The Parallels and Contrasts

In this essay I am going to discuss the main similarities and differences between Richard and Bolingbroke throughout the play and how they are presented for dramatic effect. It seems that there are fewer parallels than contrasts between the two characters. Shakespeare presents the characters as one being respectful and honorable, and the other being harsh and cruel.

It seems that both characters crave power. Richard craves power by wanting the throne and always wanting to be in control whereas Bolingbroke waits until Richard is at his weakest so that he is able to take over his thrown and have the power, this may seem to give a callas and calculated view of Bolingbroke however at first all Bolingbroke wants is to claim what is rightfully his and only takes the place of Richard after he received such a large welcoming from the public. The only difference where power is concerned is the lengths that Richard will go to in order to get that power, "Think what you will, we seize into our hands his plate, his goods, his land..." this is before Gaunt has died; Richard is saying that he will take everything that Gaunt possesses. This is saying that Richard is willing to take everything that Gaunt possessed before his death despite the fact that it all belongs to Bolingbroke, suggesting his hunger for power is much more than that of Bolingbroke's and that Richard will take anything from anyone in order to feel powerful. There is also a huge difference between the two characters by the fact that Bolingbroke wants to get back what is rightfully his the correct way, with nothing to feel guilty of and eventually get into power although his main aim is not to get the throne, this idea is generated later by the warm welcoming that he received when returning from banishment, whereas Richard knows that he is only king because of the divine right. Shakespeare at the beginning of the play gives hints of Bolingbroke having power over Richard even though he is of a lower status, "by the glorious worth of my descent, this arm shall do it, or this life be spent." This is where Bolingbroke is about to be banished and although he knows that he has done nothing wrong, he still shows respect for Richard. Richard cannot understand why Bolingbroke is respectful towards him etc. and this confuses Richard giving him the idea that he has an ulterior motive. This is dramatically effective because it gives the reader/audience a hint on what kind of character Bolingbroke is and shows us that he is a credible character.

The two characters are similar in the role reversal that takes place towards the end of the play where we see Richard as a vulnerable character that somewhere along the line has got seriously out of his depth. It is similar in the way that the way that they rule although society much prefers Bolingbroke as a ruler; this is shown by the warm welcoming that Bolingbroke receives and the unpleasant welcoming that Richard receives. Shakespeare uses the differences in their characters relationship in society to present the real difference between the characters and make it clear who is the worthier person for the throne. It seems that both Richard and Bolingbroke are similar in how they feel about their loved