Thus play I in one person many people, And none contented: sometimes am I king; Then treasons make me wish myself a beggar, And so I am: then crushing penury Persuades me I was better when a king; Then am I king'd again: and by and by Think that I am unking'd by Bolingbroke, And straight am nothing: but whate'er I be, Nor I nor any man that but man is With nothing shall be pleased, till he be eased With being nothing.
In this passage from Richard II, the speaker reflects on the paradox of identity and the fleeting nature of power. They highlight the constant shifting between roles, embodying both a king and a beggar, illustrating the instability of their circumstances. This duality brings forth emotions such as ambition and despair, ultimately leading to discontent regardless of status. The speaker grapples with feelings of inadequacy and the burdens associated with authority.
By expressing the notion that personal worth is often tied to external validation, the speaker suggests that true contentment is elusive. They reject the idea that any man, regardless of power or lack thereof, can find lasting happiness while caught in the struggle of existence. Thus, the journey through life's roles leads to a profound realization: no one can attain satisfaction while grappling with the inevitability of nothingness.
