If there is one prevailing theme in Shakespeare’s “Richard II, it is blood. Its meaning
varies in context throughout the play, evoking a sense of mortality and death, violence and guilt,
while simultaneously differentiating royal from sacred blood. Although the spectator might tend
to overlook it, the theme of blood is one of the most influential and binding elements topics
throughout the course of the play. Its significance is further reinforced through its affiliation with
other common themes and symbolism, such as God, nationalism and kingship.
To be convinced by my claim, the first thing the reader must identify are the most
commonly used meanings behind the theme of blood in “Richard II”. In this historical tragedy,
the most used interpretations of blood are royal high blood and bloodlines, in addition to the idea
of sacred blood. Sacred blood is first mentioned by Richard II in Act I.1, and later made
reference to by the Duchess in scene II, “Were as seven vials of his sacred blood, / Or seven fair
branches springing from one root” (I.2.12-13). The meaning behind this gives way to the Theory
of the Divine and the right of Kings, which was believed in Richard II’s era to be the reason
kings became part of royalty – because they were chosen by god. Royal blood, along with
bloodlines, are concepts that emanate from the interpretation of sacred blood. Richard II, for
example, is known to have sacred blood, however, this couldn’t have happened without the
influence of royalty and his bloodline, which led him to inherit the throne.
The theme of blood can also be connected to the predominant analogy of the sun in
“Richard II”. Throughout the play, the sun represents power and kingship while also awakening
a sense of a divine presence. One of the most popular quotes in which Richard II refers to
himself as a sun-king is during his self presentation: “Whilst we were wand’ring with the antipodes, / Shall see us rising in our throne, the east”. (III.2.49-50). The relation between this
analogy and the meaning of sacred blood is found in the glory, majesty and god-chosen qualities
Richard II is believed to have. The reason why he is believed to have become king is the same
reason he thinks of himself as powerful as the sun – throughout the play he has god on his side.
Taking this analogy into further examination, it could also indicate Richard’s fall from the throne
is the same in that the sun rises, and it also sets.
Furthering the appearance of blood as a prevailing theme, there are multiple examples of
it making reference to aristocracy, family and lineage. For instance, on Act I.1, lines 113-114,
Mowbray, while conversing with the King, mentions how Bolingbroke defamed his bloodline,
“Till I have told this slander of his blood, / How God and good men hate so foul a liar.”. This is a
great example of the role of family and bloodline, since the plot of the play is based on family
betrayal and the constant proof that sometimes blood can be thinner than water. In addition to
this, further into the act, we find another example of a reference to royal genealogy. Mowbray, is
once again competing for the King’s approval concerning his loyalty towards him and his
kingdom. He states he is more devoted than Bolingbroke whom, unlike him, is part of his same
royal family, “To prove myself a loyal gentleman / Even in the best blood chamber’d in his
bosom./ In haste whereof, most heartily I pray / Your highness to assign our trial day.”
(I.1.148-15). Likewise, this passage determines the importance of allegiance between the
characters. It creates a connection between the corrupted idea of loyalty and family in the play.
Although Richard II banished Mowbray until death regardless of the fact they were both guilty
of the death of the Duke of Gloucester. This comes to show how family connections dont matter
when there’s bigger things at stake.
As previously mentioned, family is a very important topic in relation to the theme of
blood. Moreover, its significance is based on the fact that every character in the play shares some
sort of familiar bond with each other, making this a strength for some and a weakness for others.
The connection between characters can be considered one of the reasons tumultuous occurrences
take place frequently along the course of the play. As a result of this, we can find multiple quotes
from “Richard II” that fulfill this connection between blood and family. For example, when he
says: “The daintiest last, to make the end most sweet: / O thou, the earthly author of my blood,/
Whose youthful spirit, in me regenerate,” (I.3.68-70). Bolingbroke is referring to a family
member as his “earthly author”, insinuating the person who raised him on Earth continues to give
him life. This quotation gives a taste of the relevance of family bonds and feeble blood
relationships that seem to bend and break. Additionally, another example could be Bolingbroke
mentioning how close of a relative he is to Richard II, “Myself, a prince by fortune of my
birth,/Near to the king in blood, and near in love” (III.1.16-17). In this passage, Bolingbroke
directs his speech towards Bushy and green, insinuating they are the reason Richard II banished
him, transmitting a sense of resentment towards them.
Furthermore, we could also compare these interpretations to an additional and crucial
symbolism found throughout the play, such as the Earth. The Earth represents nationalism, death,
mortality and humanity, similarly to the way blood is portrayed. An example of blood
referencing England, and therefore nationalism and royalty in the play, would be: “Now, afore
God, ’tis shame such wrongs are borne / In him, a royal prince, and many more / Of noble blood
in this declining land.” (II.1.238-240). This is a good quote that refers both to England and royal
blood. With this in mind, England is considered to be a deteriorating land from the beginning of the play as a consequence of Richard II’s reign. Along with this theme, we can find another
passage regarding England: “And if you crown him, let me prophesy: /The blood of English shall
manure the ground,” (IV.1.136-137). This quote by Carlisle Insinuates the outcome of England if
it were to land in the wrong hands. Englishmen’s blood would be spilt and regret from future
generations would feed the ground. The use of the word “manure” is a very particular and
interesting choice of word in this passage. It almost insinuates the possibility of something good
coming out of death. Blood could possibly serve as a fertilizer of land with the right king leading
England. Nevertheless, this passage in particular not only associates blood with the symbolism of
Earth and England but it is also a good example of blood in violence and death.
Although Shakespeare’s “Richard II” isn’t considered a violent play, we can still find
references to violence and death that transmit to the reader an image of literal blood, in contrast
to the symbolism previously touched upon. Blood represents violence and death mostly
concerning war, England, and its people. On Act III.3, we can find an example of war when the
King insinuates how declaring war against him would shed blood of innocent Englishmen while
making reference to royalty and the losing the crown, “Is dangerous treason: he is come to open/
The purple testament of bleeding war;/ But ere the crown he looks for live in peace,/ Ten
thousand bloody crowns of mothers’ sons” (III.3.94-96). Along with this quote, we find another
clear representation of violence and blood shaped as a metaphor of the moon, “And meteors
fright the fixed stars of heaven; / The pale-faced moon looks bloody on the earth” (II.4.9-10).
The language itself expresses intensity while the color red is the physical identification of blood
and therefore violence in the play, “Blood with spurring, fiery red with haste.”( II.3.59), as
another example of the use of this particular language.
Putting violence aside, we can also find a subtle feeling of guilt associated with blood in
the play. An example of this occurs in Bolingbroke’s speech in act III, which was previously
mentioned regarding family ties: “With too much urging your pernicious lives,/ For ’twere no
charity; yet, to wash your blood/ From off my hands, here in the view of men/ I will unfold some
causes of your deaths” (III.1.4-7). The imagery created from Bolingbroke’s need to wash the
blood off his hands, evokes guilt. A similar underlying sense of guilt is also found in Act V.6,
“To wash this blood off from my guilty hand: / March sadly after; grace my mournings here;/ In
weeping after this untimely bier.” (V.6.50-52). The king not only admits he is guilty of having
blood on his hands, but also implies it was a necessity for him to grow. This gives blood a new
meaning of growth and is very similar to the comparison to manure. These are important
interpretations to the meaning of blood , since they distance themselves from the metaphysical
and centers on human qualities instead.
Adding to this, on the contrary to the theme of violence and death, blood can also be
perceived as a reminder of life, humanity and mortality. The concept of “heartblood” is used in
the play as a way to emphasize life and common blood. The appearance of this type of reference
is a reminder of the human-like qualities beyond the common themes of royalty and divinity
through the play. “Snakes in my heartblood warmed that sting my heart!” (III.2.131), is an
example of the use of heartblood, in which we can read the literal use of the word blood. In
contrast to the idea of death in blood, the reader can identify life, mortality and humanity within
the play. In Richard’s speech, he claims to be made out of flesh and blood regardless of being
king, and being mortal just as everyone else, “Comes at the last and with a little pin / Bores
through his castle wall, and farewell king! / Cover your heads and mock not flesh and blood” (III.2.169-171). This is one of the most human-like moments Richard II has across the play. He
seems to be stripped from his royal privileges and remembers at the end of the day, he is just as
everyone else. On the contrary, in Act III.3, “For well we know no hand of blood and bone / Can
gripe the sacred handle of our scepter” (III.3.79-80), although a reference towards mortality,
“blood and bone” is made, in the context of the play its meaning varies towards Richar’s big ego
and his feeling of supremacy over the rest. This connects the theme of mortality along with the
theme of royalty and the abiding belief of the Theory of the Divine.
As previously claimed, the overall meaning of blood creates a connection between the
major themes in the play. Although some interpretations complement one another, others, such
as death and life, humanity and violence, create a contradiction. The significance of this binding
theme, although not readily apparent to the spectator, is the reason we understand the importance
of lineage, the divine right of kings, earth and humanity.