# John of Gaunt — Richard II character guide

> John of Gaunt in Richard II by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Gaunt, old Gaunt, John a Gaunt, time-honour'd Lancaster, Exit Gaunt, Gaunt O, Gaunt Sister, King Richard Old John of Gaunt

**First appearance:** 0002-act-i-scene-i

## Snapshot

Richard's dying uncle, who summons his last breath to deliver the most famous speech in the play — a love-letter to England and a warning to its king.

## Who they are

Gaunt is the old nobility incarnate: loyal, blunt, and increasingly powerless beside a nephew who will not listen. He tries to mediate between Bolingbroke and Mowbray, then watches his son exiled and his own estates seized, and his deathbed prophecy against Richard carries the weight of a man who has loved England longer than the king has ruled it. His exit clears the last restraint on Richard's recklessness and sets the tragedy in motion.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_ii_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i)

Present as Bolingbroke's father; attempts to calm his son and urges him to withdraw the gage.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_ii_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii)

Grieves for his murdered brother but refuses to take revenge against the king, whom he sees as God's anointed deputy.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_ii_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iii)

Attempts to console Bolingbroke with philosophical advice, while revealing his own sorrow and premonition of death.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_ii_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iv)

Reported as grievously sick; Richard hopes for his death to seize his wealth.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_ii_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i)

Delivers a dying prophecy and rebukes Richard for leasing out England.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_ii_se/characters/john_of_gaunt
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_ii_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_ii_se/characters