Richard II first shows his power as King, when he banishes both Mowbray and Bolingbroke. His actions were not even of his own will, but from advice and a “party verdict.” How powerful is the King if he can be persuaded into banishing his own cousin from his country for six years? Not only does Richard II banish his cousin, he does so to avoid solving the actual conflict at hand between Bolingbroke and Mowbray. If this wasn’t cowardly enough, we later find out that Bolingbroke’s father, and Richard’s uncle is dieing, and after berating Richard II with his last words, Richard II decides to seize all his property (the rightful inheritance of Bolingbroke) and sell the property to fund his wars in Ireland.

Gaunt and Edward, Richard’s father, were claimed to have proved themselves as men of their country from their efforts in wars, while Richard II is said to have seen more peace, indicating his inexperience with war, as well as questioning his qualifications as King. It seems ironic that at the end of Act II King Richard is thought to have died in his wars in Ireland, just as Bolingbroke returns to reclaim what is rightfully his. There seems to be a power shift toward Bolingbroke, where he is feared by some of the characters more than they fear the King.