Richard III

Ricard III is a historical play that seems like a tragedy, except there seems to be no hero or good person who tragically turns bad because of some fatal flaw. Instead, Richard, who starts as the Duke of Gloucester, is the epitomy of evil from beginning to end with apparently no redeeming quality.

If Richard was a fictional character, he would be quite an invention. However, he was a real historical figure, two kings before King Henry VIII who people today are more familiar with. He was overthrown by Henry, Earl of Richmond, who then became King Henry VII, father to King Henry VIII. Shakespeare wrote the play while Queen Elizabeth reigned. This meant Shakespeare had to be careful in the treatment of how her grandfather had overthrown a sitting King of England. However, Shakespeare did not treat Richard in a completely historical manner, so there is a blend of history, fiction, and drama, and the character reflects such a blend.

Before Richard, King Henry VI was King of England. Shakespeare has 3 plays on Henry VI in 3 parts, and Richard III is a continuation. Therefore, you learn a lot about Richard's character and the historical situation in the preceeding plays, and you are somewhat at a disadvantage if you haven't read them first as I did. It helps to understand what is called the War of the Roses, which essentially was a long-standing feud between the York family and the Lancaster family. Richard belonged to the York family.

As the play opens Richard's oldest brother, Edward IV is on the throne, but old and ill. To become King after Edward dies, certain people must be dead, and Richard must be married to the right people. Shakespeare has Richard tell us how he is going to go about doing all this, and then craftily and efficiently carries out those plans. The amazing thing is that all the targets of his malice, except for some children, firmly believe he is honest, on their side, and watching out for their best good. This is partly because they all have something to gain, and Richard plays on this to the hilt and then turns it on them. Of course Richard thus becomes King.

Shakespeare presents us with much more than a simple evil villain. Shakespeare's penetrating insight into human personality presents us not only with a fully formed evil persona, but someone we can understand and see develop. Towards the end, as armies gather against him, a parade of ghosts of those he has murdered accuse him in his dreams so that his conscience mightly pricks at him, and he writhes in its throes.

What do I fear? Myself? There's none else by.

Richard loves Richard; that is, I am I.

Is there a murderer here? No. Yes, I am.

Then fly. What, from myself? Great reason why:

Lest I revenge. What, myself upon myself?

Alak, I love myself. Wherefore? For any good

That I myself have done unto myself?

O, no! Alas, I rather hate myself

For hateful deeds committed by myself!

I am a villain. Yet I lie, I am not.

(Act V, Scene 3, lines 182-191)

He can't quite make up his mind as he wrestles with his evil.

Richard is finally killed in the final battle, and the Earl of Richmond become King Henry VII. The War of the Roses is ended, and the House of Tudor becomes the ruling family. Shakespeare carries a sense of God's foreordained justice throughout the play.

There is a lot more going on, a lot more characters to study, and a lot more I could discuss, but I am trying to keep this post brief. I highly recommend reading this play. Try using a version with good notes to help with the difficult language. A study guide also helps, and if you can't find one, use the one online at Sparknotes.