Richard II Group at eNotes

Richard, Aumerle, and Bolingbroke are all cousins. Have you seen the...

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:22:35 PST

Richard, Aumerle, and Bolingbroke are all cousins. Have you seen the movie "Braveheart"? Do you remember the wimpy prince whose father was a mean and brutal king? That wimpy prince would end up being the grandfather of these three men. And that caused a problem. The mean old king in "Braveheart" had only one son, and he in turn had only one son. But that son, Edward III, had 8 sons, and most of them had sons of their own. Richard II was son of...

What are the relationships between Richard II, Aumerle and Bolingbroke...

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:19:04 PST

What are the relationships between Richard II, Aumerle and Bolingbroke in "Richard II"?

Richard II is most definitely a political play - When reading it, one...

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:28:00 PST

Richard II is most definitely a political play - When reading it, one must consider themes like the merits of keeping a bad ruler in office (the anointed king) and whether or not it's better for a country to continue with the status quo, or to make changes. And although we're talking about medieval English history with this play, those themes of rulers and the good of the country still resonate today, particularly during this election year...

Discuss Richard II as a political play.

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:41:09 PST

Discuss Richard II as a political play.

The simple answer is 'yes' because it shows a king who begins to lose...

Thu, 9 Oct 2008 06:04:21 PST

The simple answer is 'yes' because it shows a king who begins to lose touch with the events surrounding him, and consequently end up being murdered. The historical Richard II was a most interesting king who moved for a High Court Culture and a more peaceful existance rather than the war zone that came both before and after him. He also seems to have had an acute sense of Majesty and of his own position that Shakespeare captures. Unusually for...

Is "Richard II" a political play?

Wed, 8 Oct 2008 22:28:36 PST

Is "Richard II" a political play?

Both of these leaders are portrayed as ineffective in some way. ...

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:35:54 PST

Both of these leaders are portrayed as ineffective in some way. Richard, although the rightful king, shows himself inconsistent and subject to coercion. Macbeth, not the rightful king, is in turn unable to follow advice or seek counsel, seeking violence as a way to achieve his goals. Richard is an intellectual and fails. Macbeth is a brute and fails. What, then, makes a good man?Shakespeare never quite answered this question. In...

To what extent do "Richard II" and "Macbeth" explore...

Wed, 9 Apr 2008 05:30:24 PST

To what extent do "Richard II" and "Macbeth" explore conflicting notions of manhood and manliness?

This play is about the disturbing nature of historical change rather...

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 09:06:14 PST

This play is about the disturbing nature of historical change rather than the events themselves. Monarchs have always had to watch their backs for fear of ambitious family members who want to sit in their plush thrones. Shakespeare makes note of the importance (self inflicted or otherwise) of the royal status with the gorgeous tournament staged in Act 1 scene 1 and also Richard's rhetoric on the divine right of kings in Act 3 scene 2.In this...

The following quotation from eNotes (link below) might best describe how...

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:36:28 PST

The following quotation from eNotes (link below) might best describe how Reformation ideals influenced Shakespeare:Shakespeare...painted a masterful portrait of a tragic character, a weak, self-centered king who loses his throne to a more practical and decisive man but who nevertheless evokes sympathy for the suffering he endures. As Richard’s emblems of kingship are stripped away, he is forced to recognize that he is no longer a “native...

Where do we see the influence of the Reformation in this play?

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:43:08 PST

Where do we see the influence of the Reformation in this play?

In Bevington's The Necessary Shakespeare, the word used instead is...

Sat, 1 Dec 2007 23:07:44 PST

In Bevington's The Necessary Shakespeare, the word used instead is "bond." According to onlinedictionary (see link below), a band is "that which serves as the means of union or connection between persons; a tie." Richard is merely reminding John of Gaunt of the oath John has given to Richard as his anointed king, as well as their bond (a.k.a. band) as uncle and nephew (John of Gaunt was Richard's father's brother).

Act I, scene i of Richard II, what does "band" mean in the...

Sat, 1 Dec 2007 20:00:57 PST

Act I, scene i of Richard II, what does "band" mean in the phrase "according to thy oath and band"? Thanks.

This drama starts with the accusations of Bolingbroke against Mowbray....

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 01:46:58 PST

This drama starts with the accusations of Bolingbroke against Mowbray. The king calls the both in order to settle the dispute but they are ogled by challenging each other for duel. The king withdraws from it after being consulted with the old John of Gaunt and other members of his counsel. Bolingbroke is banished for ten years where as Mowbray forever. After wards, on the information of the Gaunt, Boling broke`s banishment is reduced four...

Consider the transfer of power as it is described in Richard II, in...

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 06:33:39 PST

Consider the transfer of power as it is described in Richard II, in IV.1. Based on the passage (as it grows out of the rest of the play), which of the