Richard II: Characters in the Play
Richard II
Contents
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…
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…
Act 1, scene 2
The widow of the duke of Gloucester begs John of Gaunt to avenge the murder of her husband. Gaunt says…
Act 1, scene 3
Bolingbroke and Mowbray prepare to fight to the death. King Richard suddenly calls off the fight and banishes Mowbray for…
Act 1, scene 4
Richard makes plans to fight in person in Ireland. To obtain money for the war against the Irish, he leases…
Act 2, scene 1
John of Gaunt, knowing that he is dying, speaks plainly to Richard about his deficiencies as king. Richard expresses his…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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….
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…
Act 5, scene 3
Aumerle reaches King Henry and begs a pardon for an unnamed offence. The duke of York arrives and reveals the…
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….
Act 5, scene 6
News is brought to Henry about the capture and punishment of rebel leaders. Henry pardons the bishop of Carlisle. Exton…
Characters in the Play
King Richard II
Sir John Bushy
Sir John Bagot
Sir Henry Green
Richard’s friends
Richard’s Queen
Queen’s Ladies-in-waiting
John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster
Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Hereford, son to John of Gaunt,
and later King Henry IV
and later King Henry IV
Duchess of Gloucester, widow to Thomas, Duke of Gloucester
Edmund, Duke of York
Duchess of York
Duke of Aumerle, Earl of Rutland, son to Duke and Duchess of York
York’s Servingmen
Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk
Lord Marshal
First Herald
Second Herald
officials in trial by combat
Earl of Salisbury
Bishop of Carlisle
Sir Stephen Scroop
Lord Berkeley
Abbot of Westminster
Welsh Captain
supporters of King Richard
Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland
Lord Ross
Lord Willoughby
Harry Percy, son of Northumberland,
later known as “Hotspur”
later known as “Hotspur”
supporters of
Bolingbroke
Bolingbroke
Lord Fitzwater
Duke of Surrey
Another Lord
Gardener
Gardener’s Servingmen
Groom of Richard’s stable
Keeper of prison at Pomfret Castle
Sir Pierce of Exton
Servingmen to Exton
Lords, Attendants, Officers, Soldiers, Servingmen, Exton’s Men
