Anointed King
Within Shakespeare's play Richard II there are many questionable and untrusting characters. Truth and duty are only illusions within the play. Lust for power and control override the order of England and its ordained king. It's believed that it is by the will of God that Richard is king. No mortal man can come between what God has set before them as rule. The final decision is God's and the only way that God's choice can be changed is by God himself, and no one else. God takes the Garden of Eden from Adam, and like Adam, England is taken from Richard. It is questionable if Bolingbroke acts against God's will or through God's will. Richard is king, and though a sad choice, he has been ordained by God as king and ruler of England. It is not for his followers to decide if he is to be replaced by someone that they feel would be a better caretaker of the "garden". In Richard II , by overtaking the crown and replacing Richard with Bolingbroke, society is going against its own belief that Richard is ordained by God. From an Englishman's point of view it could be argued that God is somewhat responsible for the state that England is in, because they believe Richard was chosen by God. Within Richard II , God is believed to be
forsaken so that England can become a great kingdom again, and this is done in hope that Richard's wrongs can be made right by Bolingbroke. Richard's opposition - York, Bolingbroke, and Northumberland - believe that what they are doing is done to regenerate the badly tended "garden". They want to replant it with Bolingbroke as king, and this they believe will restore England to order. By judging and replacing Richard they are going against what their society believes is God's will. This is the worst mistake of all, because as the saying goes "two wrongs don't make a right". They are playing against a power far greater than anything they could imagine Richard being able to do. Their worries should not be of what Richard will do to them if they do not succeed, but what God will do to them at any given time. Northumberland tells of how the kingship will be restored and the garden revived. "If then we shall shake off our slavish yoke,/ Imp out our drooping country's broken wing,/ Redeem from broking pawn the blemished crown,/ Wipe off the dust that hides our scepter's gilt,/ And make high majesty look like itself," (Richard II II. i. 302-306) He makes this statement as if he has a choice in the matter and as if God plays no role in what will happen. He ends up acting on his words by supporting Bolingbroke to overthrow Richard as king. York is handed the kingdom to maintain in the absence of Richard. He allows the kingdom to fall into the hands of Bolingbroke by siding with him. "Because my power is weak and all ill-left. But if I could, by Him that gave me life, I would attach you all and make you stoop/Unto the sovereign mercy of the King./But since I cannot, be it known unto you well- /I do remain as neuter. (Richard II II. iii. 159-163). He believes that what he is doing is not only going against Richard, but also and most importantly, against God. He should stand up to Bolingbroke and go against his rebellion. He should die rather than giving in so easily. It is not Richard that they fear, but God's wrath. Richard would not have lasted as king for so long if he did not have
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Approximate Word count = 1423
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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