Richard II - The Tudor Myth

A detailed Summary of Richard II - The Tudor Myth

The thought of ?the Tudor Myth? may have been dismissed by some in Richard II. However, it was the people of the country and the subordinates of King Henry the Fourth that were to reap what was sown after the death of Richard II. It is proclaimed that the King of England is appointed by God Almighty and is therefore not to be disputed. This means that the killing of Richard II would be not only blasphemous in the highest respect but also the cruelest act of treason. ?The Tudor Myth? is proven true in Henry IV through the witnessing of civil war, more treason, and mass confusion in England through Richard?s successor, Henry IV.

Civil War in England starts as soon as Richard is dethroned and later murdered. Richard is not present when Carlisle states his prophesy of doom upon the country but reinforces it when he is killed by Sir Pierce Exton. Upon being struck by Exton, Richard says:

That hand shall burn in never-quenching fire /

That staggers thus my person. Exton, thy fierce hand /

Hath with the King?s blood stained the King?s own land. (RII. V. v. 108?110).

In saying this, Richard is prophesizing that by killing the King, one appointed by God as the supreme representative, that Exton has stai

ned English soil and it will bring nothing but turmoil to the country. Even Henry IV sees the murder as a compromising situation and wants to know why Exton has killed Richard. When Exton claims that it is what he thought Henry wanted him to do, Henry agrees that he did wish Richard?s death but realizes that he must make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in order to wash the blood from his hands in order to bring peace and liberty to the country (RII. V. vi. 39-50). It is at this moment that civil war begins.

Even in the bosom of our adversaries. (Henry IV. V. v. 29-31)

And showed thou makest some tender of my life /

Henry is proud of Prince Hal for the first time and tells him so. This is also a short time in which there is a positive outlook for England. However, this time is quickly ended when King Henry decides to send John and Westmoreland to the other end of the country to fight Northumberland. He also declares that he and Prince Hal shall go to Wales in order to put a stop to Glendower. During these decisions of his father, Hal also makes a decision. He will set Douglas free because:

In cradle-clothes our children where they lay, /

Although Henry and his son have won this battle, there is still a war to be fought. England remains in a time of civil war for many years. This era is known in history as the War of the Roses, which took place from 1399 until 1489. This time-period documents the rise and fall of the Houses of Lancaster and York. The Bishop of Carlisle was correct in saying that after Richa

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Approximate Word count = 1037
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English