Although Buckingham’s first plan wasn’t very successful, his second was predicted to be victorious. He orders Richard to “get a prayer book in your hand and stand between two churchmen” to impress the Mayor. He tells Richard to “play the maids part” and answer no to all the requests the mayor makes. Buckingham’s advice is sexist towards woman. When he tells Richard to play the “maid’s part”, he means say no at first and then do it, referring to women’s attitude towards sex. Buckingham is displaying the classic traits of a spin doctor, advising Richard how to act and predicting the result of these actions.
When the mayor enters, Richard is prepared and ready to act while Buckingham is welcoming the Mayor. This scene is known as a metadrama as it is a play within a play. Buckingham prepares Richard’s pious and virtuous entrance by contrasting his partner in crime and Edward. He repeats a semantic pattern, starting one line with the negative “not” and the next with the conjunction “but”, for example:
“Not sleeping to engross his idle body,
But praying to enrich his watchful soul.”
Following this pattern three times and using powerful images to compare Richard and Edward makes for very persuasive rhetoric. After persuading the mayor, Buckingham’s next step is to ‘persuade’ Richard. Buckingham claims there are many reasons why Richard should become King. He mentions “the lineal glory of your royal house” which reminds the citizens and Richard that the thrown was retained by Richard’s ancestors until now. Buckingham begs Richard to accept the thrown and “recure” England after being destroyed at the hands of Edward and Elizabeth Woodville, whose face he describes as being “deformed with scars of infamy.” In this part of the scene Buckingham’s advice to Richard is successful and he uses his spin doctor’s powers to persuade the mayor and the citizens.
The citizens and the mayor try to convince Richard to become king. But he states that he is not good enough to be converted into an heir. He uses a metaphor of a ship sailing a great and stormy ocean: “Being a bark to brook no mighty sea.” Richard debates whether to be silent or angry at the mayors’ offer and states how each reaction might be misinterpreted wrongly. He then displays mock modesty in stating that “Yet so much is my poverty of spirit, so mighty and so many defects.” He argues whether he is fit for such a high position and uses the metaphor of a bark in a great ocean “Being a bark to brook no mighty sea.” This is an example of appearance vs. reality. Richard appears to be a pious and caring man when really all he cares about is power. The appearance the two churchmen and the bible in the hands of Richard give a positive opinion towards the mayor.
Richard says that the Prince of Wales is the rightful heir to the thrown and uses a metaphor of trees and roots: “The royal tree hath left us royal fruit.” However, this is then contradicted by Buckingham who claims that Edward was in fact illegitimate: “You say that Edward is your brother’s son. So we say too, but no by Edward’s wife.”
Buckingham then starts mocking Queen Elizabeth and King Edward. He insultingly accuses Edward’s illegal marriage and brings to mind his sons’ illegitimatecy. He blames Elizabeth for seducing and manipulating Edward into marriage “Made prize and purchase of his wanton eye” after mocking her beauty “beauty-waning” and her age “Even in the afternoon of her best days.”
Buckingham asks Richard to accept the crown if not for England, to save the family tree. When Buckingham sees Richard taking it too far with refusing, he starts threatening. He threatens Richard by giving him the last opportunity of saying yes, if he refuses, the thrown will go to Prince Edward “If you refuse it, as in love and zeal Loath to depose the child, your brother’s son.” This way he is hinting that it is time to accept. He then informs the citizens that it is time to leave. Richard realizes that if the citizens leave, he will not have another opportunity. He quickly calls them back and accepts the offer.
After Richard finally accepts, he continues displaying mock modesty. He warns the citizens that if anything happens, he is free of blame:
“But if black scandal or foul-faced reproach
Attend the sequel of your imposition,
Your mere enforcement shall acquittance me
From all the impure blots and stains thereof.”
This is an example of church vs. State. Richard wanted to be king therefore he did all sort of things to become one, although in those times, it was believed that god chose the heir of the thrown.
I think that there are still examples of spin doctors and despots nowadays. Many politicians have their own spin doctors which guide them to success. I believe this is a great example on how they both react the same way and how they both coincide on hating the same people. Also, when they want to hint each other something in public (e.g. in this case, Buckingham hints Richard that he is going too far by refusing.)
