The tragic flaws (Hamartia) of King Richard II
Hamartia is an ancient Greek term used by Aristotle for the tragic hero in his work ‘Poetics’. Aristotle, Plato’s disciple, describes the tragic hero as a distinguished person who has a very high position in life, falls from grace because of hamartia or tragic failure. So, according to him, hamartia means error of judgment that causes exceptional suffering that leads to the death of the tragic hero.
Shakespeare really wrote high-rise tragedies and earned exemplary status. One of them is King Richard II, a historical tragedy. His character, King Richard II, lacks the power of decision that prevents him from facing the changing situation. Moreover, it is the lack of his wisdom that drags him into the swamp of flattery and keeps him making serious mistakes, which perish him.
His first tragic flaw is that he gets Gloucester murdered. From Bolingbroke’s dialogue, it appears on the platform that Mowbray was assigned to kill Gloucester and Bolingbroke was ready to duel him. Also, the aged John of Gaunt accuses him of his part in the Gloucester murder at the various locations. He hints at the king as a murderer. Since he is weak before the king, he asks Nature for justice in the belief that there is delay but not removal. The old John of Gaunt, being a patriot and a relative of the king, wants to find out and condemn his participation in this murder, which ruins the name and fame of the country and his royal blood. In reality, his effort is to correct it but his failure makes a prophecy that such sins will quickly lead him to deposit it.
His second tragic flaw is that he banishes Bolingbroke and Mowbray. Mowbray was to be a bone of contention between the king and his kinsmen. Bolingbroke learns that Mowbray is a traitor and murderer from Gloucester. Apart from that, he has done other botched acts, revealing his disloyalty to the king. He calls the two warriors and claims to be impartial in the event of a duel. But on the advice of his flatterers, he changes his mind and announces the banishment of both under the pretext of maintaining peace in the country. He announces Mowbray’s banishment for life, while Bolingbroke is banished for ten years and then six years for the interference of his uncle, Bolingbroke’s father.
It seemed very strange that he wouldn’t allow them to duel. In my opinion, such banishment was not in his favor. It was equal to creating unrest in the nation. Also, it should raise doubts among the public that Mowbray murdered his uncle. So he tries to hide the crime from him. It is a serious defect of the king. If he really wanted to save himself, he shouldn’t stop them from dueling until one of them could kill the other. After seizing the time he could kill the other.
His third tragic flaw is more to Bolingbroke’s advantage. The old John of Gaunt falls seriously ill and the king goes to visit him. He, from his deathbed, rebukes and condemns his weaknesses, and his speech provokes him. He angrily utters mean and shameful words against his uncle. When his uncle dies, he confiscates his property, convincing the public of Bolingbroke’s innocence and confirming his personal animosity towards the aged John of Gaunt and his brave son. Furthermore this tragic flaw encourages the exiled warrior to return and sixteenth his legacy from the king. So this tragic flaw wins Bolingbroke out of favor with the public and paves the way for him to be dethroned.
Its fourth tragic flaw is that it heavily taxes the nation and turns all sycophants into everyone. His sycophants, who deceive and abuse him with his advice, surround him. He is too dumb and gullible to distinguish between right and wrong. The sycophants, like locusts, were leaving the country empty and barren. He gives them license to do everything. They impose heavy taxes, rob noblemen of their property, and break laws. These actions by his sycophants sadden the nation and, in reaction, he prepares to rebel against such injustice, but a leading role is missing.
His latest tragic flaw is that he himself goes to Ireland to stop the rebellion after having appointed York as regent of England. Although York is faithful to the king, he is a follower of justice; even so, the king gives him such a great responsibility. After his departure for Ireland, Bolingbroke, the banished warrior, returns without completing his banishment period in order to recover his legacy.
Upon Bolingbroke’s arrival, York finds himself in the horn of dilemma, at first condemning his return before the term of banishment is over, but later being moved and won over by him with words. The nation was completely tired of the king, so he supported Bolingbroke and rejected the king. Indeed, his appointment of York as Regent of England and his journey to Ireland was one of the chief fatal flaws which made his tragedy inevitable.
It becomes obvious that the main cause of his catastrophe is flattery. In addition, the playwright suggests that it is flattery that stirs the spirit of ambition, jealousy and hatred in kings, princes and nobles, so they forget to work for the welfare of the public and, consequently, civil war breaks out.