Richard II: ‘Sad Stories of the Death of Kings’

Episode 158

Picking up the journey through Shakespeare's plays with 'Richard II'

A brief summary of the play
The early performance history of the play
The early print history of the play
The variations in the quarto editions concerning the deposition scene
The sources for the play
The role of the play in the Essex rebellion
The historical accuracy of the play
The dramatic arcs travelled by Richard and Bolingbroke
The political represented in the personal through the female roles
The significant role of minor characters
How verse is used in the play to distinguish the noble characters
The question of the divine right of kings and how it affects Richard’s character
The end of the play, Bolingbroke’s regrets, and how we might feel about them
The later performance history of the play

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