Richard Manipulation Essay

In this passage from Shakespeare’s Richard III, Richard progresses his plot further into acquiring the ultimate royal sovereignty. He has rid himself from the burden of Hastings, which brings him closer to achieve his goal. Richard states all wrongdoings of Edward, and sends Buckingham to spread rumors among the citizens. He then orders Lovell to gather allies, and he himself plans to get rid of Clarence’s children and ensure that no one can contact the princes locked up in the tower. Here, Richard is shown as a master of manipulation. Nothing would get in the way of him obtaining the crown, even if it means betraying his family. Richard’s villainy and his manipulation skills are reflected by Buckingham and Lovell’s loyalty and also his diction

Richard asks Buckingham to exaggerate Edward’s bad side to the citizens, including how Edward has seduced “their servants, daughters, wives,” in line 82, the asyndeton used here implies that this is only a fragment of what Richard has to say, which means that Edward has done more than what is listed, much more horrific than what Richard may fathom. Richard also uses personification, like “raging eyes” and “savage heart” in line 83 to indicate that Edward was brutal, and dehumanizing him, merely just a beast seeking “a prey”. Richard’s diction creates a visual imagery, putting on a false persona to criticize Edward, claiming that the citizens should know the ‘truth’. He turns himself from a man who is betraying his own brother, to a man who sympathizes with the citizens. He also claims that Edward is illegitimate in line 86 to 90: “Tell them, when that my mother went with child/ Of that insatiate Edward, noble York, My princely father, then had wars in France, And by true computation of the time/ Found that the issue was not his begot”. These lines indicate the extreme measures Richard is willing to take to lead himself into power. He is destroying the images and

The dramatic irony is very clear to the audience, as he has already established himself the actual villain who does not consider the inputs of others. In line 95 to 97, Buckingham replies to Richard’s controversial orders reply for Richard's order: “Doubt not, my Lord, I’ll play the orator/ As if the golden fee for which I plead/ Were for myself. And so, my Lord, adieu.” This particular response shows his loyalty to Richard by using anaphora to repeat the word “lord” twice. This can be further interpreted as Buckingham establishing himself as a close ally to Richard. In addition, Richard also speaks to Lovell in a demanding tone. He uses anaphora in the lines from 103-104, “Go, Lovell, with all speed to Doctor Shaw. Go thou to Friar Penker. Bid them both” creates a visual imagery of Richard being in power and commanding Lovell. This reveals Richard’s control over his allies, as Lovell exits without bearing any questions or explanations, proving Richard’s true villainy. After Lovell leaves, Richard reveals his future plan to the audience through his soliloquy. Richard belittles the children of Clarence and