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Primary sourceBookc. 1595; printed 1597

Richard II

William Shakespeare · c. 1595; printed 1597

Shakespeare's history play about the deposition of King Richard II, printed as a 1597 quarto.

Shakespeare's play became entangled in real politics when Essex's supporters staged it before their 1601 rebellion.

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Title page of the 1597 quarto of The Tragedie of King Richard the second, printed in London by Valentine Simmes for Andrew Wise. Text notes it was publicly acted by the Lord Chamberlain's servants. A small oval woodcut ornament of a figure with a bird and a dog appears mid-page.
William Shakespeare, Richard II, quarto edition, printed by Valentine Simmes, London, 1597.

About this source

What it is

Richard II is a history play by William Shakespeare, written around 1595. It covers the final two years of King Richard II's life, ending in his forced abdication and death. It opens Shakespeare's Henriad tetralogy, followed by the two Henry IV plays and Henry V. The image shows the title page of the 1597 printed quarto.

Why it matters

The play's depiction of a king's deposition made it politically sensitive: supporters of the Earl of Essex arranged a performance of it on the eve of his 1601 rebellion against Elizabeth I, drawing Shakespeare's theatre company into real political danger. It shows how closely drama and politics could intertwine in this period.

Look closer

  • Why might a play about overthrowing a king have been considered dangerous to perform in 1601?
  • What does the choice to stage this play on the eve of a rebellion suggest about how people used theatre?
  • What flaws does Shakespeare give Richard that might explain his downfall?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of William Shakespeare on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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