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In the play Richard II by William Shakespeare, the Queen eavesdrops on a conversation taking place between two commoners, Gard and Serv, who are tending her garden. The Queen has to disconcertingly learn about the statuo quo of the king’s affairs, which are reflected in the corruption of his nation’s system. The simple conversation of the commoners serves as a startling an eye opener for the Queen. By means of figurative language, and other literary techniques, Shakespeare emphasizes the overall play, as well as dramatizes the king’s situation in the selected piece.

After being urged to go pluck the apricots, Serv wonders “Why should we in the compass of a pale,  Keep law and form and due proportion,  Showing, as in a model, our firm estate,  When our sea-walled garden, the whole land.” In this case the garden serves as a metaphor for their nation. It’s ironic that the Gard and Serv have to keep a material thing such as a king’s garden in pristine shape, when their outside world in in shambles. In turn this also portrays the king as lacking initiative and control, by allowing his garden/ country to get so out of hand. The references to “weeds” serve as a symbol for all the corruption that sprouts up within the land, often having a strong influence upon the king. One could also argue that tending and fixing of the garden is also reflective of today’s world, of how the masses are burdened with the challenge of repairing the mess and debt enforced on our nation by an ineffective leader. In both cases, the lower classes have to take responsibility for the authority’s mistakes.

Midway into the passage and on, metaphors and figurative language are used to further develop the king’s outcome. Lines “ Hath now himself met with the fall of leaf: The weeds which his broad-spreading leaves did shelter, That seem'd in eating him to hold him up, Are pluck'd up root and all by Bolingbroke,” present the outcome of the king and his affairs. Meeting with the fall of the leaf signify a type of closure in the king’s life. His supporter or “weeds” are plucked which symbolize a sudden death in his source of confidantes, potentially leading to the king’s own demise.  Finally Gard examines the symbolic idea that if the king had been a better gardener, he would still be alive and have control of the crown. Shakespeare writes, “Hath seized the wasteful king. O, what pity is it   That he had not so trimm'd and dress'd his land , As we this garden!.... Had he done so to great and growing men,  They might have lived to bear and he to taste Their fruits of duty.” In this case, the fruits of duty is a metaphor for all the privileges that come with being king.

Finally the Queen reacts to the eavesdropping, after hearing of the king’s potential removal from the throne. “Thou, old Adam's likeness, set to dress this garden, How dares thy harsh rude tongue sound this unpleasing news? What Eve, what serpent, hath suggested thee …Divine his downfall? Say, where, when, and how, Camest thou by this ill tidings? speak, thou wretch.” The figurative language which alludes to Adam is significant on the irritated Queen’s part because she feels that the end of the reign of her husband is worse than the sin and downfall of Adam. In addition the anger she holds toward the loss of the King seems to ironically be directed at the “wretch” , the Gardener who should assume no responsibility in the king’s downfall.