Lord Hastings is first introduced in the play as a nobleman who has been released from jail and shares a common interest with Richard- a loathing for Elizabeth Woodville. At first, Hastings seems to be clever, sharp and determined. However, as the play progresses, readers see a different Hastings - an over-confident character who dies because of his ignorance. In the beginning (Act 1, Scene 1) Richard takes advantage of Hastings’s hatred by tricking Hastings into believing that his intentions are noble and would only protect the throne. This is the first example of Hastings’s gullibility. Another example of his gullibility is when Stanley’s messenger recites Stanley’s dream to Buckingham. In the dream, Stanley sees a boar knocking off Hastings’s helmet (Richard represents the boar and the helmet represents Hastings’s head). Hastings, in a very ignorant manner, ignores this dream and tells the messenger to return to Stanley and comfort him that nothing like that shall happen: “Tell him his fears are shallow, without instance/ and for his dreams, I wonder he’s so simple/ To trust the mockery of unquiet slumber/To fly the boar before the boar pursues/ Were to incense the boar to follow us/ And make pursuit where he did mean no chase. /Go bid thy master rise and come to me.” (III.ii.19-31). This quote also shows Hastings’s over-confidence, as he believes that Richard really loves and respects him. Hastings then goes on to make a blunder due to great ignorance, over-confidence, pride and ego when he claims to Catesby: “I’ll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders/ Before I’ll see the crown so foul misplaced/ But canst thou guess that he doth aim to it?” (III.ii. 42- 45). This part is considered to be Hastings’s greatest mistake as he (in complete unawareness of the company and consequences) claims he would rather see his head chopped of than to see the crown on Richard’s head. Hastings is complacent and believes that stating his opinion will cause him no harm. He is also unaware of the people he is speaking in front of. He forgets that Catesby would inform Richard of this insult. Ignorance was Hastings’s greatest downfall, as he ignored every clue put on his path. His first slip is when he meets the Pursuivant (III.iii.96 – 105) – the same one he sees the day he was arrested and thrown into the tower. Hastings does not seem to find the hidden sign and in his arrogance, gives the Pursuivant money. The third clue comes in the form of a priest, who represents death and the afterlife. In his unawareness, Hastings disregards this sign just like the others. Hastings is neither sharp nor extremely intelligent nor does he possess most of the qualities that one would expect from a nobleman. Had he been intelligent enough to consider the hints placed before him, he would have been able to save himself. His haste and conceit were his downfall and in the end he reaped what he sowed.
When thinking about King Richard the III, two notorious villains come to mind, one Richard himself and the other being Buckingham, a duke. Being a nobleman, Buckingham is highly regarded by the people. He is thought to be honest and kind. However, Buckingham does not posses the qualities that are associated with his name. Buckingham is the most corrupt character in the play, as he commits all his crimes not because he believes that Richard will make a better ruler than the princes but because he will get title, property and money from Richard in return for supporting him. Shakespeare portrays Buckingham as a very selfish and conniving character who would be ready to backstab anyone in order to get personal gain. An example of his conniving nature is when he tricks Hastings into believing that Richard loves and respects him, knowing that Hastings was soon going to meet his end: “We know each other’s faces. For our hearts,/ He knows no more of mine than I of yours,/Or I of his, my lord, than you of mine/ Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love. (III.i.v.10- 14). Buckingham is shown as a person who is very influential and powerful but dishonest with words. He is an excellent public speaker who manages to fool the citizens into believing that Richard was the most suitable candidate for the throne. Buckingham is very cunning and will do anything to get what he wants – including murder, disloyalty and backstabbing. Buckingham also shows ignorance when he ignores Margaret’s warning about being cheated on by the one he trusts the most, and he later pays for this mistake when Richard betrays him and orders his death. Despite being a nobleman, Buckingham committed many crimes and was not what one would expect of a duke.
The belief that the upper class or the noble class is noble in its words, actions and deeds is often just a myth. Because of position, power and wealth in the higher class the undercurrent of betrayals, treachery and subterfuge are more predominant. Shakespeare, in this play provides the audience/reader with satire on this subject through the way present the three characters of noble background. With his representation of the higher class through these three figures, human failings and weaknesses can be found in anyone, noble or otherwise.
