Paul Wiles' Essays


Richard II and Edward II: A comparison

Part I - Part II

by Paul Wiles

“Richard II” and “Edward II” both deal with the fall of kings and, in varying degrees, both seek to analyse why this should occur. Superficially, the plots are very similar with a picture of disgruntled nobility from which emerges a leader initially seeking to right wrongs, but ultimately aspiring to the throne itself. Power, whether to thirst after it, abuse it, or relinquish it, emerges as a central theme, around which works much of the personal tragedy of the leading characters.

Richard, whilst possessing a high sense of duty as a monarch, has proved an unwise king by seizing Mortimer’s property and farming taxes. Yet in his fall, he is allowed a dignity not given to Edward. The two’s death scenes are interesting to compare.

Richard cries “Go thou, and fill another room in hell”, striking down the second of his assailants. He spares only a few words in prayer for himself before dying, even evoking a response of “as full of colour as of royal blood” from his murderer. Exton’s “O! Would the deed were good!” stands in sharp contrast to Lightborn’s “Tell me sirs, was it not bravely done?” Shakespeare seems primarily concerned with analysis of downfall of central authority rather than personal tragedy, so it is not surprising to see the person of the king allowed some dignity in death.


Edward’s end is squalid and brutish and one gets the impression of Marlowe lingering over every sordid detail so as to produce this effect of revulsion in the audience, because Lightborn claims to be loyal to Edward, even adding “If you mistrust me, I’ll be gone my lord”. The scene is not only unnaturally bestial but offensively explicit. It is perhaps because Edward suffers unnecessarily that we feel pity in the murder scene, for already he has endured ill-treatment at the hands of Mortimer, whom we are forced to reconsider.


The tragedy of Edward’s death lies not in the fact that we see a great man cast down through some vital character defect, but in his pitiful attempts to avoid being killed. When he offers Lightborn his last jewel, the pathos of the scene is heightened, whatever he does, he is to die. His, “O let me not die yet! Stay, O stay a while” reminds us of Desdemona’s “Kill me tomorrow; let me live tonight”. Both plead feebly and ineffectually, but is it not realistic to want to avoid death? NB Sympathy for his love for Gaveston. Mort: Why should you love him, whom all the world hates so? Edward: Because he loves me more than all the world.


Though personal tragedy plays a part in “Richard II”, it is a play more obviously concerned with political questions. To the Elizabethan audience these questions were of immense importance, because Elizabeth was the last of the Tudors with no heirs. The Tudors must have represented order, Henry VII having brought to an end the Wars of the Roses. In the build up to the deposition scene in “Richard II”, the bishop of Carlisle predicts that:

“The blood of English shall manure the ground,
And Future ages groan for this foul act,….” and when one considers that his prediction was to come true, it is easy to understand Shakespeare’s concern.
Concern for the realm is voiced throughout “Richard II”, perhaps the best example being Gaunt’s bitter complaints “That England, that was wont to conquer other,
Hath made a shameful conquest of itself”


It is perhaps in a comparison of the deposition scenes that one can see the personal tragedy of “Edwards II” against the political concerns in “Richard II”.