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Last updated: Fri, Jul 31, 2015

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Act and scene list

Characters in the Play
Entire Play In Richard II, anger at a king’s arbitrary rule leads to his downfall—and sets in motion a decades-long struggle for the crown that continues in several more history plays.Richard II begins as Richard’s cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, charges Thomas Mowbray with serious crimes, including the murder of the Duke of Gloucester. Bolingbroke’s father, John of Gaunt, privately blames the king for Gloucester’s death. At Richard’s command, Bolingbroke and Mowbray prepare for a trial by combat. The king halts the fight at the last minute, banishing both men from England.When John of Gaunt dies, Richard seizes his possessions to help finance a war in Ireland, thus dispossessing Bolingbroke. Bolingbroke returns to England, quickly gathering support. By the time Richard returns from Ireland, many of his former allies have joined Bolingbroke. Richard abdicates, yielding the crown to Bolingbroke.Richard is held at Pomfret Castle and Bolingbroke becomes King Henry IV. A murder plot against him is uncovered and stopped. Richard is murdered by a follower of Henry.
Act 1, scene 1 Henry Bolingbroke, King Richard’s cousin, publicly accuses Thomas Mowbray, duke of Norfolk, of treason. Among Bolingbroke’s charges is that Mowbray was responsible for the murder of Henry’s and Richard’s uncle the duke of Gloucester. When Richard and Gaunt, Bolingbroke’s father, are unable to reconcile Bolingbroke and Mowbray, Richard orders them to trial by combat at Coventry.
Act 1, scene 2 The widow of the duke of Gloucester begs John of Gaunt to avenge the murder of her husband. Gaunt says that the king was responsible for Gloucester’s murder and that, since the king is God’s deputy, only God can take vengeance.
Act 1, scene 3 Bolingbroke and Mowbray prepare to fight to the death. King Richard suddenly calls off the fight and banishes Mowbray for life and Bolingbroke for many years.
Act 1, scene 4 Richard makes plans to fight in person in Ireland. To obtain money for the war against the Irish, he leases out crown lands and revenues in exchange for cash, and he gives his deputies in England power to demand large sums of money from the wealthy. News comes that John of Gaunt is gravely ill. Richard looks forward to using Gaunt’s property to help fund the war.
Act 2, scene 1 John of Gaunt, knowing that he is dying, speaks plainly to Richard about his deficiencies as king. Richard expresses his fury. Gaunt is taken offstage and word comes that he has died. Richard declares that all of Gaunt’s possessions now belong to the crown and will be used to help fund his war in Ireland. After Richard exits, Northumberland and two other nobles lament the injustice done to Bolingbroke, and Northumberland reveals that Bolingbroke is on his way back to England. The three nobles set out to join him.
Act 2, scene 2 As the Queen grieves for Richard’s departure, news comes that Bolingbroke has landed in England with an army. As York attempts to find means to oppose him, Bushy, Bagot, and Green, in fear for their lives, prepare to flee.
Act 2, scene 3 Bolingbroke and Northumberland, just outside Berkeley Castle, meet young Henry Percy, Northumberland’s son. When the duke of York enters, he chastises Bolingbroke for coming back to England, but admits to being powerless to stop him, and finally offers him hospitality at Berkeley Castle.
Act 2, scene 4 The Welsh troops, having waited ten days for Richard’s return, disperse. The earl of Salisbury predicts that Richard stands at the edge of defeat.
Act 3, scene 1 Bolingbroke sentences Bushy and Green to death.
Act 3, scene 2 Richard, landing in England, greets his kingdom and expresses certainty that God will protect him against Bolingbroke’s threat. He learns that the Welsh troops have dispersed, that his close friends have been executed, and that York and Richard’s other supporters have joined with Bolingbroke. Richard orders his army discharged and retreats to Flint Castle.
Act 3, scene 3 Bolingbroke, approaching Flint Castle, learns that Richard is within. In answer to Bolingbroke’s trumpets, Richard and Aumerle appear on the battlements. Northumberland presents Bolingbroke’s demand that Richard yield Bolingbroke’s “lineal royalties” and lift the sentence of banishment. Richard agrees. Northumberland returns and asks that Richard descend to Bolingbroke, who awaits him in the outer court. The cousins meet and Richard expresses willingness to yield to Bolingbroke and accompany him to London.
Act 3, scene 4 Richard’s queen overhears a gardener describing Richard’s downfall and probable deposition.
Act 4, scene 1 Bolingbroke seeks information about the duke of Gloucester’s death. Bagot implicates Aumerle, and several nobles challenge Aumerle and each other. York brings word that Richard resigns the crown. When Bolingbroke begins to ascend the throne, the bishop of Carlisle accuses him of treachery and predicts bloody civil war. Carlisle is arrested, and Bolingbroke orders Richard brought before him. Richard formally deposes himself and is taken off to the Tower. Aumerle learns from the abbot of Westminster that there is a plot against Bolingbroke.
Act 5, scene 1 Richard and his queen say their farewells, she to be sent to France, he to Pomfret Castle.
Act 5, scene 2 The duke of York expresses his sympathy for Richard but declares his allegiance to King Henry. When York discovers that his son Aumerle is part of a conspiracy to kill Henry, York rides off to inform on his son. Aumerle and his mother also set off for the court to beg Henry’s mercy.
Act 5, scene 3 Aumerle reaches King Henry and begs a pardon for an unnamed offence. The duke of York arrives and reveals the plot at Oxford and Aumerle’s part in it. The duchess arrives, and the three kneel to Henry, York begging for Aumerle’s death and the duchess and Aumerle begging the king’s mercy. The king pardons Aumerle and sends out forces to capture the other conspirators.
Act 5, scene 4 Sir Pierce Exton, reflecting on King Henry’s wish that Richard be removed, decides to carry out that wish.
Act 5, scene 5 Richard, imprisoned at Pontefract Castle, is visited by a former groom of his stable and then by the prison Keeper. Exton and his men enter with weapons. Richard kills several of the men before Exton kills him.
Act 5, scene 6 News is brought to Henry about the capture and punishment of rebel leaders. Henry pardons the bishop of Carlisle. Exton enters with Richard’s body and is banished for the murder. Henry vows to launch a crusade to the Holy Land to wash off his own guilt.

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Act 1, scene 1

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