RICHARD
Revolt our subjects? That we cannot mend;
They break their faith to God as well as us.
Cry woe, destruction, ruin and decay,
The worst is death, and death will have his day.

In these lines, King Richard II contemplates the revolts against his rule, acknowledging the betrayal of his subjects, not only against him but against God’s ordained order. His resigned tone reflects a deep sense of inevitability and acceptance of his fate. Despite the chaos and destruction surrounding him, Richard finds solace in the universal truth that death is the ultimate end for all, suggesting that all struggles and conflicts are temporary in the grand scheme of life. This realization marks a pivotal moment in Richard's character arc, as he shifts from a ruler clinging to divine right to a man coming to terms with his mortality and the transient nature of power. Shakespeare uses Richard's resignation to highlight the fragility of human endeavors and the certainty of death, underscoring his themes of fate and the transient nature of earthly power.