How does Shakespeare increase tension in this scene and why would Shakespeare do this when he knows their fight will be interrupted?
Shakespeare builds tension up in this scene by playing on various stage directions, both audible and physical ones. There is a sort of robotic, formal feel to the whole scene as Richard and his nobles walk in one by one in an organised fashion, dramatically being announced by trumpets. Bolingbroke and Mowbray’s entries are also very ceremonious. Both enter the scene separately and are also individually announced by trumpets. This also builds up tension as the audience watches each character slowly appear one by one in this very formal, perhaps solemn manner – a slow, dramatic scene.
Shakespeare reinforces this tension by using law jargon in the stage directions, referring to Mowbray as he enters as ‘defendant’ and to Bolingbroke, as he too enters, as ‘appellant’. We can tell by these stage directions that Shakespeare perhaps wanted Mowbray and Bolingbroke to appear as members of a trial having to combat against each other and recreate that intense courtroom tension in this scene.
The Marshal’s speech is equally important. He addresses both men in a commanding tone, using imperative verbs ‘speak like a true knight’ and bombards them both with very straightforward yet demanding questions: ‘what’s thy quarrel?’ ‘Again whom comest thou?’. There is this idea of strict ceremony and routine interrogations continued throughout the whole scene – it drags on and subsequently builds up suspense as the audience waits for the ultimate climax, for the action to start. There is the repetition of ‘knighthood’ as the Marshal reminds both men they have military and royal duty to uphold and the very formal giving out of the lances. The whole thing very much feels like an organised ceremony, which feels very odd as it is essentially revolving around something violent and barbaric- two men are about to fight to the death.
The sounding trumpets are also symbolic of tension, usually associated with war and battles. So their presence in this scene makes the audience aware of the tense atmosphere and sets the scene in a war-like setting, echoing the intensity of the confrontation that is about to transpire. The armour Mowbray and Bolingbroke are wearing further gives the impression of a battle setting. When he suddenly changes his mind, Richard II commands for the trumpets to sound while he gives the two men their verdict. The trumpet’s sound is referred to as a ‘flourish’ in the stage directions. This means the trumpet’s sounding is elongated but the word ‘flourish’ also suggests Shakespeare intended the sound to be rich and almost exuberant, like a call of victory. Perhaps he wanted to show that Richard II sees his interruption of the duel and subsequent reversal of the situation as a triumph, therefore commanding the trumps to play a long, victorious sound. This could demonstrate Richard II’s arrogant attitude – he allows this situation to go on before suddenly changing it and viewing that as an achievement on his part – perhaps he felt he was being heroic by stopping them before there was any bloodshed. However, this strikes the audience as anti-climatic. There has been this huge, dramatic build-up to something that is then rapidly abandoned. The disappointing end to this dramatic scene is reflected in Mowbray’s sad ‘turning away’ as he receives another sentence instead and sorrowfully accepts to ‘turn away from his country’s light’.
I believe Shakespeare deliberately built the tension in this scene up and then reversed it so abruptly to show how volatile and unstable Richard II was as a ruler, foreshadowing his downfall. He also may be hinting at his perceived arrogance through his apparent belief his interruption and last-minute decision was heroic, symbolized by his demand for the victorious call of trumpets.
How does it make us feel towards Richard, Bolingbroke and Mowbray?
It makes the audience feel disappointed and even annoyed by Richard’s abrupt reversal of the situation. He prefers to give out unfair punishments instead of watching the two men fight on equal ground, showing his lack of sense of justice. We feel pity for Bolingbroke and Mowbray who had to go through so much of that preparation and mental strain, having to come to terms with the fact that they could lose their lives, only to have Richard II interrupt it so quickly and give them unfair retribution instead, with Mowbray banished for life and Bolingbroke only for six, a sentence which then reduced further to four years. We feel more compassion for Mowbray who was banished for life while his adversary Bolingbroke was given a much lighter sentence – he probably would have preferred to battle than receive this punishment.