Examine the character of Richard III as Shakespeare presents him to us, and the ways in which the play may reflect a distinctively Tudor view of history.

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Examine the character of Richard III as Shakespeare presents him to us, and the ways in which the play may reflect a distinctively Tudor view of history.

Shakespeare presents Richard to us in a very negative way. Richard is portrayed as an evil person who is attracted to the power that the throne could bring him and would take whatever risk is necessary. Driven by his need for power he manipulates and murders his way to the throne.

Richard shows himself as a manipulator right from the start of the play.  He tricks Clarence and makes him think that he has nothing to do with his arrest. “But what’s the matter Clarence? May I know?” Clarence is the first person that Richard manipulates in a long line of victims. Richard also successfully manipulates Anne. He manages to get her to marry him only a few days after he has killed her husband. He manipulates Anne with convincing arguments and by flattering her. “Divine perfection of a woman….fairer than tongue can name thee.” This is Richards’s persuasive skills at his best, now he has a stronger claim to the throne. Richard knew that the king was unwell and by springing the news of Clarence’s death upon him he died. This was typical of Richard, observing his enemies weaknesses and capitalising. “Who knows not the gentle Duke is dead?”

Richard manipulates the arrival of Prince Edward so that he is seen as the only loyal uncle to greet him and also gets the princes into the tower. “Your highness shall repose you to the tower.” Richard during his play act before accepting the crown says how he will not be a good king. “So might and so many my defects.” This is a gamble if he is to convincing they will not want him on the throne. Richard then states there is no need for him as the princes are next in line. “The royal tree hath left us royal fruits.” Again a gamble as not everyone would have believed the rumours of the princes being bastards. Richard after Buckingham has walked of calls him back and accepts the throne. “How far I am from the desire of this.” Richard with the help of Buckingham does brilliantly here to change the minds of the on looking mayor and citizens. Richard also cleverly manipulates the Lord Mayor. He does this by pretending that Hastings poses a threat to everybody’s safety. “Look back, defend thee, here are enemies!” However his attempts to manipulate people are not always successful. Towards the end of the play Richard seems to have lost his touch. Prince Edward realises that Richard is not telling the truth. “God keep me from such false friends, but they were none.” This is also true when Richard tries to persuade Queen Elizabeth to help him marry her daughter. “But how long fairly shall her sweet life last?......As long as hell and Richard likes of it.” Richard has failed to convince the Queen but he is not aware of this. He also fails to manipulate Lord Stanley. Richard kidnaps his son hoping that will be enough to secure his loyalty, however it was not and he had to face him in battle. “My lord he doth deny to come.”

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Richard even though he threw the throne away had to be very clever to get to the position in the first place. It took great judgment of time and carefully crafted plans to succeed. The way that Richard manages to woo Anne is amazing. Through a number of manipulative moves he has transformed the mind of Anne. "Was ever woman in this humour woo'd? Was ever woman in this humour won?” Richard in the quote above finds it hard to believe that his plan had worked and that he had won Anne over. Richard cleverly tests the loyalty of Hastings by setting ...

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