How effective a ruler was Edward 4th from 1471 to 1483?
How effective a ruler was Edward 4th from 1471 to 1483? There is a strong contrast between the effectiveness of Edward during his first reign (1461-1469) and his second reign (1471-1483). During Edward's first reign he struggled to impose himself on his people. There also didn't appear to be significant improvements in the ruling of the kingdom compared to the previously poorly run reign of Henry 6th. The unexpected and poorly politically judged marriage to Elizabeth Woodville caused Edward problems throughout his time as king and had long lasting effects of events after his death. Warwick's 'Calais manifesto' highlighted the problems that Edward faced during this period. The rule of the kingdom after 1471 Edward has seen Edward gain more recognition for the successes in ruling he encountered. During this period he had England in a strong financial position. He didn't have any major revolts in connection with Warwick. His rule over domestic affairs appeared much more secure. He was well in control of the nobility. There is little doubt that Edward 4th was a more effective ruler after 1471. Finance was an area of Edward's ruling that he was notably successful. The success of a ruler's economy provides a good insight into a ruler's ability as a ruler. Financial success had been achieved by having policies such as a peaceful foreign policy. Edward enjoyed no fought battle in
Is Richard III a Machiavellian character and does he ultimately benefit from this?
Is Richard III a Machiavellian character and does he ultimately benefit from this? The dictionary definition of a Machiavellian character is: Being or acting in accordance with the principles of government analyzed in Machiavelli's The Prince, in which political expediency is placed above morality and the use of craft and deceit to maintain the authority and carry out the policies of a ruler is described. Machiavellian behaviour is characterized by subtle or unscrupulous cunning, deception, expediency, or dishonesty. The part in the play which I think epitomizes Richard's Machiavellian character is his cunning plan to turn his two brothers, George Duke of Clarence and King Edward IV against each other. He does this by creating a completely bogus prophecy that the person who will kill the King, their name will start with the letter "G". As Clarence's name (George) starts with a "G" Edward has no choice but to send Clarence to the tower of London. The making of this rumour shows great expediency and cunning, not to mention dishonesty. After a little bit of a push in the right direction from Richard, Edward IV sends out an execution order for Clarence. However Edward has a change of heart at the last minute and send out an order through Richard revoking the execution warrant. However Richard in a show of great deception and dishonesty never passes on this message. This plan
The story "Killings" by Andre Dubus is about a man named Matt and his love for his son Frank. He is upset because his son has been killed by a man called Richard. Matt's wife, older son
Saira Chaudhary 02-03-06 English-102-D Killings The story "Killings" by Andre Dubus is about a man named Matt and his love for his son Frank. He is upset because his son has been killed by a man called Richard. Matt's wife, older son, and his friends think that Richard should be killed too. His son wishes to kill the murderer of his younger brother, but Matt is even scared of the thought because doing so means that he would lose his second son, too. His wife also does not want to see Richard alive. In Killings, Matt is very angry at himself for the reason of not being able to protect his son and is forced to kill his son's murderer; however, at the end he is not very enthusiastic about it instead he is very upset and depressed. One of the reasons that Matt kills Richard is his own wife. She is very hurt by her son's death. She is always crying because she sees her son's murderer walking around in the stores all the time which kills her. Once Matt tells his friend Willis "Ruth sees him too much. She was at sunny Hurst today getting cigarettes and aspirins and there he was. She can't even go out anymore. It is killing her" (90). This explains how much of pressure he is under to avenge his son's death. This leads him to kill Richard even though he does not really want to kill him Another one of the reasons for Matt's action is that Matt's older son Steve wants to kill
Richard III: Coursework Essay
Richard III: Coursework Essay 12.12.00 The play Richard III shows power, greed and ambition and how doing these things can effect other people and change how you act and think. In the world today someone who is like Richard in the way that he is greedy and power hungry is Saddam Hussein. The whole play shows how Richard is ambitious, greedy and power hungry. At the start of the play he is ambitious because he has set himself a task to become king. This shows that he is greedy because he is not happy with what position he is at that moment and wants more power. The way in which he does this is by killing anyone who could prevent him from becoming king. I think Shakespeare may have wanted to show that having ambition, power and a little greed is ok but if you lose your head and want more and more power making you become more greedy it could result in not just other people getting hurt but you getting hurt in the end as well. Like in the end of the play Richard ends up dying as a result of his extreme amount of power and greed. I think he wanted the audience to admire him for his cleverness in his schemes and the way he has organised everything. In some points the audience do admire him for his cleverness but straight after he has brought the audience to his side he does something extremely viscous and evil that the audience off liking him. People who are like
Does Shakespeare tell us everything we need to know about Richard in his opening speech?
Does Shakespeare tell us everything we need to know about Richard in his opening speech? In Richard's opening speech, Shakespeare tells us some things that you need to know about Richard, but not all. The opening speech gives a hint as to what is going to happen, as what Richard says in his opening speech is seen later on in the play. However, there are some things we don't find out until later in the play. In Richard's opening speech we learn that he has laid 'plots', and 'inductions dangerous'. We later learn that the 'plots' are to kill Clarence, and to seize the crown. The 'inductions dangerous' are to kill all that stand in his path to the throne. This is seen later when the princes, Clarence and Hastings are murdered as they threaten to foil Richard's plans to snatch the crown. The princes are heirs to the throne and Hastings supports them, so they must be disposed of at Richard's hands. Richard's opening speech also tells us that he is 'subtle, false and treacherous.' This is very true, as he is often false, lying about many things. For example, when persuading Lady Anne to marry him, he tells her how much he loves her, saying how beautiful she is, and how he killed King Henry, Anne's father-in-law, and her husband Edward because of her beauty - it was her 'heavenly face that set him on.' This is all lies; he only wants Anne to be his wife as another step towards the
‘The tragedy of Richard III lies in the progressive isolation of its protagonist.’ Discuss.
'The tragedy of Richard III lies in the progressive isolation of its protagonist.' Discuss. There are many ways throughout the play that Shakespeare shows isolation in Richard Gloucester, the protagonist, but there is some debate over whether or not it is this which leads to tragedy. This partly occurs due to the dubious understanding of the term 'tragedy' itself. It is a term used widely to describe a variety of different plays and even situations: from Romeo and Juliet to Death of a Salesman, even to true-life events such as the terrorist attacks on September 11th this year. It would appear to us that tragedy is all around us, in every news bulletin and on virtually any television program but, if this is true, why is it that 'tragedy' is so hard to define? Aristotle once claimed: 'In order to be a tragic hero, you have to be important.' If this is true, then it would also be true that tragedy can be defined as a fall from power and happiness to death and destruction. Obviously, this tragedy is greatened as the person in question becomes more powerful, as they have further to fall from - as they build the metaphorical scaffolding higher, the ground becomes further away. This indeed means that if a pole secured further down the tower breaks, the scaffolding above would break too, leaving the person further to fall, and increasing the likelihood that they will break
What is significant about the way David Hare ends "Skylight"?
What is significant about the way David Hare ends "Skylight"? "Skylight" by David Hare is a post 1914, post Thatcher drama, dealing with matters of life, love and circumstance. It is set in a small, well lived in, flat, Northwest London, where Kyra, a middle aged, self-reliant teacher, lives. Tom, a guilt ridden, controlling, entrepreneur, randomly appears, at Kyra's doorstep. He casually invades her privacy, wanting to rekindle past love, when success was his, after a three-year separation. The stubborn pair hold the stage for the entire 2 1/2 hours tearing away at each other's deceptions and hypocrisies, except for brief but significant, visit's by Tom's rebellious, insecure, son Edward. This play is very contemporary, dealing with issues relevant at the time. The time is post Thatcher, although Tom still is part of the Conservative, right wing system, working for himself. Kyra, on the contrary, is a left wing, labour supporter, who helps other people. Tom is not able to put passion before political values, whereas Kyra is. David Hare structures the play quite effectively, using 2 acts and 4 scenes. The play is detailed, and probes the depths of intimacy between the 4 characters-one of whom is Alice, who we never see, but whose presence is always lurking in the form of guilt. The emotional scar has been made before the play even starts. The memory of Alice remains
Summary of Act 1.
Summary of Act 1 Scene 1 The first scene opens with a long soliloquy from the main character, Richard, who informs us that the country is at peace under his brother, Edward's, rule. Richard, however, finds peacetime pleasures unwelcoming, partly because he is 'is not shaped for sportive tricks' (line 16) and 'rudely stamped'' (line 14). Because he cannot find a lover, his main intention is to be a villain. To progress, he has set his elder brothers, King Edward IV and Clarence, in dispute with each other, and he expects to see Clarence imprisoned shortly. Clarence is brought under armed guard on his way to the Tower of London, where he is to be held. Richard expresses sympathy for his brother, blaming Queen Elizabeth and her family for Clarence's arrest. He promises to negotiate with Edward to get Clarence released. When his brother is led away by Brakenbury, Lord Hastings enters. He has just been released from the Tower. He tells Richard that Edward is 'sickly, weak and melancholy ' (line 136), and that his doctors fear for his life. When Hastings leaves, Richard uses dramatic irony to outline his plans to have Clarence killed before Edward dies. He is also determined too marry the Earl of Warwick's daughter, Anne, who was formerly engaged to Prince Edward, who was Henry VI's son. Scene 2 Henry VI's body is being taken for burial. Lady Anne accompanies the 'hearse' (line
In Shakespeares play King Richard III, Richard; the protagonist of the play, is portrayed to be a villain through his sly, sinister tactics to make his way to the throne.
Richard III Coursework In Shakespeare's play 'King Richard III', Richard; the protagonist of the play, is portrayed to be a villain through his sly, sinister tactics to make his way to the throne. He has many obstacles in his way and is kept from the throne due to the fact that he is far down the line to be king, so he uses cunning and manipulative skills to hire people to assassinate them getting him closer to the throne. Despite his evil being his manipulative tactics show signs of heroism through his manipulative skills because he shows confidence, smarts and able to get people to support him without them seeing his true nature. These features show his smarts and would be all of the skills he needs to become a leader and a hero but instead uses his expertise for evil and is able to accomplish his objective of becoming king but his he gets overconfident and this results in his death towards the end of the play. Firstly Richard demonstrates his manipulative character when he talks to Clarence in Act 1 Scene 1, however the audience knows that he is only fooling Clarence. "Oh, belike his majesty hath some intent. That you should be new christened in the Tower. But what is the matter, Clarence? May I know?" Richard shows his skills of manipulation by pretending to care about Clarence's problems. He asks him "what is the matter" as if he is his friend and Clarence believes
'In his depiction of Richard III Shakespeare has created much more than a simple theatrical villain.' Discuss
RICHARD III 'IN HIS DEPICTION OF RICHARD SHAKESPEARE HAS CREATED MUCH MORE THAN A SIMPLE THEATRICAL VILLAIN.' DISCUSS Richard is a cruel, corrupt, manipulative, ruthless murderer; as well as a master of deception. However he is not just a trunk of the most evil qualities. Outwardly he appears to be a deformed monster, yet he is as cunning and determined as the cruellest of villains, his rhetoric is beautifully agile and his wit is of the darkest kind, yet he remains greatly entertaining. The manner in which he achieves his goal is quite superb, reaching the throne not purely by butchery but also exploiting the weaknesses of those around him. Richard is a tyrant brought up in a background of betrayal and civil unrest; however, what makes Shakespeare's portrait so entertaining is Richard's humour and wit. Richard III is a multifaceted study of political aspiration and corruption. The majority of Shakespeare's information about Richard III came from Holinshed's Chronicle, first published in 1578 in it Richard is described as many things. He was described as being witty however Holinshed also described him as weak, '...in bodie and prowesse'. This shows where Shakespeare obtained the image of Richard being deformed. Holinshed also described Richard as being. ' malicious, wrathfull and enuious'. Therefore we cannot blame Shakespeare for the image that he grafts on Richard,