About the Play:
Shakespeare wrote "Ricard II" chronicle in 1595–96. It was published in a quarto edition in 1597 and the First Folio in 1623. The quarto edition omits the deposition scene in Act IV, most likely because of censorship. The play is the first in a sequence of four history plays (the other three are Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, and Henry V) collectively known as the "second tetralogy," which describes significant events in English history during the late 14th and early 15th centuries. Although some of Shakespeare's story of Richard II was based on Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles, the account of his murder does not rely upon any reliable authority.
Characters of the Play:
King Richard II
John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster – Richard's uncle
Duke of York – Richard's uncle
Duke of Aumerle – York's son
Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk
Queen – Richard's wife (an unnamed composite of his first wife, Anne of Bohemia, and his second, Isabella of Valois, who was still a child at the time of his death)
Duchess of York – York's wife (an unnamed composite of York's first wife, Infanta Isabella of Castile, and his second, Joan Holland)
Duchess of Gloucester – widow of Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, uncle to the King
Rebels
Henry Bolingbroke – Duke of Hereford, son of John of Gaunt, later Henry IV
Earl of Northumberland
Henry 'Hotspur' Percy – Northumberland's son
Lord Ross
Lord Willoughby
Lord Fitzwater
Sir Piers Exton
Richard's allies:
Duke of Surrey
Earl of Salisbury
Lord Berkeley
]William le Scrope, 1st Earl of Wiltshire, featured in Thomas of Woodstock (as Sir Thomas Scroop), is an off-stage character referred to as "The Earl of Wiltshire."
Others
Lord Marshal (post held in 1399 by Duke of Surrey, though this is not recognized in the play)
Welsh captain
Two heralds
Gardener
Gardener's man
Queen's ladies
Keeper – jailer at Pomfret prison
Groom
Attendants, lords, soldiers, messengers, etc.
Summary of the Play:
Events:
Richard II banished Henry Bolingbroke, seized noble land, and financed wars with money.
Henry returns to England to reclaim his land, assembles an army of opponents, and deposes Richard.
Henry imprisons Richard.
Richard is murdered in prison.
Act I
In the play, Henry Bolingbroke is accused of being involved in the recent death of the King's uncle by Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk. He accuses Mowbray of being involved in the recent death of the King's uncle. As the tournament begins, the uncertain and impulsive Richard stops the contest to resolve their differences in one-on-one combat at Coventry. Instead of exiling Henry and Mowbray, Richard exiles them both. Mowbray is permanently banned from the royal court. Moreover, responding to Henry's father Lancaster's pleas, he limits Henry's exile to six years.
Act II
In line with his usual behaviour, Richard is misled by his friends into the poor government of the country. Henry's father, Gaunt, dies, finally broken by the banning of his son and the deteriorating state of the kingdom. It is revealed that Richard has also been leasing out royal land, which has helped him to fund wars with Ireland by taking possession of Gaunt's property and money. His nobles are shocked, not only because of the waste of the kingdom's money but also because of the fear of their estates' security.
Richard begins an expedition into Ireland, which aggravates the situation. When Henry learns that his father has died and Richard has taken his inheritance, he returns from exile with an army to invade. The commoners and nobles are already critical of Richard. Henry is welcomed by the influential Earl of Northumberland, Henry Percy, as he marches through England, gathering his willing forces.
Act III
Upon returning from the Irish war, Richard finds his Welsh allies dispersed. Also, his cousin, Duke of York, unable to prevent Henry's triumphant return, has joined him instead. Several other of Richard's friends also betrayed the King's cause. Others were executed by Henry on his orders. After taking refuge at Flint castle, Richard surrenders and agrees to go to London, where the lords will decide what to do next.
Act IV-V
King Richard is persuaded to step down by Henry Bolingbroke, now King Henry IV, following an insurrection against him. It is during a ceremony that Richard gives over his crown. Henry imprisons him in Pontefract castle and sends Richard's queen home to France. Some lords join the plot against Henry, but York, the father of one of the nobles, informs Henry of their plans. Henry spares his son but now realizes his position as King is tenuous.
The play ends with Henry banishing Exton, ordering a funeral for Richard, and declaring himself innocent, blaming Exton for misinterpreting his intentions. Exton kills Richard and brings his body to London. The play concludes with King Henry banishing Exton, ordering a funeral for Richard, and swearing to repel his cousin's death by visiting Jerusalem.
Themes of the Play:
The themes of this play are such things as patriotism, loyalty, and different attitudes to them. Family loyalties are particularly scrutinized. The concept of the divine right of kings is examined and found to need to be revised. The idea that it could be violated would have been quite shocking to many Elizabethans, and a play like this would have made the monarch nervous.
Three main scenes in Richard II illustrate this central theme of the King's two bodies: the scenes at Flint Castle, the scenes at the Coast of Wales, and the scenes at Westminster. As the play ends, Bolingbroke ascends to the throne, marking the beginning of an era in England. It has been suggested that an English translation of Machiavelli's The Prince existed as early as 1585 and significantly impacted the English monarchy.
Sources:
Richard II | Summary, Characters, & Facts | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Richard-II-by-Shakespeare
Summary of Richard II - Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/shakespeares-plays/richard-ii/
Richard II: Overview & Resources Of Shakespeare's Play ️. https://nosweatshakespeare.com/richard-ii-play/
Richard II (play) explained. http://everything.explained.today/Richard_II_(play)/
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