Shakespeare's "Richard II" Synopsis and Impressions - A masterful historical drama about an eloquent and unique king and the prehistory of "Henry IV".
I would like to introduce "Richard II," which is said to have been written by Shakespeare around 1597. I read the Kindle version, translated by Tsunen Fukuda of Shinchosha.
Let's take a quick look at the book.
Richard II, who succeeded to the throne at the age of only 10, became the head of a great royal family almost as soon as he could remember and grew up spoiled and selfish. Richard II's life was transformed when he was defeated in a political dispute with his cousin (later Henry IV) and ousted from the throne, and he fell at the hands of an assassin. Shakespeare's skill in characterization is brilliant in this masterpiece.
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This work will be a historical drama centered on a king named Richard II, who ruled England until Henry IV became king.
The main thrust of the work will be Richard II's maladministration, which was not well-liked by the people or the nobility, and his battle against Bolinsbrook (later Henry IV), who rebelled against it.
Henry IV" is one of Shakespeare's most famous historical plays, and this work, "Richard II," depicts the period directly related to it.
This work was discussed in the previous article, "The Hundred Years War: The Last Struggle in Medieval Europe," which said the following
Shakespeare's "Richard II" (written around 1595) is considered one of the masterpieces among his many dramatic works. The climax of the play is the scene of Richard's abdication on September 29, 1399. Although he is a "holy king" who retains his dignity and grace, he is also a "flesh and blood" man who is raging with resentment and fear. The depiction of the figure facing the abdication even led to the famous theory of the "king's two bodies" for analyzing the characteristics of kingship in the Western Middle Ages.
Chuokoron Shinsha, Takeru Sato, "Hyakunen Senso: The Last Struggle in Medieval Europe," Kindle edition position No. 1737
Richard II is a very eloquent character. He is a character in full Shakespearean glory. And as mentioned here,A "holy king" who retains his grace and dignity, yet is a "man of flesh and blood" who rages in resentment and fear.He is also a man with two sides to him. Anyway, he is unique.
The translator, Tsunen Fukuda, describes the unique character of Richard II in his commentary at the end of the book as follows
The character of Richard II is of great interest to me. Professor Schönbohm, an authority on Shakespeare, has described him as "a beloved poet" and "an indecisive king who was more suited to writing poetry than to ruling. In fact, it seems certain that he was a king who loved literature. However, what attracted me to the character of "Richard II" was his "infantile nature," which could be described as "good-naturedness" or "pampered child. Richard's grandfather, Edward III, had more than a dozen children, both male and female. Richard's father, the Dauphin, died a year before his father, and Richard succeeded him on the throne at the age of ten, roughly the same age as Edward III. Having ascended the throne almost as soon as he could remember, as the head of a great royal family, he must have grown up spoiled and selfish. He must have believed that he could have anything he wanted, that everyone would follow him, and that the world would do as he wished. He became a king without knowing how to restrain himself, and the infant became an adult.
Shakespeare's eye never fails to strike at the heart of Richard's character. Richard is a unique character, a master of self-dramatization, who makes his good times and his bad times as grand as if he were playing with them each time.
Shinchosha, Shakespeare, Richard II, translated by Tsunen Fukuda, Kindle edition position No.2031
Shakespeare's eye never fails to get to the heart of Richard's character. Richard is a unique character, a master of self-dramatization, who makes his good times and his bad times as grand as if he were playing with them each time.
This is exactly why Shakespeare is Shakespeare. Richard II is an extremely eloquent and dramatic character. If you look at it realistically, "There is no way he would actually say such a thing in such a situation," then that is the end of the story, but I think it is the presence of such dramatic characters that attracts us so much to Shakespeare's works.
As You Like It."There is even a famous line, "Everything in this world is a stage.
I am sure it means a great deal that we take pleasure in watching these dramatic human beings. If they are not realistic, so what? (Incidentally, Tolstoy was outraged by Shakespeare's unnaturalness,Shakespeare and Theatre Theory.This is a surprisingly frank criticism of Shakespeare. (This is a very interesting paper and I highly recommend it.)
Richard II" is not a major work, but Richard II's lively dialogue is very engaging.
It is also an important prehistory to "Henry IV". Why not pick up a copy?
The above is "Shakespeare's "Richard II" Synopsis and Impressions - The Eloquent and Characterful King and the Prehistory of "Henry IV," a Masterful Historical Play.
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