Richard: More wonderful, when angels are so angry.
While she speaks of hell and revenge against the murderer of her family, he responds by talking about heaven and forgiveness. His quick replies, turning her own words against her slowly break down her barriers and she eventually gives in. By flattering people using different techniques, such as antithesis and puns, Richard is able to convince and persuade people that he is someone who he is not. For example: the caring and loving brother; and the man who wishes to refuse the crown. In this way, people do not suspect Richard, and those who do see through his facade, are powerless to do anything about it.
There is also another use for Richard’s language, and that is to entertain. He seems to derive great pleasure from making witty and ironic replies, and it’s also noteworthy that some of his best and most spectacular language appears only in his soliloquies. However, this does not affect his rise to power, so will not be discussed further.
ACTING SKILLS
But these language skills, while on their own are persuasive, are only enhanced by Richard’s acting skills. In some ways, his acting may be even more important than Richard’s language, after all: a person would be more believable if he was acting the part effectively, even if his language was simple.
For example, in Act 3, Buckingham instructs Richard to carry a prayer book when he meets the mayor, to make him appear saintly and pious. Richard goes on to tell the assembled people that he doesn’t wish to be King, of course, this is all an act, Richard harbours a deep desire to become King, but, by acting as if he doesn’t wish to, it merely makes the Lord Mayor offer it to him more and more.
Richard is like a chameleon, constantly changing role to suit his own purposes-examples of this appear throughout the whole play. In act 3, when Richard’s nephew; Prince Edward, arrives in London, Richard acts out the role of a concerned uncle, who warns him against the danger of Edward’s other uncles. In fact, it is Richard who he should be wary of, since it was he who disposed of his own brothers.
MACHIAVELLIANISM
Machiavellianism is the belief that no matter what the means are, it just justifies the end. Throughout the whole play Richard displays a determination and lust for the throne, which, combined with his machiavellianism and ruthlessness, means he is ready to do anything to gain power. The start of the play opens with a soliloquy from Richard, whereupon he reveals that he wishes to act the villain, and has already started by conspiring against his brother.
Richard: Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous,
By drunken prophecies, libels, and dreams
To set my brother Clarence and the king
In deadly hate the one against the other.
All the way through the play, Richard orders the death and removal of people he considers enemies or potential contenders to the throne, such as, in act 4; he orders the death of the two young princes, even though he has already gained the crown.
His machiavellianism and ruthlessness are extremely important factors, for without either of the two, chances are he wouldn’t have obtained the throne, and instead, one of his brothers would have.
BUCKINGHAM AND OTHER CHARS
However, there are more than just these factors that help in Richard’s rise to power, what about the other characters? Take for example Buckingham, aide to Richard. For the majority of the play, Buckingham takes a subordinate role, however, in act 4, he takes a leading role, and tells Richard what to do in order to help him gain the crown.
Although it is the females in the play who see through Richard, i.e. his own mother, none of them are in a position to do anything about it, instead, it is the men who are fooled by his wit and charm. They are naïve and gullible; and are easily fooled by Richard’s charm and wit. Even when Clarence is told that Richard has ordered his death, he refuses to believe them.
Second Murderer: You are deceived. Your brother Gloucester hates you
Clarence: Oh, no, he loves me, and he holds me dear
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, while Richard’s rise of power owes a great deal to his use of language, I believe it is his machiavellianism and ruthlessness which are the crucial factors to him gaining the crown. Without it, Clarence would have become King instead, unless Richard had removed him. By eliminating all his opponents to the throne, Richard ensured that he himself would gain it. But this is not to say we should disregard the other factors, for they all contributed to Richard’s rise of power, and in my opinion, without one of the factors I have named, he would have failed in his attempts to become King.
