King Richard II, at the beginning of the play, is the all-powerful English king, to whom his subjects owe complete allegiance. Richard knows how to play this role well, and he comes across in the early ceremonial scenes involving the quarrel between Bolingbroke and Mowbray as fully in control and able to wield regal power effectively. He also appears neutral in the dispute and at least makes a show of trying to reach a peaceful resolution.

However, a different picture of Richard soon emerges when he speaks in private to his favorites and when others in the nobility speak about him. It turns out that he has little judgment or wisdom when it comes to managing the kingdom. He overtaxes the citizens in order to fund his war in Ireland. He may have some responsibility in the death of the Duke of Gloucester. He chooses advisers poorly and Northumberland calls him a “most degenerate king!” (2.1.262). He acts rashly, irresponsibly, and illegally when on the death of his uncle, Gaunt, he seizes Gaunt’s wealth and thus denies Gaunt’s son Bolingbroke his inheritance. This is a colossal misjudgment on Richard’s part, the product of arrogance and avarice, and it leads directly to his overthrow.