Comparing Development of the King in Richard II, Richard III, Henry IV,

Shakespeares Development of the KinginRichard II, Richard III, henry IV, Henry V Shakespeares plays beginning with Richard II and concluding with Henry V presents an interesting tonus at the role of a king. Englands search for the mirror of all Christian kings provided the opportunity to explore the many facets of kingship showing the strengths and weaknesses of twain the position and the men who filled that position. Through careful examination, Shakespeare develops the king as a physical, emotional, and psychological being. By presenting the strengths and weaknesses of these characteristics, Shakespeare presents a unified look at the excogitation of kingship and demonstrates that failure to achieve proper balance in the king versus the man struggle, leads to the ongoing bloodshed examined in this tetralogy and the next. Richard II demonstrates the extreme of the conceit of divine right. He abuses his power and position caring only for the regal image he projects. His desir e is for the physical, majestic appearance accompanied by the power and wealth of royalty. Richard desires to look the part which he succeeds in doing. In Richard II III.iii, York says of Richard in line 68, Yet looks he like a king Richard does not care if he truly is a king with regard to responsibility for his subjects. He has interpreted divine right to be an agreement from God to him with no obligations to the subjects over whom he has dominion. This is exemplified in his attitude toward his ailing uncle, John of Gaunt, when he says to his friends, Come, gentlemen, lets all go visit him. Pray God we may make haste and come besides late (RII I.iv.63-64). Richards only interest is in the estates Gaunts ... ... Yale UP, 1990. 6. Chapman, George. All Fools. 1605. Ed. Frank Manley. Lincoln U of Nebraska P, 1968. 7. Council, Norman. When Honours at Stake. London George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1973. 8. Craig, Horace S. Dueling Scenes and Terms in Shakespeares Plays. Los Angeles U of calcium P, 1940. 9. Edelman, Charles. Brawl Ridiculous Swordfighting in Shakespeares Plays. New York Manchester UP, 1992. 10. Kiernan, V.G. The Duel in European History. Oxford Oxford UP, 1988. 11. Marlowe, Christopher. The Jew of Malta. 1633. Ed. James R. Siemon. New York W W Norton, 1994. 12. Seldon, John. Table-Talk. 1689. Ed. Edward Arber. London Alex, Murray & Son, 1868. 13. Shakespeare, W. The Tragedy of King Richard the Second. The eject 14. Signet Classic Shakespeare. Toronto Harcourt Brace Johanovich, Publishers, 1972