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MonkeyNotes-Richard II by William Shakespeare
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Notes
Richard II does not contain any battle scenes. Desertions and
defections are conveyed through dramatic reportage. In this scene
Bolingbroke has arrived in Gloucestershire and is on his way to
Berkeley. By the end of the scene, Bolingbroke proceeds to
Bristol to attack Bushy and Green. This scene is diametrically
opposed to Scene 2, where the villains announce their plans and
pursue their chosen course of action. Here, Bolingbroke has
essentially assumed command.
Bolingbroke's character has evolved considerably. In the earlier
scenes of conflict with Mowbray, Bolingbroke was a young
aristocrat and a loyal subject, who accepted his sentence of
banishment because he believed in the divinity of kingship. Now
he is a potential political leader. He accepts Northumberland's
compliments with a curt "Of much less value is my company /
Than your good words." He is courteous to Northumberland and
expresses just the right amount of gratitude to Northumberland,
Ross and Willoughby for their support. It is easy to imagine him
in the role of king.
Bolingbroke's camp serves as a contrast to Richard's side, which
is ridden with problems of betrayal and defection. The
conversation between Bolingbroke and his supporters reveals that
they have pursued a difficult journey and are ready to continue
further ahead. An element of heroic exploit enters the play. Henry
Percy, Northumberland's son, is a young but dedicated supporter
of Bolingbroke, who greets him with warmth. Bolingbroke
suggests that his supporters will be recompensed for their loyalty
and labors in the near future, when he becomes the king. He
displays practicality and ensures loyalty by promise of a reward
and when he rebukes Berkeley for addressing him as Lord of
Hereford, shows his ability to command. He shows deference to
Northumberland, Willoughby and Ross while he is actually
making use of them. He addresses York respectfully, as "(his)
gracious uncle." He handles the indignation and anger of York
with patience, and appeals to the bonds of kinship to draw York to
his side. He tells York that he sees the image of his father (Gaunt)
in him and protests the rightness of his cause. This has an
immediate impact on York. Perhaps most remarkable is the fact
that although Bolingbroke kneels before York, he somehow
demonstrates his own claim to kingship. At the very least, the
audience is reminded of the precarious state of England's
governance.
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