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, the disciple of Plato, 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 misjudgment causing exceptional suffering leading 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 decision-making power that prevents him from dealing with the changing situation. Moreover, it is his lack of wisdom that drags him into the swamp of flattery and keeps him making grave mistakes, which kill him.
His first tragic flaw is that he gets Gloucester killed. 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 elder John of Gaunt accuses him of his involvement 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 elimination. The old John of Ghent, being a patriot and relative of the king, wants to realize and condemn his participation in this murder, which ruins the name and fame of the country and his royal blood. Actually his Effort is to correct it but his failure prophesies 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 kin. Bolingbroke learns that Mowbray is a traitor and murderer of Gloucester. Apart from that, he has performed 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 the sycophants of him, he changes his mind and announces the exile 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 because of the interference of his uncle, Bolingbroke’s father.
It seemed very strange that they were not allowed to duel. In my opinion, such banishment was not in his favor. It was equal to creating unrest in the nation. In addition, it must 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 taking advantage of the time he could kill the other.
His third tragic flaw is more advantageous to Bolingbroke. The old Juan de Gante 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 petty and shameful words against his uncle. When his uncle dies, he confiscates his estate, convincing the public of Bolingbroke’s innocence and attesting to his personal animosity towards the aged John of Gaunt and his brave son. Furthermore this tragic flaw encourages the exiled warrior to return and relinquish his legacy from the king. So this tragic flaw wins the public favor for Bolingbroke and paves the way for his dethronement.
His fourth tragic flaw is that he heavily taxes the nation and turns all sycophants into everyone. His sycophants, who cheat and abuse him with their advice, surround him. He is too foolish and gullible to distinguish between good and evil. The sycophants, like locusts, were leaving the country empty and barren. He gives them license to do everything. They levy heavy taxes, rob noblemen of their property, and break laws. These actions by his sycophants sadden the nation and, in reaction, he sets out to rebel against such injustice, but a leading role is missing.
His final tragic flaw is that he himself goes to Ireland to put down 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 the period of banishment with a view to recovering his legacy.
Upon Bolingbroke’s arrival, York finds himself in the horn of a dilemma, at first condemning his return before the banishment period is over, but then 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. In fact, her appointment of York as regent of England and his trip to Ireland was one of the major fatal flaws that made his tragedy inevitable.
It becomes obvious that the main cause of his catastrophe is flattery. Furthermore, 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.
