Does Richard the third deserve his reputation?

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English Coursework

Title: Does Richard the third deserve his reputation?

The question of Richard lll’s reputation is a puzzle as he was thought of in many alternative ways by the different characters or at contrasting times in the play. His reputation deteriorates towards the end of the play. His brothers Clarence (George) and Edward are fond of him and believe he is an honest, trustworthy man and this is why they do not realise his evil plan. This plan starts when the king has been given advice to imprison anyone close to him whose name begins with the letter “G”. As the king’s brother the duke of Clarence is named George he is sent to the tower. On the way he passes Richard and he assures Clarence he will get him out of the tower, that he shall deliver him and that his “imprisonment shall not be long”. This is play on words and a form used numerously throughout the play, because Clarence is not in prison long, two murderers employed by Richard to deliver him to a better place. It is thought that if Clarence had lived longer and especially after the murderers had been in as there was a long scene in which one of the murderers backed out of murdering him and Richards’s name was undisclosed to Clarence. Anne who later becomes Richards begrudging wife refers to him as “foul devil” and “fouler toad”, not traditional words of endearment! Overall Richards reputation is not good and even his mother thinks ill of him.

    Richard the third was a real king and he occupied the throne in the short reign of two years. This is why it is thought to be a real story as opposed to a folk myth. All of Shakespeare’s plays were based on real people or they were adapted from already written books. I think Richard lll is fairly accurate to his real reign and the means of getting to the throne. However, it may be a little biased in a way it only shows his brutality in getting to the throne and before that he was a loyal and loving brother. It then leaves out the 2 years before his death when he was a fair and powerful leader. I also think Shakespeare has artistic licence in that he dramatised some of the events. A main event in the play is the princes in the tower, as this is the final step up to taking the throne. It has not yet been proved who was actually responsible for their murder although Richard is the main suspect, in writing this in his play Shakespeare has confirmed suspicions as he has put it in writing and anyone who reads it believes it was him.

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   In history Richard the third reigned from 1483-1485. He had two brothers, King Edward 4 and the duke of Clarence, George. He was also the uncle of his predecessor Edward 5. He was in the house of York and was the first duke of Gloucester, and then he became the lord protector for a short time before he himself seized the throne. He is accused of many murders but none have ever been proved. Although he was not graceful in getting to the throne, when he did he was a fair and just leader.

King Richard the third was ...

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