his behaviour justified because his personality cannot be easily changed and
it was very rare to have psychological help because it did not exist in this era.
An authoritarian person has rigid beliefs, is intolerant and yet
submissive to those in authority “We are the Queen’s abjects, and must
obey.”. There have been a few psychological experiments such as Milgram
(1974) which studied authoritarian personalities. Therefore it has been proven
that the way Richard’s behaviour has been portrayed in the play that he has
an authoritarian personality.
Psychopathic personalities believe it is a socially acceptance
expression of their psychopathic with violent and psychologically disordered
impulses. This has been proven by the following studies: Milgram, Miale and
Selzer. Richard has shown to us that he does not care if anyone knows what
he is thinking or feeling, especially with hatred and greed.
Robert Hare (1993) states that “psychopaths are social predators who
charm, manipulate and ruthlessly ploys their way through life,
leaving a broad trail of broken hearts and shattered expectations”. All these
characteristics describe Richard and his personality. Hare also goes on to that
psychopaths are “completely lacking in conscience and feeling for others, they
selfishly take what they want and do as they please, violating social norms
and expectation without the slightest sense of guilt or regret”.
All these examples indicate the possibility that Richard is a psychopath.
Richard charms and manipulates Anne and then breaks her heart. Another
symptom is “total self centeredness, incapacity for real love and attachment”.
Richard only marries Anne to prove that he is capable of attracting a lady, “I’ll
have her, but I will not keep her long”.
Richard is portrayed as having personality disorders. He is every
stressed. Stress is caused by anxiety. His anxiety could be caused by the
change in responsibilities or family problems. His mental health is also an
issue, psychologist claim that our dreams portray and explain our lives and
our subconscious and our unconscious mind.
“In thy foul throat li’st! Queen Margaret saw thy murderous falchion smoking In his blood; the which thou once didst bend against her breast, but that thy Brother beat side the point”.
This shows the family problems that Richard has had when he tried to kill his
mother with a sword and his brothers had to pull him away.
Richard also suffers from depression. His depression is caused by his
childhood, which wasn’t very hopeful from the start. He was born with a
disability which has gave him a hideous hump on his back. He has been
called names, looked down on and called himself “ugly” because of his
disability, “Deformed, unfinished, sent before my time”.
His mother has always seen him as “evil”. She doesn’t like to have him
around. His physical appearance puts him down and ruins his self-esteem.
His dreams haunt him in his sleep. He cannot escape his pain and guilt. His
guilt has been formed by many factors. Richard also has a lack of relationship
with his mother. He shows this throughout the play and that his mothers
rejection of him is a last effect. She realises that Richard plots and schemes
and curse him “bloody thou art, bloody will be thy end”.
Richard is self obsessed, “Richard loves Richard”. He has self love and
self loath. Richard suffers from egocentrism. Richard’s love for himself and
selfish traits are what him gain the throne.
The finial face of Richard is of the anti-family man. The face that
Richard’s first fatality is his own brother Clarence shows the degree of evil
Richard is willing to surpass. Clarence holds Richard in high regard, “O, no,
he loves me and he holds me dear!”
Richard is a plotter and a schemer, he is capable of assessing any
emotion state externally, while inside he remains able to stay controlled. He
shows this to us when he is fools Anne. He realises that she is in a vulnerable
and defenceless state and takes full advantage of this. Richard also has an
above average intelligence, which means he is always at an advantage.
Richard is portrayed as a self obsessed character, throughout the play he
reveals his self obsessed personality. He shows that he cannot rely or trust
anyone else but himself, “ there is no creature that loves me”.
In one of Richard’s last soliloquies after all the ghost of Richard’s
conscious visit him through his dreams there is a constant repetition of “I”.
This shows that he does only think of himself “alack, I love myself”.
Richard plays the concerned uncle when Clarence is killed. He
deceives his nephews who are convinced that Richard is their “good uncle
Glouchester”. Richard fools the young prince in to going to the tower for his
own good. He even makes young Prince Edward feel as though he has the
power and Richard s just simply helping him “where it seems best unto your
royal self”.
Richard uses his witty dialogue to hide his feelings. “I know none, and
therefore am no beast.”
