Subjects:
Anne’s sees Richard as a heartless evil man, incapable of love and compassion. She also sees that he does not care if people have to be killed in order for him to secure his place on the throne. Her view of Richard is articulated with her curses, often referring to him as a devil. She knows that he is the one behind the death of her husband and father-in-law and still accepts his ring.
Anne: What black magician conjures up this fiend
To stop devoted charitable deeds? (p28)
Anne: What, do you tremble? Are you all afraid?
Alas, I blame you not, for you are mortal,
And mortal eyes cannot endure the devil.
Avaunt, thou dreadful minister of hell!
Thou hadst but power over his mortal body —
His soul thou canst not have; therefore, be gone, (p29)
Anne: Foul devil, for God’s sake, hence, and trouble us
For thou hast made the happy earth thy hell,
Filled it with cursing cries and deep exclaims.
If thou delight to view thy heinous deeds,
Behold this pattern of thy butcheries.
O gentlemen, see, see! Dead Henry’s wounds
Open their congealed mouths and bleed afresh!
Blush, blush, thou lump of foul deformity,
. . .
Didst thou not kill this King? (p30)
Queen Elizabeth has a similar view of Richard as all the other female characters.
Margaret has had an extensive experience with Richard’s diabolical plots prior to the commencement of the play.
Now fair befall thee and thy noble house!
Thy garments are not spotted with our blood,
Nor thou within the compass of my curse. He springs the news of Clarence's death on the group, delivering it making himself appear innocent.
Richard wants the Prince to be accompanied by him and Buckingham so that they will have the opportunity to persuade him to stay at the tower before his coronation, so as later Richard could kill them.
Clarence:
Tell him, when that our princely father York
Bless'd his three sons with his victorious arm,
And charged us from his soul to love each other,
He little thought of this divided friendship:
Bid Gloucester think of this, and he will weep. He refers to Clarence as ‘our shining star’, which suggests he holds the highest regards for him even after his death. Richard is given the opportunity to display to the audience his skill in deception in his response to die deaths of his brothers Clarence (Act II, scene i, lines 77-140) and King Edward (Act II, scene ii, lines 101-44).
If you be hired for meed, go back again,
And I will send you to my brother Gloucester,
Who shall reward you better for my life
Than Edward will for tidings of my death.
This shows that it is Richard's own will to be a villain, and that his motive to take revenge on nature is only an excuse.
Clarence:
O, no, he loves me, and he holds me dear:
Go you to him from me.
Lovel:
Come, come, dispatch; 'tis bootless to exclaim.
Thus doth he force the swords of wicked men
To turn their own points on their masters' bosoms:
Now Margaret's curse is fallen upon my head;
'When he,' quoth she, 'shall split thy heart with sorrow,
Remember Margaret was a prophetess. (p37)
Queen Elizabeth:
Come, come, we know your meaning, brother Gloucester:
You envy my advancement and my friends’.
Essay's Topics
All research is for reference purposes only.