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Richard IIIBy William Shakespeare
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Richard the character The language of the play Structure Themes Motifs Other aspects: the role of women, other
characters…
Overview: Aspects of the play we will be studying.
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Is a theatrical character who plays many roles
Is not a normal tragic hero: multifaceted Embodies various dramatic types
Richard: the Character
For each of the topics above, find supporting examples and evidence as we go.
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Reluctant prince Political
manipulator Cornered, sweating
rat Bluff soldier Others?
A theatrical character who plays many roles
Devoted brother Stalwart friend Witty wooer Loyal subject Plain blunt chap Pious convert Benevolent uncle Good protector
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In some ways, conforms to archetype, but also: A Villain and a tyrant A controller An actor Delights in his powers of deception and ingenuity Dangerously disrespectful he is paradoxical his motivation is unclear he rejects remorse
Is not a normal tragic hero: multifaceted
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A Senecan tyrant: a one dimensional character in Senecan (Greek) tragedies
Five act division Highly stylised speech and line for line fencing
matches Use of soliloquy Narrative reports of horrors recited by
messengers Cycles of revenge and retribution A chorus for comment on the action Stock characters such as ghosts and a tyrant
Embodies various dramatic types (1)
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The Vice figure from medieval morality plays: The function of the Vice figure was to show how
easily human nature could be tempted into sin The devil’s accomplice, a master of mischief
and wordplay Takes the audience into his confidence and
invites applause for deceiving others A show off And expert at twisting words and at the art of
double entendre
Embodies various dramatic types (2)
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A Machiavellian ruler: Politically amoral Cunning Has a reputation that will dissuade people
from deceiving/tricking him Chooses to be feared rather than loved
Embodies various dramatic types (3)
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A conventional Elizabethan stage villain: Has intellectual rather than popular appeal Opposes the moral order by being atheistic
and satanic His moral monstrousness is symbolically
represented by some unnatural quality His career follows the pyramid structure of
rise, triumph and fall
Embodies various dramatic types (4)
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1:1:1-41: Ian McKellan; Laurence Olivier 1:1:145 -162 1:2:227 -263 5:3:178 – 207 For each of these, make notes on:
contentlanguage
Compare and contrast the four soliloquies
Comparing the soliloquies (1)
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Comment on the following quotation:When taken with other salient soliloquies, most notably "Was ever woman in this humor wooed?" and "My conscience hath a thousand several tongues" from later in the play, Richard transcends the Vice archetype that Shakespeare uses as an initial frame of reference. It keeps Richard from being the cartoon he might have been in lesser hands.
Comparing the soliloquies (2)
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Richard’s excessive energetic evil is more compelling theatrically than vapid virtue
Richard is a fully realised human being Richard gets what he deserves Richard’s charms make the audience
excuse his actions The only truly unforgiveable thing Richard
does is kill the Princes in the Tower Richard may well be evil, but he’s not as
bad as Queen Margaret.
Richard’s character: Consensus Discussion