Jane Eyre
Our interest in the parallels between King Richard III and Looking For Richard is further enhanced by consideration of the marked differences in textual form. Evaluate this statement in the light of your Comparative Study of King Richard III and Looking For Richard.
William Shakespeare’s 16th century historically tragic play, King Richard III and Al Pacino’s 20th century docudrama, Looking for Richard portray parallel themes of war, characterisation of Richard in context and plot. Shakespeare wrote King Richard III during the reign of Elizabeth I and the propaganda during the time supported the Elizabethan monarch. During Looking for Richard’s era, a concept of sheer evil appeared which presented characters whose evil was unmotivated. The issues Shakespeare explored are still experienced in contemporary surrounding, and reflect in Pacino’s text. Both texts explore similar aspects of war, characterisation of Richard in context and plot portraying in different textual forms. Thus, as texts are a reflection of their context, the purpose to connect with their audience remains constant irrespective of context.
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,
William Shakespeare’s 16th century historically tragic play, King Richard III and Al Pacino’s 20th century docudrama, Looking for Richard portray parallel themes of war, characterisation of Richard in context and plot. Shakespeare wrote King Richard III during the reign of Elizabeth I and the propaganda during the time supported the Elizabethan monarch. During Looking for Richard’s era, a concept of sheer evil appeared which presented characters whose evil was unmotivated. The issues Shakespeare explored are still experienced in contemporary surrounding, and reflect in Pacino’s text. Both texts explore similar aspects of war, characterisation of Richard in context and plot portraying in different textual forms. Thus, as texts are a reflection of their context, the purpose to connect with their audience remains constant irrespective of context.
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,