King Richard The Second Essay

The “Tragedy of King Richard the Second” is a historical play that uses imagery as a method to capture the reader’s attention. In this play Shakespeare’s symbolism is experienced in several ways. Primarily, this essay will study John of Gaunt’s description of England as a garden, as well as Shakespeare’s concepts of garden and nature by the use of imagery.
A prophetic description spoken by John of Gaunt in his final hours, specifically portrays a scriptural relationship between England and the Garden of Eden. John refers to England as a “royal throne of kings”, and a “precious stone in the silver sea” (Act 2, Scene 1, 40 & 46). He also states, “This other Eden, demi-paradise”, “This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England” (Act 2, Scene 1, 42 & 50).

John acknowledges the greatness of the land as the fruitful producer of royalty. He continues to describe not only England’s maternal, but also spiritual connection in the following statement, “Of the world’s ransom, blessed Mary’s son, this land of such dear souls, this dear, dear land (Act 2, Scene 1, 56-57). In addition, John references King Richard’s reign as a fire that will soon burn out (Bevington, 2014). This was due to the king’s self-serving tendencies. John prophesized just as the beautiful Garden of Eden succumbed to sin, King Richard would ultimately fail