Wednesday, September 2, 2015
What Makes Up Your Identity?
Leading up to Act 3 Scene 2, King Richard has always had his identity pretty much set in stone. He has stood up for what he wants and believes regardless of who he was speaking with – even his right hand men. And he has just had this bold attitude about him of knowing who he is and what authority he has. Now, at the beginning of this scene King Richard is looking forward to finally coming back to his kingdom and describes it as a reuniting of a mother and child making his kingship, his identity, being not only an idea of who one thinks they are but also a sense of belonging and ownership of something. It is also based on how others give him such an identity. We see his Bishop Carlisle and Duke of Aumerle tell him that basically he will be king no matter what and that he needs to remember the divine authority that gave him that position that makes him who he is. Since his identity is mostly based off of how others see him and his ownership and belonging to his kingdom, it is no wonder that he has an identity crisis. Boilingbroke not only took ownership of his kingdom, but also his subjects – other people who were giving him the kingly identity. This really makes me stand back and ask what creates my identity? And it’s interesting this all came up right after doing our introductions on the blog. Is my hometown to me like the king’s kingdom? Is my husband and family like the kings subjects that give him his identity? Or is there more to it?
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Do you think Richard is confused by his identity? I can see your point with the pressures put upon him by his subjects and his usurpers, who are really just giving them permission to rule if they can beat Richard. Do you think Richard is looking to breakaway and carve an individual identity?
ReplyDeleteI think we especially see Richard's identity crisis in Act V, scene v when he's considering what his role is now that he is totally isolated from the world. I think it's interesting that he decides to consider himself somewhat of a creative god, with his thoughts as his creations and the subjects he rules in his "new world". He seems to retain some sort of belief in his own divinity even in isolation.
ReplyDeleteI think you raise an interesting point about identity, and what that means to people. I see that in our own lives we constantly identify ourselves with our job, our homework, our likes and dislikes. But there's that one semi-famous story about the guy who was asked by God who he is and the man answers with things like that, and eventually God strips him of all those things and the man no longer has an answer. Fascinating ideas.
ReplyDeleteWow, that really made me think! Thanks for sharing the insight! :D
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