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    Richard II

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    Richard II is one of Shakespeare's history plays, and one of his most poetic. Richard is a king who believes God has placed him on the throne, so no one can touch him. But he rules carelessly, and when he seizes the lands of his banished cousin Henry Bolingbroke, he goes too far. Bolingbroke returns with an army, and the unthinkable happens: a sitting king is forced to give up his crown. The play asks whether a bad king can ever be rightfully removed.

    ▸SCENE I. London. KING RICHARD II's palace.▸SCENE II. The DUKE OF LANCASTER'S palace.▸SCENE III. The lists at Coventry.▸SCENE IV. The court.

    ▸SCENE I. Ely House.▸SCENE II. The palace.▸SCENE III. Wilds in Gloucestershire.▸SCENE IV. A camp in Wales.

    ▸SCENE I. Bristol. Before the castle.▸SCENE II. The coast of Wales. A castle in view.▸SCENE III. Wales. Before Flint castle.▸SCENE IV. LANGLEY. The DUKE OF YORK's garden.

    ▸SCENE I. Westminster Hall.

    ▸SCENE I. London. A street leading to the Tower.▸SCENE II. The DUKE OF YORK's palace.▸SCENE III. A royal palace.▸SCENE IV. The same.▸SCENE V. Pomfret castle.▸SCENE VI. Windsor castle.

    Characters

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    Richard IIKing of EnglandHenry BolingbrokeDuke of Hereford, later Henry IVJohn of GauntDuke of Lancaster, Bolingbroke's fatherDuke of YorkEdmund of Langley, uncle to both Richard and Bolingbroke

    Famous Quotes

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    “This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle, This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars.”

    John of Gaunt — Act 2, Scene 1

    “This precious stone set in the silver sea, Which serves it in the office of a wall, Or as a moat defensive to a house.”

    John of Gaunt — Act 2, Scene 1

    “This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.”

    John of Gaunt — Act 2, Scene 1

    Further Reading

    Best Lines by Shakespeare: Quotes on Life, Love and More

    A curated collection of Shakespeare's most famous lines, organised by theme, from love and loss to daily wisdom, sport and celebration. Each quote includes the play it comes from and why it still resonates.

    Who Was William Shakespeare? A Complete Life and Biography

    The life of Shakespeare: born in Stratford 1564, the Globe, his death in 1616, and the First Folio. The facts, checked.

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