy foreshadows the Wars of the Roses.

Richard is brought in and publicly renounces the crown in an emotional and dramatic scene. He addresses Bolingbroke directly, acknowledging his fate while lamenting the sin of deposing a monarch. In a striking gesture, Richard looks into a mirror, reflects on his lost identity, and smashes it—symbolizing the shattering of his kingship and self-image.

Bolingbroke is proclaimed King Henry IV. Richard is ordered to the Tower of London, though his final destination is left uncertain. After the coronation, a conspiracy begins to form: the Abbot of Westminster, Carlisle, and Aumerle secretly plan to rebel against the new king.

Act V: Conspiracies, Exile, and Death

Scene 1

On a London street, Richard and Queen Isabel meet briefly. Northumberland interrupts and tells Richard he will not remain in the Tower but will instead be sent to Pomfret Castle (Pontefract) in Yorkshire—a more isolated and ominous prison. Richard and his wife share a sorrowful farewell, one of the play’s most moving moments.

Scene 2

At York’s house, York learns of the plot against Henry led by Aumerle. Alarmed, he rushes to warn the king. His wife, however, sides with her son and urges Aumerle to seek pardon.

Scene 3

At Windsor Castle, Aumerle throws himself at King Henry’s feet, begging forgiveness. York arrives soon after, demanding his son’s execution. In a scene of both tension and comedy, the Duchess of York pleads for mercy while York insists on justice. King Henry ultimately pardons Aumerle but condemns the other conspirators to death. This demonstrates Henry’s pragmatism: he balances clemency with severity to secure his throne.

Scene 4

Meanwhile, Sir Pierce Exton interprets Henry’s words as a desire for Richard’s death. Determined to prove his loyalty, Exton resolves to kill the deposed king.

Scene 5

At Pomfret Castle, Richard delivers a profound soliloquy, meditating on time, identity, and the vanity of kingship. He imagines himself a king in thought, creating a “kingdom” within his own mind to endure imprisonment.

A groom visits him and tells how Henry rode Richard’s horse, Barbary, during his coronation, deepening Richard’s humiliation. Soon after, Exton and his men burst in. Richard fights bravely, killing two attackers, but is eventually struck down and killed.

Scene 6

At court, Henry IV learns of the rebellion’s suppression and the execution of conspirators. Exton arrives with Richard’s body, expecting reward, but Henry reacts with sorrow and guilt. Instead of gratitude, he condemns Exton, declaring that he never explicitly ordered the murder. The play closes with Henry expressing remorse and announcing his intention to go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to seek penance for Richard’s death.

Themes and Significance

1. Kingship and Legitimacy – Richard is God’s anointed, yet his misrule erodes the respect that sustains his authority. Bolingbroke, though politically strong, inherits a crown tainted by usurpation.
2. Identity and Self-Awareness – Richard transforms from a careless ruler into a tragic, reflective figure. His awareness grows only as he loses power.
3. Corruption and Opportunism – Richard’s greed and favoritism breed discontent; Bolingbroke’s ambition demonstrates how opportunism can topple weak leadership.
4. Symbolism – Mirrors, gardens, and Richard’s speeches provide metaphors for rule, decay, and self-image.
5. Tragedy – Richard’s fall resembles classical tragedy: a flawed character, undone by both his own weaknesses and external forces, achieving dignity only through suffering.

Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of King Richard II offers a rich portrayal of political upheaval and personal downfall. Richard, careless and misguided as king, becomes most compelling in defeat, as he reflects on identity, mortality, and loss. Bolingbroke’s rise demonstrates the ruthless pragmatism needed to seize and hold power, but his uneasy conscience at Richard’s death foreshadows further turmoil in England.

By dramatizing these historical events, Shakespeare not only tells the story of Richard’s last years (1398–1400) but also explores timeless questions of rightful rule, ambition, loyalty, and the tragic cost of political change.