Richard II by William Shakespeare is a historical work that chronicles part of the reign and subsequent downfall of King Richard II of England. At the same time, the show also shows Henry Bolingbroke's accession to the throne. Shakespeare uses several recurring images relating to breathing, speech, tongues, words, and names in his work, all of which contribute to the major political themes that emerge from the conflict between Richard and Bolingbroke. Through imagery relating to language and speech, the two main characters are starkly contrasted, as are the ideas of what a successful monarch is. Richard is portrayed as an ineffective but poetic ruler, while Bolingbroke is portrayed as a man of quick action. The emphasis on language in the play, which is essentially given the same weight as life itself, helps establish Shakespeare's central question of what constitutes the ideal English monarch. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay At the beginning of the play, Mowbray introduces the importance of language and speech during his interaction with King Richard II. Immediately following his banishment from the kingdom, Mowbray is appalled by his punishment and remarks that "the use of his tongue is no more to me / Than a stringless viol or harp" (I.iii.161-2) . Without the ability to speak English to those who will hold him captive, Mowbray will essentially no longer know how to use his language, just as one would no longer use an unstrung instrument. His description of the tongue being "incarcerated" in the mouth parallels his actual imprisonment at the hands of Richard II (I.iii.166). He compares his sentence to a “speechless death / Which deprives my tongue of native breath” (I.iii.172-3). This line establishes that language is power in the world of Richard II and without the ability to communicate one is symbolically dead. These words from Mowray at the beginning of the play set the tone for how language and speech will be treated throughout the play and give them significant and profound meaning in Richard's reign. Another way that words play a role in Richard II involves how they affect the portrayal of the characters of both Henry Bolingbroke and Richard II. Their differences on the basis of word versus action create a visible conflict between the old political system and the evolving monarchy in England at the time. Richard rules on the premise of the divine right of kings, meaning he believes he has been "chosen of the Lord" and therefore is a model and ideal king (III.ii.57). Because of this belief, Richard does not feel the need to actively defend his crown and instead relies on language. It is evident from his numerous soliloquies and the dramatic language Richard uses that he is a king of many words and few deeds, which ultimately contributes to his downfall. He makes several poor decisions and falls out of favor among his own people, but still takes no action to prove himself worthy of the throne. For example, in Act III, scene ii, when Richard learns that Bolingbroke is about to invade, instead of preparing for battle, he says that he and his companions should instead sit down and "tell sad tales of the deaths of kings" (III. ii .156). Even in a crucial moment like this, Riccardo would rather just talk about what is happening, rather than do something to question it. Richard's belief that his rule is legitimized by the divine right of kings represents the old view of monarchy, in which name and title are the determining factors for who will be king, even if that person is unfit to rule. This mentality is.