Richard II
O, let no noble eye profane a tear For me, if I be gored with Mowbray's spear! As confident as a falcon's flight Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fight... O thou, the earthly author of my blood, Whose youthful spirit in me regenerate Doth with a two-fold vigour lift me up To reach at victory above my head, Add proof unto mine armour with thy prayers, And with thy blessing steel my lance's point That it may enter Mowbray's waxen coat And furbish new the name of John o' Gaunt Even in the lust haviour of his son! (1.3.59-62,69-77) Bolingbrook begins his speech by speaking of the nobles and their profane tears that represent the misfortune that country will experience of he is struck by Mowbray's spear. The use of figurative language, through the adjective profane, provides the reader an interpretation to the importance of this fight, and the meaning it contains for all of England. If he were to lose, the noble's rights and money would be stolen in an unjust nation, with a corrupt dictatorship. If he were to win, the people's voices would be heard and King Richard would adhere to justice for the
This allows Shakespeare to illustrate his metaphors by using two lines of verse. The irony of these two dialogue's depict the feelings Richard will have towards Bolingbroke, when he realizes his own defects and flaws of character. He addresses them all at first, but then turns to his father as his key audience during the passage. The last syllable, son, contains specific meaning and concludes this passage because Bolingbroke wishes to stress the point that he is John of Gaunt's son. Shakespeare compares Bolingbroke to a "falcon's flight" to illustrate his own confident path and flight he has voluntarily taken upon himself to defeat Mowbray (1. King Richard warns Bolingbroke about revenge, but at the end of the play Richard sacrifices his kingly dignity willingly, and he himself becomes his own target of revenge and self-pity. I believe this passage confirms his character and ideas already acquired, but not yet convincingly expressed. His voice thrusts into the air with pure adrenaline to show his father and the court the man he has become and how that's how his father once was. He says, "Add proof unto mine armour with thy prayers, And with thy blessings steel my lance's point" (1. He, although some may find his hubris to be too abundant, solidifies his presence and respect among some of the most dominant members of royalty.
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