King Richard The Second Speech

In The Life and Death of King Richard the Second, Shakespeare writes in the form of a historic play the last years of King Richard’s rule, and his ultimate demise. The arguably most significant speech in this play is given by John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. For readers to understand what Gaunt says to Richard in his final hours, it is important to evaluate how Gaunt perceives a king’s rule and what he requires from King Richard. Before his speech, he essentially views a true king as having a balance of two qualities: divine influence and human nature. Gaunt’s speech helps readers understand the play as he explains why Richard’s human nature will destroy him by overpowering the divine aspects that accompany his rule.
Before Gaunt gives his
speech to Richard, he explains why kings have divine influence. It is believed in this time-period that kings should not simply be respected because of their position of power, but also because they are chosen by God to rule His land.
There is evidence in the text that the king does acknowledge his divine nature and the divine nature of the world, as he is mentioned kissing the land, as he is serving God and his creation. It is made evident in the text that Gaunt believes in this divine influence, and that kings are chosen by God. He has a conversation with the Duchess in Act 1, Scene 2 in which he says Richard is Heaven’s substitute for a fully divine ruler, meaning that because God cannot rule England himself, He sends each king to rule over them. This is important because it shows that Gaunt respects King Richard, and has no ill will or outside influence for his proclamations in his later speech. Gaunt also believes that Heaven, meaning God, will punish King Richard for the king’s wrongdoings. Because King Richard is chosen by God, Gaunt makes it clear that it is not his place to administer punishment to Richard. By doing so, he would be doing God’s role. Richard will be confronted by God regarding his sins and his disrespect and dishonor of the role God has given to him. He says in Act 1, Scene 2, “Let heaven revenge, for I may never lift /
An angry arm against his minister” (line 40). God will deliver divine punishment to King Richard for his sins. The final and most important reference to Heavens divine influence that gives readers insight into Gaunt’s speech is his belief that the divine aspect of Richard’s rule will only have a good influence on him and his rule, saying in Act 1, Scene 3, “Heaven in they good cause make thee prosp’rous!” (line 78). This proves that heaven will only have a positive influence on Richard, therefore only human nature could cause the king’s corruption, and is inherently evil. All this evidence regarding Gaunt’s view of God’s influence on the king’s rule shows that Gaunt views the king as a man of God who has been led astray.
In Gaunt’s actual speech, he gives references to the king’s divine aspect, and what is expected of him because of his divine selection. Throughout the speech he emphasizes the difference between the two aspects of a ruler (divine and human nature), and he speaks of the divine influence with respect. He first compared Richard’s role, and the role of every king, as being compared to ruling mars in Act 2, Scene 1, line 41. To rule Mars is a majestic thought. Gaunt is saying that a king’s role is honorable and noble, but holds a great amount of weight. Only God can rule Mars and the rest of the universe. Gaunt knows that God expects certain behavior and actions from Richard, and that Richard has blinded himself to the expectations of God. Gaunt also says that the Earth is a nurse for rulers, saying in line 51 of Act 2, Scene 1, “This nurse, this teeming womb of royal kings”. Each child is born innocent, and the only thing that can corrupt Richard is human nature. He goes on to say that kings are to be Christian servants who are renowned even outside of their borders. Gaunt goes on to proclaim that England itself is divine, and its Godly influence and beauty has been overshadowed by Richard’s corrupt rule and that other countries were once envious of England, as seen in Act 2, Scene 1, line 62. This supports the idea that it is possible for a balance between divine influence and human nature works, as England is full of sin as humans are full of sin, but is beautiful as it is balanced and filled with hope through God. This is how Gaunt views his home before Richard’s corruption and overpowering of human nature. Readers can recognize this condemnation as a warning, because England reflects its rule, and Richard doesn’t see the true state of his country. Gaunt is at the point where he is so ashamed of his country that he leaves life in a nonchalant fashion. Gaunt also states in Act 2, Scene 1 in line 94 that God knows of Richard’s corrupt soul because of his human nature. A true king who recognizes his blessings from God would fear God and His judgement, but Richard continues to do what he pleases, and Gaunt warns him that there will be consequences. King Richard pays no regard to Gaunt’s advisory, proving that he had neglected his relationship with God and has neglected God’s expectations. Richard still believes, despite this, that he is divinely selected, but to him this allows him to do what he pleases and does not have to face judgement like everybody else.
Gaunt discusses Richard’s other side during his speech as well, but also discusses it beforehand which gives evidence that the king is increasingly influenced by his human nature.
This evidence confirms that Gaunt’s worries regarding King Richard are correct. Gaunt’s speech holds even more meaning once readers realize how truthful his words are after reading of Richard’s sinful actions beforehand. Gaunt has a strong moral compass, and although the audience does not know of Gaunt’s past, they can see that he acknowledges and lives by Christian values, and understands what a king should be. King Richard is currently fighting a war with Ireland, and although wars are necessary at times, there is evidence that it is not fueled for the right reasons, and will have disastrous effects. It’s also important to recognize that in the end, England is ultimately damaged and changed not because of the war with Ireland, but because of the corruptness of its king. Examining the king’s actions helps readers to understand what Gaunt is referring to in his speech. During Act 1, Scene 3, Mowbray and Bullingbrook are meant to duel as proclaimed by the king because both are accused of killing Edward of Gloucester, but King Richard devised Edward’s murder. King Richard shows his weakness regarding his kingship by deciding right before the duel that he would rather exile Mowbray and Bolingbroke, possibly out of guilt. To be in such a strong position of power and to still be so indecisive regarding
people’s lives shows that Richard has been overcome by human nature and forgotten his nobility. Gaunt is aware of this truth, as he begs the king for his son to be spared from exile in Act 1, Scene 3, line 236. Gaunt recognizes that the king is wrong despite knowing he is to respect someone picked by the heavens. He knows that this is not a noble-driven decision, and because of earlier evidence, Gaunt respects God and His influence on royals. Gaunt is convicting Richard not to take God’s place of judgement, but because of his human nature which he has let take control
Being that it is made clear that the divine influence of the kings is purely good, it only makes sense that Gaunt believes the weakness of every king, as every king is human and therefore cannot be perfect, is their human nature. In his speech, Gaunt condemns Richard for allowing rule to be so strongly influenced by his human nature. One point that Gaunt makes is that King Richard has become arrogant; increasingly so because of his numerous flatterers. He says in Act 1, Scene 2, line 100: “A thousand flatterers sit within thy crown / Whose compass is no bigger than thy head”. The king has only been listening to his followers, and thus, he is paying no attention to those who are close to turning on him, and readers see the warning played out in later acts. The country and its people have become unhappy and restless regarding Richard’s rule. Gaunt goes on to say that Richard has developed a view that he is the “landlord” of England; almost as if his subjects are simply tenants who pays taxes as dues to live there. He has acquired a disrespect for his citizens when he needs to serve them and care for the country. Gaunt says in Act 2, Scene 1, in line 113: “Landlord of England art thou and not king”. King Richard’s sinful greed has made him overcome with the possibilities of more power and he has “abandoned” his role as king. He cares for the land that he owns, but he does not own the people on the land, and cannot take things that don’t belong to him from them. This is not as God intended him to rule. Richard continues during Gaunt’s speech to ignore his advice and instruction, and continues to ignore the Duke of York, who tries to reason with him to listen to Gaunt’s words. York interposes that he loves King Richard, and that Gaunt’s words are coming from a place of love. He attempts to appeal to his humanity, losing noble composure for a moment in an almost desperate attempt to convince Richard to heed Gaunt’s warnings, and to examine his actions. Richard continues to ignore the advice of both men, as he is already too corrupt with power and the influence of sin. Human nature appeals to Richard’s desires for power, and he has become blinded by his ambition. Following Gaunt’s last breath, King Richard completely writes off his speech as he instructs everyone in the home to take Gaunt’s assets that do not belong to the country, but to Bullingbrook. Not only does Richard not care about Bullingbrook’s property, but there is evidence that the king recognizes Bullingbrook’s popularity, but is not bothered enough to take precautions towards this threat (this foreshadows later events in the play). Even Gaunt, who is Richard’s family, is not exempt from his incredible and condemnable tirade. Gaunt’s warnings are coming to fruition even minutes after his death, as York, who has been loyal to Richard, is the first of many in the upcoming Acts to turn against a king they had faithfully supported beforehand. Gaunt’s words hold more weight because he is dying, and it says in Act 2, Scene 1, line 5, “O, but they say the tongues of dying men / Enforce attention like deep harmony.” Gaunt has the most influence on Richard than anyone else in this moment. This finalizes that king Richard is corrupted to the point of no return; he has turned on his closest family and advisors. Every person has a sinful nature, but to be a person in power making sinful decisions has a potentially greater influence, and this person will still have to answer to God in the same way that everyone else will. Even the king will be equal in God’s eyes on Judgement Day. To conclude, knowing the two sides of King Richard help readers to comprehend the play because they can understand where his corruptness originates and his slow demise after Gaunt’s warning. Gaunt is pointing out the whole basis for the play in the short time before his death by telling the king that his human nature will destroy him, and raising up God and His creation as the only source for pure intentions when ruling England. A balance between the two is essential because every human is condemned to sin, so a king will understand his nature but serve his Sender regardless. Gaunt’s speech is essential to understanding the text, and Shakespeare is giving readers foreshadowing into Richard’s future by using the words of a wise and dying man. Gaunt is the emulation of a patriot, as he cares for England will only speak of what he thinks his best for the country, while still respecting the king’s sovereignty. Gaunt shows a great understanding of what a king’s rule entails, and recognizes the battle between divine nature and human nature in King Richard.