reliminary belief was evident throughout his conversation with the Duchess of Gloucester in Act 1, Scene 2. The Duchess wanted John to avenge the death of her husband, John responded by saying, “God’s is the quarrel; for God’s substitute, His deputy anointed in His sight, Hath caused his death, the which if wrongfully Let heaven revenge, for I may never lift An angry arm against His minister” (I, 2, 39-43). When he was gravely ill he met with Richard II and vocalized his disapproval. Duchess of Gloucester does not agree with the order of the time. The court of a corrupt king killed her husband and she wants revenge. It is not socially acceptable to murder the innocent and therefore she did not believe God would delegate the power to do so to a man. She didn’t care about the Elizabethan Order. Duke of York belief in the Elizabethan World Order is based on the familial hierarchy. He had never questioned Richard II’s questionable decisions until Richard denied Hereford his rights as surviving heir by taking Gaunt’s possessions to fund the war in Ireland. “Take Hereford’s rights away, and take from time His charters and his customary rights; Let not tomorrow then ensue today; Be not thyself; for how art thou a king But by fair sequence and succession?” (II, 1, 204-209) The Duke realizes Richard is disturbing the very hierarchy that allowed him to inherit the throne. He is very passionate about the existence of order even though he realizes that Richard has done Hereford wrong he still asks him to put down arms and not rebel against the sovereign king. (II, 3, 156-165) He takes a neutral stance, a stance for the Elizabethan World Order as both sides have broken the order of the world. Bishop of Carlisle has perhaps the strongest beliefs in the Elizabethan World order. Based in his religious views, the Bishop believes anyone challenging the divine right of a king to be w...
