“Thou livest and breathest, yet art thou slain in him”: The Absence of Power in Richard II

Abstract

Richard II begins with a dead body. There is no corpse present XVstage and no funeral procession, yet body of Thomas Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester and king's uncle, haunts beginning of play and sets tone for its exposition. It haunts opening scene as two opponents--Henry Bolingbroke and Thomas Mowbray--accuse each other of various crimes in front of king, among them Bolingbroke's claim that Mowbray murdered Woodstock. As Nicolas Grene writes, the event to which Richard II looks back most immediately is relatively recent murder of Duke of Gloucester. (2) This unexplained death--Michael Hattaway notes that Woodstock died in mysterious circumstances in Calais in 1397--foreshadows future difficulties for king. (3) As I will show, his absent body becomes a vital instrument in plot of Shakespeare's play. Henry Bolingbroke, son of Duke of Lancaster, and Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, called into king's presence to air their grievances. Richard questions their motives: What doth our cousin lay to Mowbray's charge? / It must be great (1.1.84-85). With corresponding accusations and defenses, scene presents both a polarizing exposition and first impressions of major characters. As John Blades puts it, it is crucial in swiftly introducing principal characters of play: king, his court circle, two of his subjects. (4) John Norwich sums this up, recollecting historical event that on 29 April 1398 ... for first time, two Dukes appeared face to face before King; and it is at this point that Shakespeare raises curtain The Tragedie of King Richard Second. (5) The first scene thus reminds audience of recent historical events of rebellion against Richard by his uncles, an action that is not directly presented onstage but looms over play like a skeleton in cupboard. The accusations that Bolingbroke brings forth at kings request grave indeed: Look what I speak, my life shall prove it true: That Mowbray hath received eight thousand nobles In name of lendings for your highness' soldiers, The which he hath detained for lewd employments, Like a false traitor and injurious villain. Besides I say, and will in battle prove, Or here or elsewhere to furthest verge That ever was surveyed by English eye, That all treasons for these eighteen years Complotted and contrived in this land Fetch from false Mowbray their first head and spring. Further I say, and further will maintain Upon his bad life to make all this good, That he did plot Duke of Gloucester's death, Suggest his soon-believing adversaries, And consequently, like a traitor coward, Sluiced out his innocent soul through streams of blood--Which blood, like sacrificing Abel's, cries, Even from tongueless caverns of earth To me for justice and rough chastisement. And by glorious worth of my descent, This arm shall do it, or this life be spent! (1.1.87-108) Bolingbroke accuses Mowbray of three crimes, each more horrible than previous: corruption, treason, and murder. His speech is well structured: according to John Blades, he shows full vocal command; his delivery is even and controlled. The third charge is obviously climax to his speech; first two are relatively mild preambles to his most alarming charge. (6) As Hattaway puts it, Bolingbroke's claim of murder is his gravest accusation, casting himself in role of a minister or scourge of God, one sent to cleanse depravity from world. (7) The dead Gloucester thus provokes this quarrel between Mowbray and Bolingbroke, and in doing so, proves to be what Blades has described as catalyst to Richards downfall. (8) In response to charge, Mowbray answers with as much force as his opponent, calling him so foul a liar (1.1.114) and accusation mere slander (1. …