Analysis Of Richard III In Shakespeare's Richard II

In this scene of William Shakespeare’s play, Richard II, King Richard deposes himself before Henry Bolingbroke and must resign the crown. In answer to Bolingbroke’s question whether he is contented to do so, he answers thus. Despite his lowered status, Richard makes a performance out of this demeaning ceremony, in his confusing and highly emotional reply and in his metaphorical language apparent in the rest of the scene. He talks in an ambiguous manner, in his equivocal answer to a yes or no question, “Ay, no. No, ay,” that plays on the possible meaning of the sound “ay” as a form of agreement, or as the pronoun “I,” and in his statement, “I must nothing be.” His vague answer reflects the shifting equilibrium of who holds the power, as well as who holds the audience’s sympathy in the play. In undoing himself he refers to the divine right of kings, where the king’s

Shakespeare uses this epiphany to question the divine right of kings – does the king has a right to authority from God, and is chosen by God? Bolingbrokes’ imminent usurpation of the crown by power challenges the notion of a divine authority to kingship. Furthermore, Richard’s request, upon hearing the bad news, to “let us sit upon the ground / And tell sad stories of the death of kings;(3.2.160-1)” conveys his dawning understanding that there is a major change in the working of the right to reign. If only a short while earlier he believed that “The breath of worldly men cannot depose / The deputy elected by the Lord (3.2.57-8),” now, it is reversed. Rather, the one who is “worldly” is the king, and his election by the “lord” does not give him immunity and appears to be insignificant, as he is so easily overpowered – and in his characterized passivity, does not even fight. The moving depiction of his own sad story, as a once mighty king, that is now forced to “sit upon the ground” in defeat, foreshadows his coming