Act 3 Scene 1
At Bristol, Bolingbroke addresses Bushy and Greene, who have been taken
prisoner and are condemned to death. Bolingbroke lays out their offenses: they
misled the King by encouraging his vices. These included adultery, which caused
grief to the Queen. Bolingbroke also accuses Bushy and Greene of
misrepresenting him to the King. This was why the King banished him and
robbed him of his inheritance. But Bushy and Greene are unrepentant as
Northumberland leads them away. Bolingbroke then instructs York, who has
accompanied them to Bristol, to convey a courteous letter to the Queen, who is
staying at York's home. Bolingbroke then looks forward to a battle with Glendor,
who has not been mentioned before. The battle never happens and Glendor
does not appear in the play. (Glendor is the same as Glendower, the Welsh
leader who does appear in Henry IV).
Analysis
Whilst still, presumably, claiming only his legal inheritance, Bolingbroke is in fact
behaving more like a king, and a ruthless one at that. He takes it on himself to
condemn Bushy and Greene to death. He clearly shows his dominance over his
uncle York, and he is also careful to ensure that the queen is treated well. His
actions confirm that he knows how to wield power, although this does not make
him a likable figure.
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