The account of King Richard II is told by different authors, who use various sources to relate the events that led to King Richard’s deposition and Henry Bolingbroke’s coronation. One of these accounts is the play written by Shakespeare, who uses Raphael Holinshed’s narration as a source. The text and the play have a parallel relationship in the information that is depicted. Although with slight differences in the manner in which they are conveyed, the two texts parallel each other in mainly three points; firstly, in the advice given to King Richard to resign his post, secondly in the official resignation of King Richard, and finally the deposition of Richard.
In his account about Richard II, Raphael Holinshed talks about how Richard was advised to depose himself and resign his post to his cousin willingly. Holinshed says, “And first, they advised him willinglie to suffer himselfe to be deposed, and to resigne the right of his owne accord so that the Duke of Lancaster might without murther or battel obteine the scpeter and diademe…” (Holinshed, 406) Richard is advised to resign his post on his account and to let go of his possessions so that Bolingbroke does not have to use force to seize the crown. Holinshed relates the account of Richard’s resignation and shows Richard to be a victim of Bolingbroke, who seems to be threatening Richard to step down from the crown. Bolingbroke is the villain in Holinshed’s account because he forces Richard to step down and hand over not just the crown but also to depose his possessions on account of being murdered or going to war. In Holinshed’s text, Bolingbroke is the character who risks battle for the crown, and Richard is the king who nobly hands over his crown because he is left with no other choice.
In his play, William Shakespeare uses the account of Holinshed in act four scene one when York advises King Richard to resign on his own will for the better good when he says,
To do that office of thine own will
Which tired master make thee offer
The resignation of thy state and crown
To Henry Bolingbroke (Shakespeare, 163)
Shakespeare adapts the advice given to Richard but modifies the content by not including textual information about Richard or Bolingbroke. York only advises Richard to resign his post to Bolingbroke, with no information on what would happen if Richard did not depose himself. Shakespeare retains Holinshed as the source but leaves out the information that makes Richard looks like a victim and Bolingbroke a villain. In this sense, Shakespeare modifies the material of his source.
Later in the text, Holinshed writes about the official resignation of Richard from his post and the handing over the crown to Bolingbroke. Holinshed refers to Richards speech when he says, “And also I resigne all my kinglie dignitie, majestie, and crowne, with all the lordships, power, and privileges to the foresaid kinglie dignitie and crowne belonging, and all other lordships and possessions to me in anie manner of wise perteining, of what name, title, qualitie, or condition soever they be, except the lands and possessions for me and my obits purchased and bought.” (Holinshed, 407) In parallel with this description, Shakespeare also seems to use the moment of passing over the crown in the lines of act four scene 1, “Give me the crown. –Here, cousin, seize the crown.” (Shakespeare, 163) and in the lines,
Therefore, no “no,” for I resigne to thee.
I give this heavy weight from off my head
And this unwieldy scepter from my hand
The pride of kingly sway from out my heart.
With mine own tears I wash away my balm,
With mine own hands I give away my crown,
With mine own tongue deny my sacred state,
With mine own breath release all duteous oaths.
All pomp and majesty I do forswear.
My manors, rents, revenues I forgo;
My acts, decrees, and statutes I deny. (Shakespeare, 165)
These two texts have a parallel relationship. Holinshed provides the information on how Richard resign his post and what he hands over as he steps down from the crown, and Shakespeare retains the same material with the only difference in language. Holinshed’s account seems to be more precise and to the point. The reader does not feel sympathy or Richard’s pain when he is deposing himself nor does the reader feel Bolingbroke’s desire for the throne. But in Shakespeare’s account of Richard’s deposition, we see Richard’s emotions and how he feels about resigning his post. Shakespeare uses words like ‘tears, heart, sacred” to convey Richard’s feelings. In the passage from the play, Richard seems to be a victim because of the sympathy that the reader feels for him through Shakespeare’s language. In this sense, Shakespeare modifies Holinshed’s material no in its content, but in its language to add more emotion.
Towards the end of the text, Holinshed recounts the deposition of Richard and his willing resignation from the crown when he says,
He delivered to king Henrie now that he was thus deposed, all goods that he had, to the summe of three hundred thousand pounds in coine, besides plate and jewels, as a pledge and satisfaction of the injuries by him committed and doone, in hope to be in more suertie of life for the delverie thereof: but whatsoever was promised, he was deceived therein. For shortlie after his resignation, he was conveied to the castell of Leeds in Kent, & from thence to Pomfret, where he departed out of this miserable life. (Holinshed, 408)
Parallel to this information provided by Holinshed, Shakespeare retains part of this information in his play in act five scene one when Northumberland comes to Pomfret castle and informs Richard by saying, “My Lord, the mind of Bolingbroke is changed. You must to Pomfret, not unto the Tower.” (Shakespeare, 183) However, a slight difference occurs in the Shakespeare version of Richards deposition when Shakespeare does not mention the exchange between Richard and Bolingbroke, which includes Richard getting gold and other goods by turning in his kingship. Holinshed goes on to inform us that Richard was deceived and not given his share of the bargain. In Shakespeare’s version, however, deception refers to Richard being deposed not to the tower but Pomfret. Based on the play of Shakespeare, the reader is not provided with the information on what happens to Richard’s wealth, yet Holinshed delivers this information. In this sense, Shakespeare chooses not to use this part of the information which creates a distinction in the manner in which the deposition of Richard is conveyed. In Holinshed’s depiction, we see a more pathetic but deceived King Richard, who is stripped of his Kingship not in an honorable way. In Shakespeare’s version, on the other hand, we see a Richard who rightfully accused, and who deserves punishment for using his position as being the state not for the benefit of the state but his purposes.
The adaptation that Shakespeare uses in his play relates to the source he uses, Holinshed’s narration of Richard II’s deposition. However, Shakespeare makes small changes by using different language or leaving out some information. Even though these modifications seem significant, they do not change the integrity of the content. The biography of Richard’s resignation and deposition remains intact in both the texts. The adaptation of Shakespeare’s play is significant for the emotions it conveys of the characters. Shakespeare’s language and choice of words make the characters move between being villains and victims. Holinshed’s narration is significant for the biographical content it provides of Richard II.