William Shakespeare's, Richard II, is a play that uses an intense amount of imagery and symbolism to depict the connection being a country and it's leaders and a garden's beauty and its ruin. Shakespeare's comparisons are derived from a biblical foundation that metaphorically begin and end much in the same way. Throughout the play, England was referred to as a garden by many and just like a garden, without proper care, it would surely die. In Scene 2, Act 1, the ill John of Gaunt intertwined both biblical and political concepts to convey the demise of England by King Richard II. He symbolically portrayed the beauty of his country in comparison to a garden, a fortress, a sacred place with a foundation of strength that is to be nurtured by mankind. …show more content…
Although he wishes to speak with King Richard himself, he empties his thoughts and prophesies on the ears of the Duke of York. During his speech, he refers to England as "This royal throne of kings, this sceptered isle, this earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, this other Eden, demi-paradise" (2.1.40-42). These words convey that England is none less than a sanctuary flourishing with life and a beautiful land that stands out from all others. He continues to say that "This fortress built by Nature for herself, against infection and the hand of war, this happy breed of men, this little world" (2.1.43-45). The imagery used in this represents a land that is better than and protects itself from all others. As a result of King Richard's prior actions, Gaunt's speech takes a dark turn as he begins to prophesy the demise of his fortress. "England, bound in with the triumphant sea, whose rocky shores beats back the envious siege, of wat'ry Neptune, is now bound in with shame" (2.1.61-63). Gaunt's rage and sadness is portrayed through his words as he describes the loss of security, life, and dignity of a once sacred …show more content…
Banned from England, stripped of his inheritance, he sets out to take back what was once his and avenge his native land. Much like his father, he references a garden while conveying his plot to the Duke of York hoping to gain his approval. " To Bristol Castle, which they say is held by Bushy, Bagot, and their complices, the caterpillars of the commonwealth, which I have sworn to weed and pluck away" (2.3.164-167). Through this, Bolingbroke is referring to 3 individuals as pests that are devouring his sacred country. Pests that must be eliminated so that England can flourish instead of ruin. Likewise, caterpillars are known for the damage that they cause to agriculture. They are one of the most disasterous components that infest a garden and they have to be removed in order for a garden to
Upon Richard's return to England, he learns of the events that had transpired in his absence. At first his own arrogance allows him to believe that since it is his God given right to rule as King, he will be protected. But then just as quickly, Richard's arrogance turns into despair upon the realization that Henry has gained support of the nobles and the people of England. Henry and Richard finally meet at Ramparts Castle leading to the climax of the play. Henry demands retribution for the allocation of his families' possessions and
However, as he unfolds his intentions, towards the end of the first soliloquy, the audience is awestruck at how many sordid deeds he is capable of. We are also rendered helpless for we cannot warn his potential victims of the danger which awaits them, but we are captives of Richard’s rhetorical language that generates a special
Another instance where Shakespeare creates a metaphor between the state of Denmark and a garden is when Marcellus says to Horatio '"'Something is rotten in the state of Denmark'"' (1.4.67). This passage is very important in the play because it shows that Hamlet is not the only person concerned with the position that Denmark is in. This metaphor is hinting that Denmark is being left untended by the protector King Claudius. As the king, Claudius should be tending to Denmark to make it flourish and grow instead, Claudius neglects it and Denmark begins to wither away and eventually dies under his rule. This disregard of his '"'garden'"' shows that Claudius is the wrong person on the throne of Denmark. This excerpt also creates a sense of sickness and infection, exactly how an unattended garden would be. This is not a good image for Claudius and Denmark because people do not want to be in a country that is rotting from
“Banish Plump Jack, and banish all the world”. To what extent does Falstaff embody the qualities of his world?
Connections of commonality and dissimilarity may be drawn between a multiplicity of texts through an appreciation of the values and attitudes with which they were composed. Accordingly, the values and attitudes of the individual being may be defined as an acute blend of externally induced, or contextual and internally triggered, or inherent factors. Cultural, historical, political, religious and social influences, dictated by the nature of one’s surroundings, imprint a variable pattern of values and attitudes upon the individual. Thus any deviation in any such factor may instigate an alteration of the contextual component of one’s perspective. By contrast, the
Ambition is an earnest desire for achievement. Both texts are self reflexive and emphasise Richard’s obsessive ambition, desire and longing for the throne. Each Richard strives towards capturing the throne regardless of consequences and bloodshed. Richard is depicted in both texts as an ambitious character who strives to gain power and independence through deception and self confessed villainy. ‘Since I cannot prove a lover. . . I am determined to prove a villain’ This obsession which drives Richard to commit horrific evils to gain and then protect his claim to the throne. His ambition, power and evil blinds him and inevitably is responsible for his downfall in both of the texts. A connection is formed between Looking for Richard and King Richard III in the final scenes Al Pacino’s interpretation and ‘Hollywood’ background influences an ending which can be interpreted as portraying Richmond as a coward. Elizabethan audiences
Richard then gloats over his success in a soliloquy stating how he has won her heart even though he is regarded by her as the devil with dissembling looks and he stabbed Edward her love just 3 months earlier. This highlights how he thinks of himself as the best as he brags about his misdeeds as though he is immortal.
The house of Lancaster treats Richard very poorly, he grew up with a hateful mother and his family always put him after all of his brothers. His deformity has made him a monster to all around him. Even Queen Elizabeth believes that Richard is a “Foul spider” and a “Bunch-backed toad” (Richard III IV.iv. 84). Richard’s mother, the Duchess, also talks about Richard poorly.
Throughout his speech, Henry’s repetitive reference to biblical and mythical scenarios is crucial in portraying the British monarchy in a negative perception. Henry asserts that the audiences’ misconception of the British is similar to a “song of [a] siren till she transforms [them] into beasts.” He metaphorically
Richard’s aspiration for power caused him to sacrifice his morals and loyalties in order to gain the throne of England. Shakespeare refers to the political instability of England, which is evident through the War of the Roses between the Yorks and Lancastrians fighting for the right to rule. In order to educate and entertain the audience of the instability of politics, Shakespeare poses Richard as a caricature of the Vice who is willing to do anything to get what he wants. As a result, the plans Richard executed were unethical, but done with pride and cunningness. Additionally, his physically crippled figure that was, “so lamely and unfashionable, that dogs bark at me as I halt by them,” reflects the deformity and corruption of his soul. The constant fauna imagery of Richard as the boar reflected his greedy nature and emphasises that he has lost his sense of humanity.
Hamlet, the first in Shakespeare's series of great tragedies, was initially classified as a problem play when the term became fashionable in the nineteenth century. Like Shakespeare's other tragic plays, Hamlet focuses on the complications arising from love, death, and betrayal. There are numerous examples of powerful imagery; however, none of them surpass the strong presence of repeated garden imagery. It is difficult to disregard of the similarities between Hamlet and the story of The Garden of Eden stated in the Bible. William Shakespeare parallels the Garden of Eden and the Royal Kingdom in Denmark to reveal corruption, temptation and the fall of innocence in the play. The image of a fallen Eden is threaded throughout the entire play, as Shakespeare tells not only of the fall of Elsinore but also of the destruction of Paradise.
A defining feature between these two men’s fate is Richard’s dependence on good fortune through divine intervention, whereas Henry and Machiavelli rely on free will, what they themselves can do to manipulate the situation. Richard calls upon God to defend him, thinking that he can manipulate God’s will to fit his desires, “angels fight, weak men must fall, for heaven still guards the right” (III.ii pg 409) This idea of unearthly abilities that allow him to manipulate nature itself, even England is stupid and shows how incompetent he is. Compared to Henry in this play, he is someone who wants to serve England, not how England can serve them; in other words what you can do for your country. Machiavelli states that “so long as fortune varies, and men stand still, they will prosper while they suit the times, and fail when they do not”, Richard in all ways fills this statement, his reliance on fortune seals his fate in the end (Machiavelli 148). Shakespeare shows this antiquated idea to show how much England needed a change of leadership and rule, the end of medievalism and the rise of Machiavellianism.
Henry V renewed his family’s claim to the French throne after hundred years of war. Shakespeare is telling the audience in England that they are people of bravery.
Richard II is an authoritative and greedy king of England, and he is living in a period of transition that medieval knights who are swearing total loyalty to a king has been disappearing and an aristocracy starts to gain a power for their own good. However, Richard II keeps believing the power of kingship, and he also is too confident himself. He overestimates his authority and power; furthermore, he ignores the periodical change. Therefore, he speaks confidently how firm his position as king is to the people in Wales, but his attitude changes when he suffers a defeat by Henry Bolingbroke that he
It is in this scene that we witness the weakness of a king but the strength of a man. Richard stops the fight from happening, again with great ceremony. "Withdraw with us; and let the trumpets sound" (I.iii.130).