Summary
Summary Aspects of Tragedy Richard II's Downfall
- Course
- Institution
Summative paragraph about Richard II's contribution to his own tragic downfall. Thorough use of quotations, analysis and tragic terminology.
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
willowmay
Reviews received
Content preview
In what ways does Richard contribute to his own fall?In an infamous line said during Act Five Scene Five, Richard acknowledges his own hand in his tragic
downfall, he laments ‘I wasted time now time doth waste me.’ Shakespeare has Richard’s now-
enlightened-self realize his own responsibility in Bullingbrook’s usurpation of him, the use of the
antistatic adjective ‘waste’ conveys two contrasting ways in which Richard recognizes the deterioration of
his kingship. Whilst ‘wasting’ time is suggestive of Richard’s frivolity, the ‘liberal largess,’ of his courts
that came at the expense of the people, who were simply ‘farmed’ for further excess, and the ‘waste’ of
Richard meaning the destruction of him as king. Arguably, Richard’s recognition of his own
responsibility alleviates him from his fault, as it is suggested that he is looking to redeem himself in the
knowledge of his faults. Richard’s ‘wasting’ however, can hardly be seen as the sole cause for his
downfall, there were outside factors that contributed to this; ‘a thousand flatterers sit within thy crown.’
The ‘flatterers’ exaggerated in number by ‘thousand’ emphasizes that Richard had been falsely led
throughout his reign by those close to him, and therefore, he becomes less at fault for his fall. Richard’s
crown is also described as ‘hollow,’ suggestive once again that his kingship was not pure, as taught by the
divine right of kings, but ‘basely led by flatterers,’ resulting in an ignorant king. Simultaneously, a
‘hollow crown,’ may also be Shakespeare’s suggestion of meritocratic rule being superior to inherent,
arbitrary power; the adjective ‘hollow’ implying that the king’s head that it rests upon is not worthy of it.
Perhaps this is also why Shakespeare has Bullingbrook as the foil of Richard, able to expose his flaws,
presented to be worthy of his power 9despite it being usurped.)
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller willowmay. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $4.12. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
76658 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now