Richard II · Chapter
Scene II explained
Queen Isabel expresses a deep, nameless sorrow despite Bushy's attempts to console her.
What happens
Queen Isabel expresses a deep, nameless sorrow despite Bushy's attempts to console her. Green arrives with news that Bolingbroke has landed at Ravenspurgh with an army, and many nobles, including Northumberland, Percy, Ross, and Willoughby, have joined him. The Duke of York arrives, overwhelmed by the crisis and the news of the Duchess of Gloucester's death. He struggles to decide between loyalty to King Richard and sympathy for Bolingbroke. Bushy, Green, and Bagot part ways, uncertain if they will meet again.
Themes in this chapter
Grief and Mortality
The Queen's nameless woe and York's reaction to the Duchess's death highlight the pervasive grief and mortality in the realm.
Loyalty and Betrayal
The defection of nobles and York's internal conflict between duty to the king and kinship with Bolingbroke underscore themes of loyalty and betrayal.
Order and Chaos
York's despair over the disordered state of affairs and the kingdom's instability reflects the breakdown of order.
Characters to notice
- Queen Isabel
Suffers from a premonition of sorrow beyond Richard's departure; learns of Bolingbroke's invasion and despairs.
- Sir John Bushy
Attempts to comfort the Queen with philosophical reasoning; later plans to flee to Bristol Castle.
- Sir Henry Green
Brings news of Bolingbroke's return and the defection of nobles; decides to take refuge at Bristol Castle.
- Sir William Bagot
Chooses to go to Ireland to join King Richard; expresses foreboding that they may never meet again.
- Duke of York
Arrives burdened with the crisis, learns of the Duchess of Gloucester's death, and is torn between loyalty to Richard and kinship with Bolingbroke.
Key passages
“Each substance of a grief hath twenty shadows, Which shows like grief itself, but is not so; For sorrow’s eye, glazed with blinding tears, Divides one thing entire to many objects;”
Every real grief has many false appearances that seem like grief but aren't, because sorrow distorts perception.
Bushy tries to convince the Queen that her fears are imaginary shadows of real grief.
“The banish’d Bolingbroke repeals himself, And with uplifted arms is safe arrived At Ravenspurgh.”
The exiled Bolingbroke has returned on his own authority and landed safely at Ravenspurgh with an army.
Green delivers the critical news of Bolingbroke's invasion.
“Comfort’s in heaven; and we are on the earth, Where nothing lives but crosses, cares and grief.”
Comfort belongs to heaven; on earth we only experience troubles, worries, and sorrow.
York expresses his despair and the grim reality of the situation.