The Tragedy of King Richard II Act 2, Scene 1

192.

we are currently in North Carolina having a fabulous time. there's nothing i would rather do than spend the weekend hanging out with my fiance, my roommate, one of my oldest friends, and her gorgeous family. oh yeah, and add the amazing Alice Ripley in the phenomenal Next to Normal? yes please! Shakespeare time is scarce, so let's go! it's going to be a quick one...


act 2, scene 1
Gaunt is dying and desperately wants to talk to Richard. (see quote below.) when Richard shows up with his peops, Gaunt really lays into him. he tells Richard to slow down and basically be better at his job or he will pay for it. Richard brushes him off, of course. Gaunt leaves. moments later, he is dead. Richard immediately turns his attention toward warring with Ireland. Richard plans to seize everything of Gaunt's to help fund his plans. York can't take it anymore. he speaks out against this plan, but Richard won't listen. York leaves, disgusted. Richard makes plans to leave the next day for Ireland and leaves. left behind are some of his men, who begin to reveal that they are actually unhappy with Richard's plans. they are concerned that he is not himself lately. he has squandered so much money (on who-knows-what), taxes his people unfairly, and is losing the favor of the people. these men have heard that Bolingbroke is on his way back ready to fight Richard. the men leave to meet with him.


my favorite part of this is that the Queen's name in the play is "Queen". she has no real name. GREAT.

i also found it interesting that line 280 is missing. possibly censored? ooooh. wish i knew what it was!

we keep hearing that Richard is acting differently lately. why is that so? we keep hearing that he is surrounded by bad influences. who? and why? and instead of deserting him or working against him, why doesn't anyone just try to help him get away from those bad influences? what's the deal here? and also, as always with the histories, i wonder how close to reality this is. anyone know any of these answers?

quote of the day:
'methinks i am a prophet new inspired,
and thus expiring do foretell of him:
his rash fierce blaze of riot cannot last,
for violent fires soon burn out themselves;
small showers last long, but sudden storms are short;
he tires betimes that spurns too fast betimes;
with eager feeding food doth choke the feeder;
light vanity, insatiate cormorant,
consuming means, soon preys upon itself.'
   -Gaunt

for tomorrow: the rest of act 2

-rebecca may