King Richard the Second by William Shakespeare
"King Richard the Second" by William Shakespeare is a historical play written during the late 16th century. The play centers around the themes of kingship, power, and identity, primarily focusing on King Richard II and his struggles to maintain his authority against the challenges posed by nobles such as Henry Bollingbroke, the Duke of Lancaster. The dynamics of loyalty, betrayal, and the tragic consequences of political maneuvering are prominent throughout the narrative.
At the start of "King Richard the Second," we witness a pivotal moment in the court of England as King Richard convenes a trial by combat to settle a fierce dispute between Henry Bollingbroke and Thomas Mowbray, the Duke of Norfolk. During their confrontation, both men accuse each other of treasonous acts, raising tensions within the kingdom. The opening scenes set a tone of conflict and foreshadow the impending downfall of Richard. The interplay between Richard's royal authority and the brewing rebellion against it is evident as characters express their misplaced loyalties and grievances, culminating in the dramatic tensions that will shape the unfolding story. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 |
|---|---|
| Title | King Richard the Second |
| Alternate Title | King Richard II |
| Note | The First Folio, 1623 |
| Note | Reading ease score: 83.3 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Note | Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_II_(play) |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PR: Language and Literatures: English literature |
| Subject | Richard II, King of England, 1367-1400 -- Drama |
| Subject | Tragedies (Drama) |
| Subject | Historical drama |
| Subject | Great Britain -- History -- Richard II, 1377-1399 -- Drama |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 1111 |
| Release Date | Nov 1, 1997 |
| Most Recently Updated | Nov 3, 2023 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 175 downloads in the last 30 days. |
| Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free! | |
