William Shakespeare’sHistorical Tragedy

The Tragedy ofRichard III

1594

Shakespeare’s Early Canon

• The Comedy of Errors 1590 ?

• Titus Andronicus 1590 ?

• The Taming of the Shrew 1591 ?

• Henry VI Part 2 1591 ?

• Henry VI Part 3 1591 ?

• Henry VI Part 1 1592 ?

• Richard III 1594 ?

THE WAR OF THE ROSES• THE LANCASTERS Former Royal Family

(Red Rose Crest)

• King Henry VI

• Edward, his only son

• Lady Anne, Edward’s wife

• THE YORKS New Royal Family (White Rose Crest)

• King Edward and Queen Elizabeth

• Princess Elizabeth,17; Duke of Wales,15; Young Prince,8

• Brother George, Duke of Clarence

• Brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester

• Duchess of York, Queen Mother

•

Enemies and Friends of Richard• Enemies• Lord Hastings, former ally to Lancaster family

• Earl Rivers, Queen Elizabeth’s brother

• Friends• Duke of Buckingham, a fellow conspirator

• James Tyrell, Army Corporal

Shakespeare’s First Villain/Hero• A Hero in Name Only

• Richard is the protagonist, the play’s central character - the “hero”, but he is evil.

• He excels all other characters that surround him in energy, courage, intelligence, as well as cruelty and selfishness,

• He possesses all the traits of the typical Elizabethan villain.

Elizabethan Villain• Boundless ambition

• Egotistical action

• Masterly dissembling (deceit)

• Defiance of God

• Great, if misguided, intelligence

• Richard’s PhilosophyRichard’s Philosophy

• The end justifies the means, no matter how cruel.

Richard’s First Soliloquy• “Now is the winter of our

discontent…”• Richard’s perception of himself is revealed:• - aware of his hideous appearance • - bitterly hates the world that, he

believes, hates him• - cannot play the lover, and will,

therefore, play the villain

• - makes no apologies for his villainy, but rather embraces it.

Richard’s Deformity•Withered arm•Hunchback•Limp

• Historians believe Richard's grotesque deformity is the stuff of legend. He was quite normal looking.

• Richard’s physical deformity is a symbol for his profoundly evil nature.

“Richard III” is the most performed play from the Shakespearean canon.• He is the play’s central character - an enormous lead role,

• the romantic “hero”, but an unconventional romantic hero

• fun to play because of his wicked nature and sarcastic wit

• Ian Kenneth Al Laurence McKellen Branagh Pacino Olivier