The Character of Richard III as Shakespeare Presents Him to Us

The Character of Richard III as Shakespeare Presents Him to Us

Shakespeare presents Richard to us in a very negative way. Richard is

portrayed as an evil person who is attracted to the power that the

throne could bring him and would take whatever risk is necessary.

Driven by his need for power he manipulates and murders his way to the

throne.

Richard shows himself as a manipulator right from the start of the

play. He tricks Clarence and makes him think that he has nothing to do

with his arrest. "But what's the matter Clarence? May I know?"

Clarence is the first person that Richard manipulates in a long line

of victims. Richard also successfully manipulates Anne. He manages to

get her to marry him only a few days after he has killed her husband.

He manipulates Anne with convincing arguments and by flattering her.

"Divine perfection of a woman….fairer than tongue can name thee." This

is Richards's persuasive skills at his best, now he has a stronger

claim to the throne. Richard knew that the king was unwell and by

springing the news of Clarence's death upon him he died. This was

typical of Richard, observing his enemies weaknesses and capitalising.

"Who knows not the gentle Duke is dead?"

Richard manipulates the arrival of Prince Edward so that he is seen as

the only loyal uncle to greet him and also gets the princes into the

tower."Your highness shall repose you to the tower." Richard during

his play act before accepting the crown says how he will not be a good

king. "So might and so many my defects." This is a gamble if he is to

convincing they will not want him on the throne. Richard then states

there is no need for him as ...

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...mber of the royal

family apart from the princes that had a solid claim.

There is proof that the Tudor historians went about blackening

Richards's name. Recent x-ray scans have shown that many paintings

were altered to enhance Richards's deformity. This is because during

the fifteenth and sixteenth century's deformity was linked closely

with evil, and therefore by enlarging his deformity they blackened his

name.

I think it is clear that Shakespeare represents Richard as an evil

usurper who murders his way to the throne. I think it is fair to say

that this play does reflect the Tudor view of the events. This is

because the only resources that Shakespeare could have used would have

been written by historians who worked for the Tudor monarchs to

blacken Richards name in order to secure their own seat on the throne.