Richard II: ‘Sad Stories of the Death of Kings’

The History Of European Theatre

Episode 158

Picking up the journey through Shakespeare's plays with 'Richard II'

A brief summary of the play

The early performance history of the play

The early print history of the play

The variations in the quarto editions concerning the deposition scene

The sources for the play

The role of the play in the Essex rebellion

The historical accuracy of the play

The dramatic arcs travelled by Richard and Bolingbroke

The political represented in the personal through the female roles

The significant role of minor characters

How verse is used in the play to distinguish the noble characters

The question of the divine right of kings and how it affects Richard’s character

The end of the play, Bolingbroke’s regrets, and how we might feel about them

The later performance history of the play

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