William Shakespeare's Aim in Richard III Richard III, in my opinion, was written to portray Richard as an arch villain, to show him as an evil and even more callous person than he actually was. Although, the dialogue in the play compiles of a large amount of entertaining situations, remarks, asides and conversations. Richard III was based on a true life king who ruled between 1483-1485. Upon the death of his brother, Edward IV, he became guardian to his two nephews, Edward V, the new young king, and his younger brother, Richard. These were described as “the two Princes” in the play. Instead of looking after them, he had them murdered. He then became king. Richard was killed in the battle of Bosworth by his cousin, Henry Tudor. In Act one Scene Two, Richard Seduces Anne. She and Richard are having an argument about who kills her Husband. Anne persists on blaming Richard. The widow uses witty comments to try and catch out Richard; but he uses even more intelligent and cunning phrases to come back. For example, when Richard shows his boldness. Anne first says. “And thou unfit for any place but hell” and Richard replies with, “Yes, one more place, if you will hear me name it”. “Some dungeon.” says Anne. Richard, “Your Bedchamber.” The style of language Richard expresses here accentuates his gripping boldness and “unbeatable” sharpness. Richard is very clever; he always sees an opportunity for a come-back. He is constantly contradicting and “correcting” Anne. “Black night o’ershade thy day, and death thy life.” says Anne. Richard replies with, “Curse not thyself, fair creature; thou art both.” Notice the contradictive and conflic... ... middle of paper ... ...ng Edward IV’s chamberlain and the previous Queen’s brother. But nobody could prove nor believed this. Another truth is that Richard really did cry in battle, “A Horse! A Horse! My kingdom for a horse.” After defeating Richard at the Battle of Bosworth. Henry Tudor set about the deformation of his character. All of a sudden, Richard was a hunchback, child killer and a psychopath. Shakespeare, living under a Tudor monarch, helped greatly in the re-shaping of history, casting Richard as the arch villain. He cast him as the king who was a villain, with a withered hand and a hunched back. The Tudors hated Richard and wanted everyone to think negatively of him. I conclude that Richard II had other purposes’ than to entertain. It was written as propaganda. It was in fact written for the Tudor queen Elizabeth I.
Richard III's Usurpation and His Downfall Richards rule was always unstable due to his unlawful usurpation to the throne and his part as far as the public was concerned in the death of the two princes. As a result right from the start he didn't have the trust or support from his country. As soon as he became King people were already plotting against him. After he was crowned he travelled the country trying to raise support by refusing the generous gifts offered to him by various cities. However unknown to him a rebellion was been planned in the South.
To explore connections between texts is to heighten understanding of humanity’s progressing values and the underlying relevant themes that continue to engage societies regardless of context. William Shakespeare’s King Richard III (1592) (RIII) and Al Pacino’s docudrama Looking for Richard (1996) (LFR) demonstrate how opinion is created through comparative study, both explore the struggle for power within differing contexts to determine the duplicity of humanity. Ultimately, despite the divergent eras of composition and textual form, these connections expose the relevant social commentaries of their composers, highlighting innately human values, which remain constant.
Anne is quite like a modern woman in the way that if a man tells her
trusts Iago and that he believes in him and his word, so he makes his
Written during a time of peace immediately following the conclusion of the War of the Roses between the Yorks and the Lancasters, William Shakespeare’s play Richard III showcases a multi-faceted master of linguistic eloquence, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, a character who simultaneously manages to be droll, revolting, deadly, yet fascinating. Richard's villainy works in a keen, detestable manner, manifesting itself in his specific use or, rather, abuse of rhetoric. He spends a substantial amount of time directly interacting and therefore breaking the fourth wall and orating to the audience in order to forge a relationship with them, to make members not only his confidants of murderous intentions, but also his accomplices and powerless, unwilling cohorts to his wrongdoings. Through the reader’s exploration of stylistic and rhetorical stratagem in the opening and final soliloquies delivered by Richard, readers are able to identify numerous devices which provide for a dramatic effect that make evident the psychological deterioration and progression of Richard as a character and villain.
During the Middle Ages and Renaissance period marriage and love were idealized, divine and celebrated. Weddings were large events that included the entire families of both the groom and the bride. Reality was different; women were viewed as being fickle, inferior to men and a possession of men. Women had very little, if any, choice in who they would marry. Marriages were arranged so that both families would benefit in gaining wealth or power. Even though the ruler of England for over 4 decades was female, women were still not respected. Women were kept at home and not allowed to take place in public events. In Shakespeare’s Richard III, male and female relationships are displayed as deeply cynical and are based on lies, lust and political gain.
Composers throughout various zeitgeists are linked by different representations of universal human concerns, and their texts simultaneously embody certain values and agendas individual to themselves. An exploration of Shakespeare’s King Richard III (1592) and Al Pacino’s Looking for Richard (1996) allows for a greater understanding of the composer’s respective contexts, along with their intended agendas, through the lens of their own societal values and concerns. The manipulation of Richard III’s persona, whether by authorial adaptation of historical sources related to his character, or through the differing views of Richards motives, are universal concepts, that when studied in relation to the differing time periods, accentuates the context and our understanding of recurrent aspects of the human experience.
According to many, Shakespeare intentionally portrays Richard III in ways that would have the world hail him as the ultimate Machiavel. This build up only serves to further the dramatic irony when Richard falls from his throne. The nature of Richard's character is key to discovering the commentary Shakespeare is delivering on the nature of tyrants. By setting up Richard to be seen as the ultimate Machiavel, only to have him utterly destroyed, Shakespeare makes a dramatic commentary on the frailty of tyranny and such men as would aspire to tyrannical rule.
Casting a darkly mythical aura around Richard III, supernatural elements are intrinsic to this Shakespearean history play. The prophetic dreams of Clarence and Stanley blur the line between dream and reality, serving to foreshadow impending doom. The ghosts that appear before Richard III and Richmond before their battle create an atmosphere of dread and suspense, and they also herald Richard's destiny. The curses of three female royalties are fulfilled at the end, serving as reminders that the divine powers are stronger than Richard's malice. Together, the supernatural elements of dreams, ghosts, and curses unify the plot of Richard III and allow the divine to triumph over evil.
A person’s setting can tell you a lot about why they do certain things or behave a certain way. What’s taboo to us is normal to them. Their time and surroundings set the scene. Hamlet by William Shakespeare is set in Denmark during the late medieval time period: a time of dominant monarchies, a time of war. All of which plays into why the characters behave the way they do. They’re power hungry and hold a grudge like no other. Why? Social status, social status was everything throughout this time period, before this time period and very much after this time period. Thus they slaughtered each other and executed their tasks in secrecy, in hopes they would not be subject to the wrath of the one they wronged, to move up the social ladder. Throughout the time of kings and queens people struggled to climb the social ladder, not caring who they hurt in the climb to gain power. The power struggle that remained prominent throughout the ages is the underlying cause of most tragic events in Hamlet.
King on the other hand did not handle pain very well because once he felt it, he killed himself. He did not want to live up to his mistakes and overcome them. In a way he is weak because he took the easy way out from his invisible prison.
In this essay I will explore how significant act 3 scene 7 is to the
Compare the behavior and reactions of Richard, Anne and Elizabeth in Act One Scene Two and Act Four Scene Four.
...eyed as the main character is mocked, being stripped of his title as “King” and made a fool.
and sent before his time" and "since he cannot prove to be a lover; he is