Shakespeare: Richard II

King Richard and Bolingbroke are without doubt the two most central and influential figures in Richard II. It can also be said that to a certain extent that when a degree of hostility is felt towards one character a degree of sympathy is felt towards the other character.

Richard is the focus of Act One. He has the opening lines, which immediately establish him as a central figure. He is faced with a problem as soon as the play opens and he commands the two gentlemen, Mowbray and Bolingbroke, to stand before him and this indicates his power and significance;
‘Then call them to our presence.’
He pleads with Bolingbroke not to carry on with the feud, but Bolingbroke fails to listen to him. This marks Richard as a weak King, which he even recognises himself yet he does not do anything about it;
‘We were not born to sue, but to command,
Which since we cannot do to make you friends.’
It seems that Richard is all talk and no action, which can be seen throughout the play, and ...