Vasilauskas Callie Unit2 RichardII
One of the most famous speeches in The Tragedy of King Richard II is the speech John of Gaunt gives regarding the garden that is England. What some people may not realize is that there is much talk of gardens throughout the play, and that these particular speeches play into one another. Knowing that many of the garden speeches are related makes it easy to see that not only does this play describe the beauty of England, but also the corruption and ugliness within the country as well.
John of Gaunts description of England is both beautiful and tragic all at once. At first England is referred to as, “This other Eden, demi-paradise/ This fortress built by nature for herself” (2.1, p. 677-720, 41-44). Gaunt compared the garden of England to the Garden of Eden, Gods Garden! Soon that image is destroyed with descriptions of England defeating itself, much like pests and rodents destroying a garden from the inside out. Referencing both the Garden of Eden and the internal destruction of the garden, it is obvious that this speech is more than just rambling about flowers and bugs. Describing England as much more than just a place to live while also commenting how it is those that live in England that will destroy it is much more religious than some might think.
While in the Duke of Yorks garden, it becomes evident who the “pests” of the garden really are. King Richard and his merry men are the parasites that are destroying the Garden of England. “When ur sea walled garden, the whole land is full of weeds/ Her fairest flowers choked up, her fruit trees all unpruned/ Her hedges ruined, her knots disordered and her wholesome herbs swarming with caterpillars (3.4, p. 1836-1919, 40-46). In the same scene on lines 51-65, it is made clear that it is the king that has not trimmed and dressed his land.
While he does not directly come out and say the word, “garden”, Bolingbroke speaks of the, ”Caterpillars of the commonwealth/ Which I have sworn to weed out and pluck away” (2.3,
John of Gaunts description of England is both beautiful and tragic all at once. At first England is referred to as, “This other Eden, demi-paradise/ This fortress built by nature for herself” (2.1, p. 677-720, 41-44). Gaunt compared the garden of England to the Garden of Eden, Gods Garden! Soon that image is destroyed with descriptions of England defeating itself, much like pests and rodents destroying a garden from the inside out. Referencing both the Garden of Eden and the internal destruction of the garden, it is obvious that this speech is more than just rambling about flowers and bugs. Describing England as much more than just a place to live while also commenting how it is those that live in England that will destroy it is much more religious than some might think.
While in the Duke of Yorks garden, it becomes evident who the “pests” of the garden really are. King Richard and his merry men are the parasites that are destroying the Garden of England. “When ur sea walled garden, the whole land is full of weeds/ Her fairest flowers choked up, her fruit trees all unpruned/ Her hedges ruined, her knots disordered and her wholesome herbs swarming with caterpillars (3.4, p. 1836-1919, 40-46). In the same scene on lines 51-65, it is made clear that it is the king that has not trimmed and dressed his land.
While he does not directly come out and say the word, “garden”, Bolingbroke speaks of the, ”Caterpillars of the commonwealth/ Which I have sworn to weed out and pluck away” (2.3,