William Shakespeare's Richard III, the Duchess of York

791 Words2 Pages

We often say there is no love other than mothers love, but the character of the Duchess conflict that. In William Shakespeare's Richard III, the Duchess of York seemed vague with her responds, She seems very patient also with Richard III at the being of the play; nonetheless She never explore her hatred throughout the play. She is a widowed mother, of Clarence, King Edward IV and Richard III. The Duchess of York has very bad relationship with her son due to his bad things he do, for example killing anyone that gets on his way to become king. Richard committed crimes, and killed the closest people to him and others just to achieve kingdom and be the king. Though many people might view Duchess of York as angry mother, Duchess of York is protective mother to her children and grandchildren, she resembles the mother figure very well, and she an important figure in the play as whole. However her characteristic shows her deep sadness and disappointment at Richard at the end of the play. Of course any mother would be horrified and upset of watching her son becoming murderous. Over the course, of Richard III we see her emotions when Clarence dies, when Clarence young children vanished and knowing the murder is her own son Richard.

The Duchess York's goal is to be a good mother because she looks after Clarence's young children after his death. She tries to protect them and embrace both the children and Queen Elizabeth. In order for Duchess to be a good mother to Richard III she has to remain patient, hide her pain toward him in the eye of public, and avoid cursing him. According to play we see the emotions that taken place when the children, Duchess of York and Elizabeth arrived to discuss the tragedy that happens to Clarence and to ...

... middle of paper ...

...to Richard III was,

"Either thou wilt die, by God's just ordinance,
Ere from this war thou turn a conqueror,
Or I with grief and extreme age shall perish
And never look upon thy face again.
Therefore take with thee my most heavy curse;
Which, in the day of battle, tire thee more
Than all the complete armour that thou wear'st!
My prayers on the adverse party fight"(4.4.185).

Overall, we can see the major cost behind main character Richard's death is his mother cursing him to lose the fight at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Although, it was difficult for the Duchess of York to cures her son but she had to do it unfortunately to stop the violence. This plot acknowledge us about the patience of The Duchess of York and that she avoids to be angry instead stays away for good.

Work cited

Open Document