Wednesday, May 20, 2020

The Evil King in Shakespeares Richard III Essay - 1888 Words

The Evil King in Shakespeares Richard III Richard is an actor, a fully evil actor, who through his mastery of the stage has come to appreciate his skill. Richard Moulton, in his Shakespeare as a Dramatic Thinker, proclaims Richards wonder at his own command of the stage: Richard has become an artist in evil: the natural emotions attending crime-whether of passionate longing, or horror and remorse-have given place to artistic appreciation of masterpieces (40). And Robert Weimann, comparing Richard Gloucester to a character in Shakespeares King John states: Both characters exemplify a strenuous need to perform, toiling desperately to play a role, to find out, and, for better or worse, to take up arms against a thorny world†¦show more content†¦Whether actual or a creation of Shakespeare, his deformity pushes him at least to some degree to prove a villain. And Richard wastes no time jumping into his evil character, beginning his scheming as soon as the curtain rises: Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous, / By dru nken prophecies, libels and dreams / To set my brother Clarence and the King / In deadly hate the one against the other (1.1.32-5). The manipulation of the other characters of the play begins here in earnest. The initial role that Richard plays is that of loving brother to Clarence, whom he must eliminate from the scene in order to attain the throne for himself. When the king, out of fear of revolt, sends Clarence to the Tower, Richard convinces him to go quietly and to patiently await rescue. Thus, the treacherous role-playing of Richard Gloucester begins: Your imprisonment shall not be long. / I will deliver you or lie for you. / Meantime, have patience (1.1.115-7). This declaration of love and support is nothing but a show. As soon as Clarence marches off to prison, Richard proclaims his true character: Go tread the path that thou shalt neer return. / Simple, plain Clarence, I do love thee so / That I will shortly send thy soul to heaven, / If heaven will take the present a t our hands (1.1.118-21). Righter eloquently speaks of Richards marvelous acting in this scene: [Richard] is acting the part of lovingShow MoreRelatedThomas Mores Sainthood Essay1303 Words   |  6 Pagesstill bound by King Henry VIIIs Supremacy Act, Thomas More was rumored to have been a deceitful character of the court. He was declared unorthodox who went against the Church (Roper, 1935). He was also said to have gone against the doctrines of the church because he went against the King of England. In modern times the portrayal of, partially, Richard the III and Thomas More is seen to be compassionate and kind to their people. 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Throughout several of Shakespeare’s plays he speaks about love. It is a common theme throughout Shakespeare’s plays, both comedies and tragedies, and we can see that Shakespeare is infatuated with love. Shakespeare and I, though poles apart, raised in different times, places, and even of different genders have one thing in common; we both seem to be hopeless romantics. In Shakespeare’s plays love seems like a very obtainable reality, love conquers all

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