The Relationship Between Richard II and The Myrroure for Magistrates Es

The Relationship Between Richard II and The Myrroure for Magistrates The relationship between Richard II and The Myrroure for Magistrates is considered here predominantly in the context of the differences between the two texts.[1] The function of each text is discussed initially, the didactic purpose of the Myrroure contrasted with the function of Shakespeare’s play as, primarily, theatrical entertainment. The conflicting accounts of certain events from Richard’s reign are looked at subsequently and the manner in which they reflect the different function of the texts. Finally, consideration is given to the different way in which the Myrroure and Richard II each reflect upon the theme of kingship through their portrayal of Richard’s reign. In relation to each of these points of discussion, it is argued that Richard II delivers a more complex, multi-dimensional portrayal of character, events and themes than the Myrroure. The Myrroure is imbued with moral didacticism and Richard II’s reign is employed to encourage rulers to govern virtuously and lawfully. Rulers must abide by ‘right’ and ‘lawe’ (l. 32), observe ‘faythful counsayle’ (ll. 35) and beware ‘false Flatterers’ (l. 33). Richard, however, is portrayed as a king who ‘ruled all by lust’ (l.31), ‘passing not a straw’ (l. 35) to those who sought to counsel him. He himself recounts how ‘I set my mind to feede, to spoyle’ (l. 37) and ‘my realme I polde’ (l.41), as a result of which he was ‘brought to care’ (l. 30). The form of the poem reinforces its didactic function. The use of a single voice results in a largely one-dimensional portrayal of Richard, no allowance made fo... ... Johnson (eds.), A Shakespeare Reader: Sources and Criticism, Macmillan Press Ltd., London: 2000, pp.7-9. Throughout this discussion the extract is referred to as ‘the Myrroure’. [2] ‘Telling’ refers to the technique of having a narrator telling what happens while ‘showing’ permits the reader to see the character act and speak. For a discussion of these two terms, applied in the context of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, see Pam Norris, ‘Reading Pride and Prejudice’, in Dennis Walder, The Realist Novel, Routledge, London: 1995, pp. 33-34. [3] See Margaret Healy, ‘Richard II’ in Kiernan Ryan (ed.), Shakespeare: Texts and Contexts, Macmillan Press Ltd., Basingstoke: 2000, p. 50. [4] Ibid., p. 53. [5] See Katherin Eisman Maus, ‘Richard II’ in The Norton Shakespeare, p. 948. [6] Ibid., p.943.