Shakespeare Explained| Richard II play

This episode of Shakespeare Explained is from the Richard II play.
To hear the speech read in different styles watch my video on the speech being read in three different ways - kzbin.info/www/bejne/ol7Gm2Skid97q5o
Taken from Richard II act 3 scene 2 the Richard II speech starting, featuring the famous line 'for within that hollow crown' and 'let us sit on the ground and tell sad stories of the death of kings,' is the turning point of the play in which the audience behold the tragedy of Richard. Convinced of the divine right of the king, we see the realisation that he is mortal and fallible come pouring in upon his consciousness. That is why taking this speech from Richard II line by line is the most effective way to sense the emotions.
Shakespeare leaves us with a recognition that we all have feet of clay. That no matter our achievements, accolades or prominence, we are all but a breath, a little scene in the endless play that is life and history. That Death rules as king and plays us like a joker plays a joke.
Watching the world of, perhaps the most eloquent and grandiose of his characters, begin to disintegrate into dust, allows Shakespeare to fill us with an almost visceral sense of transience which catches us mid breath in its force. Truly a magnificent piece of rhetoric.
These videos are intended as shakespeare talks which have shakespeare explained line by line or at least take the study of shakespeare speeches in depth.
The way to understand the bards works is to simply understand what is being said. He wrote for everybody, and though the structure of language has changed, it is still easily understood if you take the small effort to listen to some videos which help to see short speeches of shakespeare explained in depth.
And that is why I have created the Shakespeare explained series. Line by line Shakespeare which will enable you to become so familiar with his words, that you will be able to go away and enjoy the finest literature ever produced in the English language. Once you have discovered William Shakespeare properly, you will wish you had known him all of your life and will roll your eyes when somebody says: Why studyShakespeare?
Please take the time to watch the video all the way through, or save it to watch at a later time.
I would very much like to hear your thoughts on the videos and your own interpretation of Shakespeare and your favourite passages.
Please like and subscribe if you enjoyed this video and come back again for some more of Shakespeare Explained.
If you love classic literature, then you can also follow me on Instagram
tristan_and_the_classics
Thank You
Tristan

[@angelawebb7676]

With every video about poetry and Shakespeare, you bring me one step closer to overcoming my resistance to diving in.

[@eveb446]

I have only just seen your video on King Richard II tragedy, play. A few days ago, I went to see the play Richard II, so your video helps to clarify the hollow crown speech. Thank you for sharing.

[@amelieharperstanford]

"words are the colours with which we paint our lives" so true

[@lais7028]

THANK YOU. This is wonderful. So in insightful. Obrigado!-(all the way from Brazil)

[@viniciusa.correa2830]

Hey man, Im Brazilian and Im gonna do the Richard II speech on a play. Thats really helpful to my searches! Thank you.

[@sandradahlin9451]

Thank you. So helpful. Have just seen an amazing production of Richard II at Stratford Festival Canada. Richard played so heart-breakingly and believably by Stephen Jackman-Torkoff.

[@Lyn620]

Thank you so much! Just an amazing gift to have found you as I’ve been rereading Richard ll. Be well!

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thank you ever so much Lyn. Pleased that you enjoyed the video. Shakespeare is the cat's pyjama's, what? This is a great play.

[@madelinefusay8936]

This is SO ENLIGHTENING ! Incredible and so pleasant, thank you so much for doing all of this, bless you on the behalf of all pupils studying English literature! 👍

[@robertkrulwich7165]

I hadn't considered that the "king" in this speech is Death, not Richard. Once you proposed that, and defended it line by line by line, all the way to "subjected thus...." I was convinced. And awakened. And felt suddenly smart, because the whole speech now fits together like a well-made cabinet. So thank you.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thank you Robert. It is a brilliant play. And that's the wonderful thing about Shakespeare, he is so nuanced and deep and multi-faceted, that there is always something to learn about ourselves through his characters.

[@amelieharperstanford]

best teacher thank you! blessed be

[@pluto8358]

i’m memorizing this monologue for one of my classes, and i’m so glad i chose it! it’s incredibly rich and fascinating. this video helped so much, thank you!!

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Hey Pluto, you've picked a brilliant monologue. Richard is perhaps this most eloquent of all Shakespeare's characters. The monologue can be rendered on so many styles. Hope it goes well for you.

[@srikanthgopalan1593]

This is brilliant. I came to Shakespeare a little late, but he is really enriching my inner life. And your deconstruction of the hollow crown speech was powerful. Thanks mate! I’ll look for your other videos.

[@zadsabri8135]

Thank you so much for your illuminating analysis of the final moments in Richard 2 s life. That speech reminds me of Macbeth s soliloquy in which he compares life to a poor player stage, strutting his hour.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Great comparison. Especially as Richard conducts himself with an elevated persona as if acting the divine king.

[@Paul.Damian1]

Tristan, this was so incredibly insightful. I'm actually preparing this speech, and it was very valuable to hear your analysis. It would be awesome if you did the same thing for more Shakespearean work, including his poems. I'm sure you've already done that however to a certain extent :)

[@robertkrulwich7165]

Oh, and one more thing. I wonder if you ever saw Mark Rylance do this speech? He did it like nobody I'd ever seen, ever even imagined. He chose to go high in his voice, became embarrassed, awkward, so uncomfortable with the myth of his power that at the end he just folds up like the petals in a flower and falls over onto the floor and gets small -- so small, it's shocking. And watching him you feel so sad that someone cast that high could go so low. I don't know how to categorize what he did, but you should add it to your list of possible interpretations.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

I've not seen Mark rylance do this, but I will check it out.

[@soninoscardelletti2844]

Absolutely FANTASTIC stuff Pal! God Bless

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thank you Sonino. I really appreciate it.

[@naly202]

Thank you for your brilliant analysis. I've heard this speech several times and know it pretty well, but I never understood it fully until now.

[@ntebalengtwala875]

Words are the colours with which we paint our lives

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

😀

[@nickgoldin2569]

amazing amazing video, thank you so much!

[@josephapalmesani1439]

Thank you for this video it really helped me to comprehend the piece. Plus since I am not a native in English it was very hard at first but I managed to make it work!😉👍🏼 I have and explanation of the text of the act one scene one for the next days, I hope I can make it!

[@Maddsmass]

this was incredibly insightful! would you be able to do a close reading of Bolingbroke’s speech in act 5, scene 6?

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Pleased you enjoyed it Amanda. I'll look at Bolingbrokes speech especially for you. Thanks for the request.😃

[@jpa1214]

Great video

[@gaildoughty6799]

Wandering through your videos this morning, I came upon this one. Thank you very much for pointing out some things I hadn’t noticed. Shakespeare (and other classics) shows us something new with every reading. ETA: I’ve seen some scenes, including this one, from the production with Mark Rylance as the king. I found it astonishingly well-done, throwing new light on the role.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Hi gail I am so sorry for my late response, life gets quite hectic. Thank you for leaving this. I checked out Mark Rylance's performance and it was excellent.

[@ntebalengtwala875]

Words are the colours of life!

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

😀

[@Laocoon283]

That was great

[@magdalenaforbes1968]

Loved it

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thank you

[@ceciliabustos9979]

I am enjoying your videos so much. I am very grateful. Thank you❤

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thank you so much 💓

[@ntebalengtwala875]

Beautifully explained. Reignited my love for literature.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

This may perhaps be the best comment that I have received to date. If these videos can rekindle a love for good literature I will be satisfied. I worry that my videos are too long, but I really want to explore and help others explore the wondrous fathoms of meaning, beyond just the surface story. Thank you so very very much for taking the time to be so positive and encouraging. Feel free to make suggestions. I need as much help as I can get😃🎩❤

[@ntebalengtwala875]

Oh worry not. Your video timing is perfect. Lol I even take notes for myself, you make me revisit the sections in the book. Great work you doing. Thank you for taking your time to analyse the literature. Already ordering some of your recommendations for 2021.😁😁. Cannot wait for your review videos.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

@@ntebalengtwala875 oh fabulous. That is boomps-a-daisy😃 are there any of the 12 that you particularly want to see done? Crime and Punishment is being done in January. Also if you have other Classics that are not on lists which appeal to you, then feel free to suggest them.🎩❤😃

[@soninoscardelletti2844]

Good Stuff! God Bless

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thank you. Pleased you enjoyed it. 😀

[@gamingbraceace1018]

Beautiful, thank you for dictating this passage. Upon a first reading I found Richard II wordy and convoluted, but as I return to it I feel like an idiot for ignoring the poetry in his words.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thank you so much for commenting, it means the world. So pleased that you are revisiting this play as Richard is such an eloquent character and Bolingbroke so forceful. You are no 'idiot' as you clearly endeavour to get a real understanding of what you read. Its amazing how timing and personal situations affect our first impressions of things. For instance, I thought The Tempest was pretty drab to start with. I visited again a few times and suddenly, KABLAM! It whacks me in the solar plexus and leaves me breathless with wonder. Do you have any favourite works of literature?😃🎩❤

[@gamingbraceace1018]

@@tristanandtheclassics6538 I'd say my favourite book is 'The Magus' by John Fowles. I read it last year and the plot metaphorically ragdolled me in a thoroughly enjoyable way. The ending was surreal too and I loved it. Would definitely recommend if you haven't read it already!

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

@@gamingbraceace1018 oh excellent! It is a book that has been loitering around the peripheries of my radar for a while. Now I shall race off and pick one up. Thank you for the recommendation. They are always welcome. 🎩😃❤

[@carlaraimer718]

🌈🙏💜thank you

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

You're welcome Carla. Thank you for being so kind and commenting. ❤

[@stefanieraaf6562]

Brillant! Vielen Dank

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thank you so much Stefanie! ☺