Preview

How Does Shakespeare Present The Character Of Richard III

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
307 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Does Shakespeare Present The Character Of Richard III
Shakespeare: Richard III
Shakespeare successfully portrays (his purpose in relation to the values and expectations of the Elizabethan context) through stage play techniques such as, use of soliloquy, dramatic irony, and humour. He also uses language techniques such as visual imagery and sound imagery throughout his play to explore the villainous role and character of Richard which leads to the development of the key themes in his play, Richard III.
The first soliloquy informs the audience of Richard’s inner thoughts while also establishing his character, dark motives, and his intention in the play. The opening statement, “Now is the winter of our discontent”, refers to Richard’s unhappiness as a result of the war ending and the peace that

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    King Richard’s ability as an actor within a play explores how this type of villainy was entertaining in the era of Shakespeare. Richard’s evil is immediately established as his moral deformities are clearly embodied in his physical deformities. In justifying his premeditated meddling, he personifies war in his first soliloquy. ‘Grim visag’d war hath supported his wrinkled front’ and moved to caper ‘ nimbly in a lady’s chamber!’ Richard’s nature: ‘Deform’d, unfinished’ thus justifies his evil as he cannot participate in the war -lovemaking atmosphere. This was obviously a form of entertainment to the Shakespearean audience who had known of the war of the Roses and Richard’s deformities.…

    • 1018 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Intrinsic to both texts, there is the notion that art is used to directly influence and impact existing historical perceptions. Shakespeare’s “Richard III” explores this idea, using the most influential artistic medium of the time, theatre, to further publicise the ‘Tudor Myth’ perception. On stage, the visual motif of Richard’s appearance as “deformed, unfinished” reflects his moral deficiencies, reinforced by his soliloquys and asides that expose his underlying treachery. He forges a duplicitous role as both director and actor within the play, stating in the opening soliloquy “plots that I have laid, inductions dangerous…” Richard seemingly ‘stage manages’ the entirety of his world, creating a sense of dramatic irony from the juxtaposing of the different “masks” he feigns in contrast to his true intentions; he plays the role of the “grieving” brother, “Christian prince,” etc. As such, Richard’s meta-theatricality engages us on a psychological level that reinforces the perception of the Tudor Myth given not just the heinous nature of his crimes but the “villainous”…

    • 1036 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shakespeare is widely regarded as one of the greatest English writers in history because of his use of figurative language writing skills. In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Shakespeare uses figurative language multiple times throughout the play. Shakespeare uses figurative language in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar to create a special effect or feeling for the reader. Some examples of figurative language that Shakespeare uses throughout the play includes: verbal irony, personification and metaphors. By using figurative language in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Shakespeare indirectly expresses his ideas to the readers.…

    • 475 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shakespeare's characters and themes in "Macbeth" are strongly developed right from the beginning. Shakespeare uses a variety of techniques to establish his themes and characters, via the dialogue and stage directions in his play. The introductory actions of the characters, along with the location and weather of the scene, work in conjunction with the language devices to quickly establish the key characters and themes.…

    • 973 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    A writer must employ a variety of rhetorical devices in order to convey the emotions of a character. If these techniques are used well, the character becomes more real to the reader. In his play Henry VIII, William Shakespeare does a remarkable job of conveying the emotions of his…

    • 1990 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In these particular lines of act 3 scene 5 from Richard III by William Shakespeare, Richard orders Buckingham to spread rumours around Guildhall about the deceased King Edward. His intention is to convince the public that he is the rightful heir to the throne of England. There are four rumours that Richard tries to spread, including the illegitimacy of the princes, Edward’s wrongful murder of an innocent man, the unfaithfulness of the late king, and the incident that Edward himself is not of royal blood. In order to secure his position as next in line for the crown, Richard uses these lies to separate and hide the children of Edward and Clarence. Richard uses his deceiving public mask and clever manipulation, to acquire more power. By twisting around the actions of his brother’s corrupted ways, he exploits others, such as the general public and Buckingham. Appearances are not reality.…

    • 985 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shakespeare redeemed his well-known reputation by his iconic writing. He incorporated loads of imagery, character traits and literary devices that construct his amazing pieces. Hamlet, being one of his most famous playwrights besides the glamorous Romeo and Juliet, serves sarcasm and insanity right to the audience on a silver platter. The man himself, Hamlet, faces more conflict with his inner self than any other person in the novel. Shakespeare’s use of insanity and sarcasm highlights the plays humor and inner emotions leaving the reader with the ability to relate.…

    • 709 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Jane Eyre

    • 1260 Words
    • 6 Pages

    King Richard III begins, and ends, with a civil war between the House of York and House of Lancasters for the English crown. Similarly, Looking for Richard ends with a war as well but the different textual form of these texts changes the representation of the war. In King Richard III, the metaphor “Now is the winter of our discontent/Made glorious summer by this son of York;” encourages the reader to draw a comparison between two seemingly unrelated things, as well as find similarities between them. Richard uses the seasons of summer and winter as a metaphor to suggest that King Edward IV's reign has turned everyone's winter-like sadness into a time of "glorious," summer-like celebration. In addition, there is a pun on ‘son’ and ‘sun’ indicating good weather and good times, while ‘son’ indicates the good rule of King Edward IV. Similarly in Looking For Richard,…

    • 1260 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Richard Iii

    • 645 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Shakespeare also gives great insight on Richard’s mind via diction. In Richard’s opening lines he specifically says, “Our dreadful marches to delightful measures” (1,1,8). Instead of fighting the Lancasters Richard (and his family) are in a time of harmony. He intentionally changes the negative word to a positive. Lines like these are all throughout the opening soliloquy. Richard allows the audience to see that he is at peace, that he is relaxed. By his big soliloquy in Act 5, Richard’s attitude is down. He’s worried about all the deeds he’s done. He directly states, “Is there a murderer here? No. Yes, I am:” (5,3,211). Not only does he leave the negative word of “murderer” in the sentence, but he…

    • 645 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shakespeare had a lot of difficulties originally when staging a play because Shakespeare used to stage his play in an open air theatre so the audience didn’t have any protection from the weather and the audience had to stand up and watch the play so if they were tired and wet they had to be something to hold their interest. In absence of the technology it was hard for Shakespeare to express his ideas because of the lack of effects such as lighting, sound and computer generated imagery. Shakespeare used dramatic devices such as language, conflict, contrast, dramatic irony, pace and suspense to make his plays interesting.…

    • 1047 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shakespeare plays are always canonized by public because of his innate ability in usage of literary devices, which upsurge the quality of his plays. Macbeth by William Shakespeare is a catastrophe that explain the lifestyle of an eleventh century king, whose overwhelming desire for wealth and power lead him towards evilness. Numerous literary devices are used by Shakespeare but the most prevailing motif used is symbol of blood. The author uses blood to symbolize guilt, death, and unfaithfulness.…

    • 520 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In conclusion, Shakespeare uses literary devices such as similes, metaphors, and personification to reveal the rise and fall of Macbeth as evil slowly seizes his good will and stains his mind with impure thoughts of murder and deceit. Without the use of literary devices the reader may not understand the entirety of the line or situation. By using these devices the audience can thoroughly convey the tone or imagery in the text and properly respond with their own emotions towards the scene transpiring in the book. Personification or bringing liveliness to an object that would not otherwise convey actions, imagery or sight text used to display a picture the author wants you to see, and similes or comparisons being made being two objects or people…

    • 147 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Masculinity In Macbeth

    • 1385 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Discuss this statement with reference to the plays thematic concerns and the strategies used by Shakespeare to promote engagement and to shape meaning and understanding.…

    • 1385 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout history, there have been many opposing sides battling each other. King Richard 3 and Richmond represent either side of this never ending battle. The battle is good versus evil, dark versus light, death versus life, the sun against the darkness. It isn’t just Richard and Richmond though; they are but mere soldiers in the battle. This battle arises constantly and at random. Sometimes the soldiers of the battle are more important. For instance, Hitler’s battle with the world is more important than some petty rivalry (which is still included in the battle). However, who’s to say which side is the light and which is the dark? “History is written by the victor.” Whoever wins each skirmish gets to let history know who was good, and they usually write themselves off as the light. Sometimes it’s obvious who was good, but we can’t be certain for every skirmish in our history.…

    • 738 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Richard Iii Conscience

    • 969 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Richard's self "love" (5.5. 141), the kernel of his own identity, is threatened by the "fear" (5.5.136) his conscience instills in him. Throughout most of the play, the statement "Richard loves Richard" (5.5.137) functions as the character's motivation ‹ Gloucester consistently acts for his own "gain" (1.2.162). That self, however, has never been firmly worked out. The many "outward appearances" (Luxon) that Richard projects in the play are often contradictory, as he himself admits when he states that he "seem[s] a saint when most [he] play[s] the devil" (1.3.336). His interview with Anne shows just how malleable his self-identity is. Picturing himself through her eyes after he has wooed her, he states "I do mistake my person all this while" (1.2.239) and is determined to "maintain" his heightened opinion of himself with "some little…

    • 969 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays