The Identity Crisis of Richard II
“I have no name, no title...And know not now what to call myself” (Richard: 4.1. 245-249). “My lord, my answer is to ‘Lancaster,’ and I am come to seek that name in England, And I must find that title in your tongue before I make reply to aught you say” (Bolingbroke: 2.3. 70-73). Who is who? Who is what? That seems to be the major theme in this play. Who is in the right, and who is in the wrong? Who is the protagonist? Who is the antagonist? Which title belongs to whom? And who deserves that title? I submit this play be retitled The Identity Crisis, for that is what it seems that each of the characters is going through. Possibly, a more accurate, in depth way of poising these same questions is what makes a man a “man?” This is a play of self-discovery and the induction into manhood. In the beginning we are presented with two foes and a question of divine authority VS. just action. King Richard II is a boy king- anointed by divine right, but none the less a boy. He neither has the gall to admit his murderous actions- where he could use his power as king to justify his act- nor the heart to send his scapegoat to death. Bolingbroke while an adult is not yet a man either. He has n
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Some common words found in the essay are:
John Gaunt, Richard II, IV Shakespeare, Richard England, Land Wash, Identity Crisis, Holy Land, William Shakespeare, makes man, richard ii, john gaunt, shakespeare leaves, holy land, leaves figure, divine authority, identity crisis,
Approximate Word count = 1076
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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