Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York Character Analysis in Henry VI Part 2

The Duke of York is an ambitious, energetic, and manipulative English nobleman who wants to seize the throne from young King Henry VI. Toward the play’s beginning, he maneuvers both sides of the warring English court to his own advantage. While agreeing to help the Duke of Salisbury and Salisbury’s son the Earl of Warwick protect the Duke of Gloucester against ambitious nobles who want to destroy him and occupy his position, the Duke of York subtly helps the anti-Gloucester camp destroy Gloucester. This maneuver leaves King Henry VI without his most loyal supporter. Subsequently, York convinces Salisbury and Warwick that he has a better claim to the throne than Henry. Agreeing to lead an army against an Irish insurrection, York leaves England but convinces Jack Cade to rebel against Henry in his absence. York then uses Cade’s rebellion and the supposed treacherousness of Henry’s advisor the Duke of Somerset as excuses to bring the army back to England. There, he declares himself England’s rightful king and wages war against Henry’s supporters. As the play ends, York’s forces have won an initial battle against Henry, and they plan to chase and capture the fleeing king.

Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York Quotes in Henry VI Part 2

The Henry VI Part 2 quotes below are all either spoken by Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York or refer to Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Salisbury:

Pride went before; Ambition follows him.

While these do labor for their own preferment,

Behooves it us to labor for the realm.

Related Characters: Earl of Salisbury (speaker), Earl of Warwick, Duke of Somerset, Buckingham, King Henry VI, Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York

Page Number and Citation: 1.1.188-190

Explanation and Analysis:

York:

Then will I raise aloft the milk-white rose,

With whose sweet smell the air shall be perfumed,

And in my standard bear the arms of York,

To grapple with the house of Lancaster[.]

Related Characters: Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York (speaker), King Henry VI

Related Symbols: Red Roses and White Roses

Page Number and Citation: 1.1.266-269

Explanation and Analysis:

Gloucester:

Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts!

Related Characters: Sir Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (speaker), King Henry VI, Dame Eleanor Cobham, Duchess of Gloucester , Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York

Related Symbols: Red Roses and White Roses

Page Number and Citation: 1.2.18

Explanation and Analysis:

York:

[(Reads.)] The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose,

But him outlive and die a violent death.

Related Characters: Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York (speaker), King Henry VI, Dame Eleanor Cobham, Duchess of Gloucester

Page Number and Citation: 1.4.62-63

Explanation and Analysis:

Wife:

Alas, sir, we did it for pure need.

Related Characters: Cardinal Beaufort, Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, Sir Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester

Page Number and Citation: 2.1.170

Explanation and Analysis:

York:

His eldest sister, Anne,

My mother, being heir unto the crown,

Married Richard, Earl of Cambridge, who was son

To Edmund Langley, Edward the Third’s fifth son.

By her I claim the kingdom. She was heir

To Roger, Earl of March, who was the son

Of Edward Mortimer, who married Philippa,

Sole daughter unto Lionel, Duke of Clarence.

So, if the issue of the elder son

Succeed before the younger, I am king.

Warwick:

What plain proceedings is more plain than this?

Related Characters: Earl of Warwick (speaker), Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York (speaker)

Related Symbols: Maine and Anjou

Page Number and Citation: 2.2.46-57

Explanation and Analysis:

King Henry:

Go, take hence that traitor from our sight;

For by his death we do perceive his guilt.

And God in justice hath revealed to us

The truth and innocence of this poor fellow,

Which he had thought to have murdered wrongfully.

Related Characters: King Henry VI (speaker), Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York

Page Number and Citation: 2.3.102-107

Explanation and Analysis:

Suffolk:

It is impossible that I should die

By such a lowly vassal as thyself.

Related Characters: William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk (speaker), King Henry VI, Sir Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York

Page Number and Citation: 4.1.117-118

Explanation and Analysis:

Cade:

I feel remorse in myself with his words, but I’ll bridle it. He shall die, an it be but for pleading so well for his life. Away with him! He has a familiar under his tongue; he speaks not I’ God’s name.

Related Characters: Jack Cade (speaker), Cardinal Beaufort, King Henry VI, William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, Sir Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York

Page Number and Citation: 4.7.105-108

Explanation and Analysis:

York:

That head of thine doth not become a crown;

Thy hand is made to grasp a palmer’s staff,

And not to grace an awful princely scepter.

[…]

Give place. By heaven, thou shalt rule no more

O’er him whom heaven created for thy ruler.

Related Characters: Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York (speaker), King Henry VI, Queen Margaret

Page Number and Citation: 5.1.97-106

Explanation and Analysis:

Enter the Earls of Warwick and Salisbury, wearing the white rose.

Related Characters: Earl of Warwick, Earl of Salisbury, King Henry VI, Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York

Related Symbols: Red Roses and White Roses

Page Number and Citation: 5.1.106

Explanation and Analysis:

Warwick:

Saint Albans battle won by famous York

Shall be eternized in all age to come.

Related Characters: Earl of Warwick (speaker), King Henry VI, Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York

Page Number and Citation: 5.3.31-32

Explanation and Analysis:

Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York Character Timeline in Henry VI Part 2

The timeline below shows where the character Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York appears in Henry VI Part 2. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Salisbury, the Earl of Warwick, and Cardinal Beaufort meet Queen Margaret, Suffolk, the Duke of York, the Duke of Somerset, and Buckingham. Suffolk announces that, as King Henry commanded, he conducted... (full context)

...the treaty and grants Suffolk, formerly a marquess, the title of duke. He then declares York’s regency in France over and invites the lords to witness Margaret’s coronation. Henry, Margaret, and... (full context)

York curses Suffolk, shocked that King Henry is marrying a woman who brings no wealth to... (full context)

Salisbury tells Warwick and York that they should be concerned for England, unlike the self-interested Somerset and Buckingham. He argues... (full context)

Left alone, York soliloquizes that King Henry, Suffolk, and the other lords were content to trade Anjou and... (full context)

...angrily. Another petitioner, Peter, reveals that he’s reporting his employer Thomas Horner for claiming that York deserves to be king. Suffolk calls a servant to attend to Peter and summon Horner... (full context)

...as King Henry, Gloucester, the Duchess, Cardinal Beaufort, Buckingham, Salisbury, Somerset sporting a red rose, York sporting a white rose, and Warwick sporting a white rose. King Henry is telling the... (full context)

...against him and asserts his love for both Henry and England. Then he announces that York is the man best qualified to be regent in France. When Suffolk asks permission to... (full context)

Guards march in the petitioner Peter and his employer Thomas Horner. Suffolk prays aloud that York can clear himself of “treason,” explaining that Peter has accused Horner, York’s armorer, of claiming... (full context)

York, Buckingham, and Stafford burst in with guards. York orders the conjurers arrested and calls up... (full context)

York, Salisbury, and Warwick are walking after dinner when York asks what the others think of... (full context)

York says, “We thank you.” After Salisbury and Warwick stand, York reminds them he’s not officially... (full context)

York reminds Henry that it’s time for trial-by-combat between Peter and Horner. Henry orders the combatants... (full context)

...rank and that her husband won’t help her. She then warns him that Suffolk, Margaret, York, and Cardinal Beaufort are all plotting to entrap him. Gloucester brushes off her warning, claiming... (full context)

...the Duchess’s treason. Cardinal Beaufort says that Gloucester condemned minor criminals to cruel, weird executions. York insinuates that he embezzled money intended to pay English soldiers in France. Buckingham predicts that... (full context)

...French territories. Henry declares this news unfortunate but concludes, “God’s will be done.” To himself, York mutters that it’s unfortunate for his own ambitions—he wants France as well as England—but he... (full context)

...arrest for “high treason.” Gloucester declares his conscience clear and asks what crime he committed. York says it’s “thought” the French paid Gloucester not to send English soldiers in France their... (full context)

York accuses Gloucester, when Lord Protector, of inflicting “strange tortures” on criminals. Gloucester replies that he... (full context)

...power struggle ends. He accuses the Cardinal of “malice,” Suffolk of “hate,” Buckingham of envy, York of overreaching ambition, and Margaret of complicity with the others. He predicts that they’ll fabricate... (full context)

To the Cardinal, Suffolk, and York, Margaret criticizes Henry’s passivity and emotionalism, claiming that Gloucester’s false show of wounded innocence has... (full context)

...messenger enters, declares that Ireland is rebelling, begs the lords to send help, and leaves. York suggests that Somerset should become regent of Ireland, given how well he did in France.... (full context)

...marrying Henry to impoverished Margaret, and trading away Anjou and Maine. The lieutenant declares that York wants payback for the “murder of a guiltless king”—and again orders Whitmore to take Suffolk... (full context)

Stafford’s brother accuses Cade of repeating a story that York gave to him. Cade denies this (and jokingly mutters that he came up with the... (full context)

A messenger enters and announces that York has returned from Ireland with many Irish soldiers, declaring his intention to save King Henry... (full context)

York, sporting a white rose, marches in with his Irish soldiers. He declares that he’ll depose... (full context)

York tells Buckingham that he’s bringing the army to save King Henry from “seditious” Somerset. Buckingham... (full context)

Buckingham and York link arms and walk toward King Henry’s tent. Henry comes to meet them with his... (full context)

...a red rose. Quietly, King Henry asks Buckingham to tell Margaret to hide Somerset from York. Margaret refuses. When York sees Somerset free, he becomes enraged, accuses Henry of dishonesty, and... (full context)

York’s sons Edward and Richard arrive sporting white roses. Shortly thereafter, Old Clifford and his son... (full context)

York sends for Salisbury and Warwick, who arrive sporting white roses. King Henry asks whether Salisbury,... (full context)

King Henry asks an attendant to summon Buckingham—armed. York tells Henry that, no matter how many allies he summons, York will win the throne... (full context)

...Castle Inn, Warwick appears sporting a white rose and yells for Clifford to fight him. York approaches, also with a white rose, and tells Warwick that he and Clifford just killed... (full context)

...wishes for Armageddon and swears he’ll show no mercy to anyone, even babies, associated with York. Then he picks up his father’s body and carries it away. (full context)

Somerset (with a red rose) and York’s son Richard (with a white rose) enter fighting. Richard kills Somerset and remarks that Somerset,... (full context)

York, his sons Richard and Edward, and Warwick enter accompanied by soldiers. Everyone is wearing a... (full context)

Henry VI Part 2

Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York Character Analysis

Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York Quotes in Henry VI Part 2

Act 1, Scene 1 Quotes

Act 1, Scene 2 Quotes

Act 1, Scene 4 Quotes

Act 2, Scene 1 Quotes

Act 2, Scene 2 Quotes

Act 2, Scene 3 Quotes

Act 4, Scene 1 Quotes

Act 4, Scene 7 Quotes

Act 5, Scene 1 Quotes

Act 5, Scene 3 Quotes

Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York Character Timeline in Henry VI Part 2