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Summary Aspects of Tragedy Richard II's Downfall
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Summative paragraph about Richard II's contribution to his own tragic downfall. Thorough use of quotations, analysis and tragic terminology.
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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.)
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