King Richard II - William Shakespeare

Richard the second is the first play in a long line - Henry the fourth (parts one and two) Henry the Fifth, Henry the sixth (several parts to this one) and Richard the third all follow from this text. These plays work best if you can read them in order, as each provides a context for the next. A bit about the history. It is important to note that Richard is descended from William the first, and that he has therefore a strong and legitimate claim to the thrown. After his death, no one has the same claim to rule, and it is as a result of this that the long period of fratching between the houses of York and Lancaster ensues. In my opinion, the Tudors, ...  Read the complete review

Richard II is a poignant tragedy by Shakespeare about the rise and fall of a King who never should have been. It becomes obvious in the beginning of the play that things are to take a turn for the worse as in all tragedies it follows the familiar rise, fall and moment of epiphany just before the tragic hero dies, bringing about harmony again. Sorry to spoil the story but really you do know what is going to happen. When I fist read this play for my A – Level English course I found it very difficult to understand but once I started to understand the constant metaphors and imagery used by Shakespeare I appreciated the play to its full extent. The main ...  Read the complete review