History Theatre / RichardII

* GreyAndGreyMorality: It is possible, as in the 2018 Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival production, to depict neither Richard nor Bolingbroke as the good guy. In that case it becomes a morally ambiguous conflict between two rivals with constrasting personalities and ideas about how to rule.

** What takes place in the play is actually the ''third'' rebellion against him; although the first - the Peasants' Revolt - was more against his corrupt regents than Richard himself, the then-teenage king still ended it by promising the rebels that he would accede to their demands and then shortly afterwards [[RewardedAsATraitorDeserves killed all of its leaders]] and then vowed to make life even [[DisproportionateRetribution MORE harsh for peasants than before]] so that they'd never dare rebel again.

The play opens with Henry of Bolingbroke and Thomas Mowbray accusing one another of treason and murder, with the issue to be settled [[DuelToTheDeath in single combat]] before Richard II and his court. Just as the two noblemen are about to fight, Richard abruptly calls a stop to their duel and instead banishes them both from England. John of Gaunt, Bolingbroke's father and the Duke of Lancaster, dies, and Richard decides to seize Bolingbroke's lands to fuel his war effort in Ireland. Bolingbroke returns--his excuse being that he was banished as Duke of Hereford but is now Duke of Lancaster--and is incensed that his lands and wealth have been taken by Richard. He organizes a campaign against Richard. At first, the campaign's goal is merely to get Bolingbroke's land back, but it quickly becomes an opportunity to seize the throne of England. In a scene that was originally censored out, Richard is forced to abdicate. He is put in prison, where he angsts about the loss of his throne, before being murdered by an ambitious nobleman. Henry IV regrets Richard's death, and vows to redeem himself by leading a crusade against Jerusalem.

An English history play by Creator/WilliamShakespeare. It's the first play in Shakespeare's second tetralogy, which includes ''Theatre/HenryIV, Parts 1 & 2'', and ''Theatre/HenryV''. It is believed to have been composed in 1595, and is sometimes referred to as a tragedy. It chronicles the later years of King Richard II of England, who reigned from 1377 to 1399, as he is overthrown by Henry Bolingbroke, later King Henry IV.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: As Bolingbroke and his supporters are contemplating deposing Richard II, the Bishop of Carlisle, prophesies that it will lead to a fatal split in [[UsefulNotes/TheWarsOfTheRoses the royal house and lead to much misery and bloodshed]].

* Foreshadowing: As Bolingbroke and his supporters are contemplating deposing Richard II, the Bishop of Carlisle, prophesies that it will lead to a fatal split in [[UsefulNotes/TheWarsOfTheRoses the royal house and lead to much misery and bloodshed]].

* {{Anticlimax}}: The play leads up to Bolingbroke and Mowbray's duel like it's actually going to happen. It doesn't.

* RhetoricalRequestBlunder: When Bolingbroke says, "Have I no friend will rid me of this living fear?", Exton interprets this as an order to kill the already defeated King Richard. When presented with the head of his foe, Henry expresses horror and tries to atone for his part in Richard's death by launching a crusade.

* FallGuy: Mowbray, seeing as ''Richard'' was involved in having Gloucester killed. Since he, nor anyone, can actually just say it, the implication is left hidden within his rebuke to Bolingbroke, and lets Richard know, coded in metaphor, that his secret is safe.

* WeedingOutImperfections: In Act 3 Scene 4, the Queen and her ladies in waiting overhear Richard's deposition being discussed by a head gardener, who talks about Richard's fall and the mistakes he made in dealing with the nobility with gardening similes and metaphors.

A performance of the play can be seen [[http://pursuedbyabear.net/specials/514/ here.]] In 2012, the BBC produced ''Richard II'' as part of ''Series/TheHollowCrown'' series with Creator/BenWhishaw as Richard, Creator/RoryKinnear as Bolingbroke and Creator/PatrickStewart as Gaunt, and in 2013, a Royal Shakespeare Company production with Creator/DavidTennant in the title role was broadcast to cinemas internationally (and is [[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03rkk2x available to stream for free internationally]] for much of 2016, part of the BBC's [=Shakespeare400=] celebrations).

* VillainousValor: Richard, at least in the ''Hollow Crown'' production. Despite being almost naked, completely unarmed and trapped in his prison, he manages to kill one of his assassins before the crossbows do the rest. Some versions of his death scene emphasize this more than others; at least one version of the text has him wresting a weapon from his assassins' hands (sometimes [[AnAxeToGrind an axe]]) and killing two of them, practically bleeding [[FacingTheBulletsOneLiner Facing The Bullets rebukes]]. At any rate, the death scene is Richard at his most [[TragicHero heroic.]] [[note]]In RealLife, Richard was probably starved to death, a much more horrific and undignified fate [[/note]]

Is a bold spirit in a loyal breast.\\
Whilst my gross flesh sinks downward, here to die.

A performance of the play can be seen [[http://pursuedbyabear.net/specials/514/ here.]] In 2012, the BBC produced ''Richard II'' as part of ''Series/TheHollowCrown'' series with Creator/BenWhishaw as Richard, Creator/RoryKinnear as Bolingbroke and Creator/PatrickStewart as Gaunt, and in 2013, a Royal Shakespeare Company production with Creator/DavidTennant in the title role was broadcast to cinemas internationally (and is [[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03rkk2x available to stream for free internationally]] for much of 2016, part of the BBC's Shakespeare400 celebrations).

Is a bold spirit in a loyal breast.

One of the main characteristics of the play is its ornate, beautiful language, especially the flowery speeches of Richard II. He is contrasted with Bolingbroke, who is very plainspoken. The play is also one of just two by Shakespeare (''Theatre/KingJohn'' being the other) to be written entirely in iambic pentameter, with no prose passages. Another notable feature is the "de-coronation" scene, which was cut from the original editions of the play because of its political touchiness -- the resemblances between Richard and Elizabeth are great. Indeed, the Earl of Essex requested the play be performed the evening before his failed uprising against the queen.