Passivity
One of the central motifs of Richard II is a surprising one for a history play, in which characters are typically vying for power through violence, war, and political machinations. In Richard II, the titular leader remains remarkably passive throughout, even as Bolingbroke inches closer to seizing the throne. He refuses to take action as Bolingbroke's army advances on England, and he relinquishes the crown without a fight. Richard's passivity is depicted partially as a weakness of his leadership and partially as a byproduct of his self-absorbed perspective: he believes that, as an anointed ruler, God is on his side and will prevent him from losing power. Of course, this perspective stands in stark contrast to that of Bolingbroke and his supporters, who see kingship as something one earns through the respect of the people.
Tears
Tears and other forms of sorrow are another important motif in the play, which depicts Richard's decline from authoritative ruler to suffering prisoner. After Bolingbroke takes the crown, Richard wallows in self-pity, with many characters commenting the prevalence of his tears. While Richard was clearly an ineffective king, his suffering in the latter half of the play is precisely what allows him to see things more clearly. Thus, his tears are configured as something that physically "blinds" him – because there are so many – but ultimately allows for deeper "sight" about leadership and his own legacy.
The Crown
In history plays, the crown is always an important symbol of power for the ruling monarch. In Richard II, the crown becomes a central object around which the drama of the play revolves. When Bolingbroke insists that Richard willingly give up his crown in front of spectators, he is recognizing that deposition – just like coronation, in which a king is initially crowned – must be a public fair in order to hold any weight with the people. For early modern audiences, this scene was a risky one to portray, as monarchs were wary of plays that depicted the loss of one's crown. During the play's original performances under Queen Elizabeth, the deposition scene was heavily censored.
Gardens
Garden metaphors and literal gardens abound in Richard II as symbols of prosperity and, conversely, disintegration. When the queen hears from the gardener that Richard has been deposed, she compares his fall to the Biblical fall of man from the book of Genesis, in which Adam and Eve are expelled from the idyllic Garden of Eden. In history plays, gardens are also used as metaphors for the English nation, and Richard II is no exception: the queen suggests that, because it is a sin to depose a sitting king, the country of England will soon devolve to an unruly, overgrown, weedy garden that is no longer prosperous.
The Sun
Another important convention of history plays, the sun is a symbol of power for the king who occupies the throne. This comparison plays a pivotal role in Henry V, but it is still operative in Richard II in a unique way. Richard is frequently compared to the sun and indeed compares himself to the sun multiple times, emphasizing his majesty and power. However, other characters (like Bolingbroke) also compare Richard to a setting sun, or one obscured by clouds. These comparisons suggest that Richard's majesty is fading and that his time on the throne is up; they also foreshadow his downfall by alluding to the figurative "dimming" of his light.
