In act four, scene one of Shakespeare’s Richard II, Richard’s lengthy monologues as Henry Bolingbroke attempts to get him to revoke the thrown serve as a metaphor for the entire play. Lines 194 to 214, specifically, after Bolingbroke asks King Richard if he is “contented to resign the crown?” capture the complicated the relationship between the two men and the crown (4.1.193). Richard’s willingness to step down from the thrown is debatable through his reaction to Bolingbroke’s question. Bolingbroke’s claim to the thrown through explanations of Richard’s less than kingly acts is weak in relation to his rise to power. Bolingbroke’s claim lies on Richard’s incompetence, yet Bolingbroke is unable to proclaim himself king unless Richard steps down.
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The repetition parallels Richard’s decision to give up the throne when initially confronted by Bolingbroke in act three. In the scene, Richard repeatedly calls himself “the King” in the third person, focusing on his body politic rather than his body personal (3.3.143-147). As a man, Richard is taken captive by Bolingbroke. However, the title of “the King” cannot be taken by force, as it is ordained by God. The body politic cannot be taken by just a man, as Bolingbroke is, and therefore must be given “with [Richard’s] own” power (4.1.200). It is “Richard’s seat to sit” in which Richard wishes Bolingbroke to “long mayst [he] live”; Bolingbroke’s physical body will occupy the throne throughout his life, but the body politic will lie with Richard …show more content…
As Richard is unable to physically fight against Bolingbroke’s force to take the crown, his call on God’s power against Bolingbroke demonstrates the power of the lord’s force in the question of kingly right. When initially confronted with Bolingbroke’s forces, Richard asked to be shown “the hand of God / That hath dismissed [him] from [his] stewardship”, because he is aware that no physical act by Bolingbroke can take away his right to the crown from God (3.3.77-78). The individuals watching the deposition scene are, like the audience, aware of God’s anointment and their beliefs are being questioned by Richard in his ask that “God pardon” all the broken oaths. In then asking that “God keep all vows unbroken are made to [Bolingbroke]”, Richard is emphasizing that no vows made to Bolingbroke will be sacred, as they are not protected by God’s divine
The repetition parallels Richard’s decision to give up the throne when initially confronted by Bolingbroke in act three. In the scene, Richard repeatedly calls himself “the King” in the third person, focusing on his body politic rather than his body personal (3.3.143-147). As a man, Richard is taken captive by Bolingbroke. However, the title of “the King” cannot be taken by force, as it is ordained by God. The body politic cannot be taken by just a man, as Bolingbroke is, and therefore must be given “with [Richard’s] own” power (4.1.200). It is “Richard’s seat to sit” in which Richard wishes Bolingbroke to “long mayst [he] live”; Bolingbroke’s physical body will occupy the throne throughout his life, but the body politic will lie with Richard …show more content…
As Richard is unable to physically fight against Bolingbroke’s force to take the crown, his call on God’s power against Bolingbroke demonstrates the power of the lord’s force in the question of kingly right. When initially confronted with Bolingbroke’s forces, Richard asked to be shown “the hand of God / That hath dismissed [him] from [his] stewardship”, because he is aware that no physical act by Bolingbroke can take away his right to the crown from God (3.3.77-78). The individuals watching the deposition scene are, like the audience, aware of God’s anointment and their beliefs are being questioned by Richard in his ask that “God pardon” all the broken oaths. In then asking that “God keep all vows unbroken are made to [Bolingbroke]”, Richard is emphasizing that no vows made to Bolingbroke will be sacred, as they are not protected by God’s divine