The Tragedy of King Richard Act 3, Scenes 1 and 2

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home from North Carolina. super bummed. missing my friends. haven't been feeling well. praying Sean gets into med school somewhere a little more north of here! let's jump in...

act 3, scene 1

Bolingbroke calls forth Bushy and Green. he harbors a grudge against them, blaming them for his banishment. and apparently, after he was banished, they plundered his belongings. Bolingbroke sends them off to be executed. he also sends word to the Queen that he has nothing but love for her and means her no harm.

act 3, scene 2

back in Wales, Richard finally arrives. he is happy until he is chided about Bolingbroke winning over England. without missing a beat, he comes right back with confidence that he is in the right and the traitor Bolingbroke will never win. (see quote below.) Salisbury enters to deliver bad news: Richard is a day too late. the Welsh army that was there to help him have all fled to Bolingbroke. they thought Richard was dead. Richard, however, feels optimistic. Scroop enters to deliver more bad news: Bolingbroke is wreaking havoc on England. many people are rebelling and joining his forces. Richard asks after Bushy, Green, etc. Scroop delivers even more bad news: they are dead. at this, Richard starts to FREAK OUT. Richard recovers momentarily to get a message sent to York to try and muster up an army. then he receives the worst news of all: York has deserted. he is now on Bolingbroke's side.

York?!?!? NOOOOOOOO.

whose side are we supposed to be on here? yet again, i don't know. Shakespeare is pretty darn good at that. what do you think? feel bad for Richard? think he deserves it?

quote of the day:

'discomfortable cousin, know'st thou not

that when the searching eye of heaven is hid

behind the globe that lights the lower world,

then thieves and robbers range abroad unseen

in murders and in outrage boldly here;

but when from under this terrestrial ball

he fires the proud tops of the eastern pines

and darts his light through every guilty hole,

then murders, treasons, and detested sins,

the cloak of night being plucked from off their backs,

stand bare and naked, trembling at themselves?

so when this thief, this traitor, Bolingbroke,

who all this while hath reveled in the night

whilst we were wand'ring with the Antipodes,

shall see us rising in our throne, the east,

his treasons will sit blushing in his face,

not able to endure the sight of day,

but, self-affrighted, tremble at his sin.'

   -King Richard; act 3, scene 2

for tomorrow: the rest of act 3

-rebecca may