Jae Applewhaite - Lower Arts

DUE: October 28th, 2019

Literatures of English Assignment - Compare the characters of

King Richard and Bolingbroke developed in Act 2 and 3. What can
be said about the integrity of each?

In the play, King Richard II, the characters of King Richard II the titular character, and Henry
Bolingbroke are presented as polar opposites, not just through their official roles, but also by their
actions throughout the play. The only characteristic which the two appear to have in common, is
that they are both members of the royal family of England.

King Richard clearly has the gift of gab and engages in many poetic speeches and soliloquies
throughout the play. Bolingbroke on the other hand is much more down to earth in his choice of
words and speaks in a manner which the ordinary man can more readily relate to. He is inductive in
his speech, whereas King Richard is more deductive in his. An example of Bolingbroke being
deductive in speech is when he responds to his uncle Duke of York in Act2 scene 3, as to why he has
broken the terms of his banishment and returned to England.

“Will you permit that I shall stand condemn'd

A wandering vagabond; my rights and royalties
Pluck'd from my arms perforce and given away
To upstart unthrifts? Wherefore was I born?
If that my cousin king be King of England,
It must be granted I am Duke of Lancaster.”

Another point of divergence of the two characters is with respect to bravery and cowardice.

The bravery of Bolingbroke’s character is presented at the beginning of the play in Act 1 scene 1,
where he challenges Moybray to a dual, after accusing him of plotting the Duke of Gloucester's
death. This bravery of character is reinforced in Act2 scene 3, in which Bolingbroke, though banished
from England, dares to return with the intent of retaking his inheritance which was bequeathed to
him by his father John of Gaunt, who has recently died. This inheritance was confiscated by King
Richard. There are several other acts by Bolingbroke throughout not only Act2 and 3, but throughout
the entire play which reinforces the bravery of his character, or at the very least, his lack of
cowardice.

King Richard on the other hand displays several behaviours which are replete with spinelessness and
fearfulness. When he learns of Bolingbroke’s progress in building his forces, obviously with a view of
retaking his inheritance from King Richard, Richard becomes despondent and fearful.

When asked by Duke of Aumerle, in Act3 scene 2 why he looks so pale, King Richard responds,

“Have I not reason to look pale and dead?

All souls that will be safe fly from my side,
For time hath set a blot upon my pride.”

The Duke of Aumerle retort to King Richard is,

1
“Comfort, my liege; remember who you are”.
To which King Richard responds,

“I had forgot myself; am I not king?

Awake, thou coward majesty! thou sleepest.
Is not the king's name twenty thousand names?”

Soon after when King Richard learns of the death of Bushy, Green, and the Earl of Wiltshire, he
quickly reverts to that fearful and despondent state of nature and says with his eloquent by
uninspiring gift of gab,

“Our lands, our lives and all are Bolingbroke's,

And nothing can we call our own but death
And that small model of the barren earth
Which serves as paste and cover to our bones.
For God's sake, let us sit upon the ground
And tell sad stories of the death of kings;”

Another stark contrast between Bolingbroke and King Richard is that Bolingbroke appeared to be a
humanist, while King Richard was not. This play was written in 1595 by Shakespeare during the
period referred to as ‘The Renaissance’. The prime focus of this period was humanism.

Humanism is an outlook or system attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or
supernatural matters. In other words, man is viewed as being responsible for his own destiny. His
fate is in his own hands and not the Gods. The effect of humanism was to help men break free from
the mental strictures imposed by religious doctrines, inspiring free inquiry and criticism.

As a result, Bolingbroke felt embolden enough to question why he should be denied what he saw as
his rightful inheritance. He took his fate in his own hands. King Richard on the other hand does
nothing to secure his crown. He still believes that he has the divine right to be king, and that God
would intervene at sometime to ensure that this was the case.

In Act 3 scene 2 he says to Northumberland,

“ Yet know, my master, God omnipotent,

Is mustering in his clouds on our behalf
Armies of pestilence; and they shall strike
Your children yet unborn and unbegot,
That lift your vassal hands against my head
And threat the glory of my precious crown.”

Another quote from King Richard to support the non-humanist view which he held is in the same
Act 3 scene 2.

“Not all the water in the rough rude sea

Can wash the balm off from an anointed king;
The breath of worldly men cannot depose
The deputy elected by the Lord”

2
Another point of contrast which one can readily identify between King Richard and Bolingbroke is
their leadership skills. King Richard was clearly a poor leader. When it mattered most his forces
deserted him. He himself admitted this in in Act 3 scene 2 speaking to the Duke of Aumerle.

“Have I not reason to look pale and dead?

All souls that will be safe fly from my side,”

A good leader should be empathetic towards others. King Richard was lacking in empathy. This trait
was clearly displayed when he visited his dying uncle Gaunt. In Act 2 scene 1 he says to a dying
Gaunt,

“I am in health, I breathe, and see thee ill.”

Another quality of a good leader is his willingness to listen to and take advice where it is prudent to
do so. King Richard clearly had a reputation of one not keen on listening or taking advice. He refuses
to take the advice which Gaunt on his dying bed in Act 2 scene 1 seeks to give him about his
Governorship. The Duke of York had predicted this response from King Richard cautioning Gaunt,

“Vex not yourself, nor strive not with your breath;

For all in vain comes counsel to his ear.”

In contrast Bolingbroke appears to possess excellent leadership skills. He is able to garner his forces,
and unlike King Richard whom was deserted by his forces, the followers of Bolingbroke express pride
and honour in fighting beside him.

Act 2 scene 3 Lord Ross and Lord Willoughby in speaking to Bolingbroke.

LORD ROSS
Your presence makes us rich, most noble lord.
LORD WILLOUGHBY
And far surmounts our labour to attain it.

Clear testimony to Bolingbroke leadership skills and the high esteem in which he is held by his
followers. With respect to the seeking advice, Bolingbroke seeks his uncle advice as to what other
options should he exercise in trying to secure his inheritance if not returning from banishment and
fighting for his rights. Act 2 scene 3.

By far the most profound contrast between King Richard and Bolingbroke is the level of integrity
which they possess.

According to the Oxford dictionary, integrity is defined as, the quality of being honest and having
strong moral principles and moral uprightness.

King Richard II, is anything but a honest and just ruler of England. Rather, he uses his position to
extract material wealth and power from the citizens by imposing onerous taxes on them. This action
displays Richard’s true nature, which is ironically the opposite of what integrity is defined as. He lies
to his citizens, claiming he’s using the taxes, to fund Irish wars, but in turn, uses the money to
indulge in costly material possessions, which only benefits himself. Under King Richard rule there is
no escape from his avarice.

In contrast the underlying tenets of Henry Bolingbroke’s character is honour, and

fairness. While King Richard takes money from his citizens to fund his private affairs,

3
Bolingbroke offers to repay them simply for their fealty. There is just one event which
might arguably raise some questions about the integrity of Bolingbroke character. That
is, was it always Bolingbroke intent to depose King Richard or was this a late development.
Remember Bolingbroke claim from the outset that his only goal in returning to England
was to secure what he considered to be his rightful inheritance.

Shakespeare puts it in the mouth of Northumberland to explain this to the Duke of York
in Act 2 scene 3.
“The noble duke hath sworn his coming is
But for his own; and for the right of that
We all have strongly sworn to give him aid;
And let him ne'er see joy that breaks that oath!”
I think with respect to this question we should be prepared to give Bolingbroke the benefit
of the doubt, accepting that his initial oath to return to England only for the purpose of
regaining his rightful inheritance was made with the utmost sincerity.