Richard

• from a Parody of brotherly love to a Parody of Courtship


  Transition from expressive love to manipulations
• "Richard inspires himself by playing the fantasy role of a romantic lover."


  performative Richard,

  sense of unease

  Lead to Anne giving in
• "He has no credo and a

  Politically Barren Kingship"Richard lacks a defined kingship vision, leading to political barrenness.
• "Their partnership was never a simple one"

  Two Halves of One WholeRichard describes Buckingham as a'simple gul'buckingham disagreed with the murder of the two princes 'give me some little breath, a pause
• "Richard sets aside confession to control his conscience, leading to the eruption in his nightmares."

  'sin will pluck on sin'

  'Tear-falling pty dwells not in this eye'

  Anne describes him having 'Timorous Dreams'

  he has sinned to much, he cannot be repented, his sin provoked by itself.
• "It was from his mother that he learnt to hate so fiercely"


  Cecily's disaffection towards Richard was based upon her disappointment and disgust for his physique

  their relationship is one of disgust for one another, that cannot be unbroken.
• " unloved from birth by his mother, he could only make sense of life by loving himself and hating the rest of the world"


  Richard copes with being unloved by loving himself and hating others.

  Self-Love Coping Mechanism

  "Since i cannot prove a lover, I am determined to prove a villain"
• "Newfound conscience underlines a Tragic Sense of Waste"


  Richard's newfound conscience highlights a tragic sense of wasted potential.

  Anne claims he has had 'Timorous Dreams' which suggest his conscience is already present.
• " Richard and Richmond simultaneously feel they are sitting on top of the world when their fates collide"


  Richard and Richmond both feel invincible as their fates collide in ambition.

  Ambitious Rivals

  Adraneline drunkies
• "Air of Authenticity" Joshua J parker - disabled actor

  The play authentically portrays disability and the stigma faced by Richard.

  each character put their own twist on his appearance.

  'Wretched toad'

  'Boar
• "unsettling Link Between Disability and Immortality"

  Richard's physical acts of deception suggest an unsettling link between disability and immortality.
• "Most Iconic Disabled Character in literary canon" Stephen Bailey


  figurehead of his character in the 21st century

  his disability is marginalised by others as him being the devil incarnate.
• "The king used his own disablility to manipulate the court to his own ends" Fraser- disabled actor


  Richard manipulates the court using his disability to gain sympathy and advantage.

  Manipulative Use of Disability
• "Eponymous Villain" Kate Maltby


  Richard is the original villain, giving rise to the term 'villain'.
• "pre- modern Equation of Disability with Villainy" Kate Maltby

  The play equates disability with villainy in a pre-modern context.
• "Shakespeare establishes Richards physical differences as the major factor for his ostracism by his family" Kate Maltby


  Richard's physical differences lead to his ostracism by his own family.
• "Relies on power and force of sexual conquest" Kate Maltby


  Richard's reliance on power and force is seen as predatory, especially in his pursuit of marriage

  Power of sexual conquest
• "Not a story of disability but of male violence" Michelle Terry - disabled actor


  The story of Richard III is framed as a narrative of male violence rather than disability.

  Male Violence Narrative
• "Based on a foundation of anti-literalism" Michelle Terry


  The play is based on an opposition to a literal interpretation, encouraging deeper analysis.

  Anti-Literalism Foundation
• "it is not just his limbs that are twisted but his Sense of Humour too" Lynn Gardner -critic


  Richard's twisted limbs mirror his twisted sense of humour,

  reflecting themes of manipulation and deception and his 'body
• " his most unlikely conquest in the play: i've never seen it work" Anthony Sher


  when Richard woes Anne by being pathetic and vulnerable.
• " To look at Richard should fill you with pity and horror"

  Anthony Sher

  - everything comes from his deformity, his pain

  - Richard's deformity is only ever mentioned by the others in moments of impassioned cursing, as if it's so extreme that it's normally unmentionable.

  - so when Margaret lets rip in Act 1, scene 3, the others can shield their eyes and think that she actually mentioned it.
• "Richard is revenging himself on the world, destroying a world he sees as hating him"

  Mont Berman

  - relates to Richards deformity and how his personality was shaped by the pure hatred of everyone around him.

  - Richard appearance subjects him to a world of hatred and everyone judging him just from his physical appearance.
• "There isn't a single moment in the play when the Duchess of York talks to Richard without contempt and hatred"


  Monty Berman

  
  

  - relates to " it was from his mother he leant to hate so fericely"

  - also suggests the dynamic between Richard and Cecily.

  where they both resent eachother and if they do vocalise love it is expressed sarcastically showing that they have a broken relationship.

  - " you come to earth to make my earth hell"
• "Richard can only have a tragic dimension if you can find the potential for good in him"


  Adrian (Noble, RSC director)

  - this shows how some can see the good in Richard but only if it is a sadden version alongside it.

  - they have to view him as having a tragic dimension (his appearance) in order to subside the reality of his deception of others and manipulative power.
• "Buckingham hasn't got a genuinely criminal mind, however ambitious and ruthless he might be"

  Anthony Sher

  - suggests how Buckingham could only succeed because by being an close ally with Richard.

  - using Richard criminal mind for his own benefits of land.

  - Bill Alexander wanted there to be tension between R and B throughout, for their rapport to be dangerous and competive.
• "The principle that anyone Richard can trust be untrustworthy"

  Anthony Sher

  - alludes to the truth that each time Richard deems someone untrustworthy he imedately gets rid of them

  - "chop of his head" ---> about Hastings.

  - also suggest his trust issues and how each ally will benefit his plan to become king.

  -those who chose to overrun him will get killed.
• " we can see Richard as either an Antichrist figure or as 'Modern man in search of a soul"


  Bill Alexander ( THE READ THROUGH)

  - suggests how he is the deception of the antichrist figure through the constant thought of his being the devil himself.

  - him searching for his soul alludes to him having the desire to conquer and rule England in order to full fill his purpose.
• " Richard calls for his drummers and trumpeters to drown her out"


  Bill Alexander ( MOTHER SCENE Act IV scene iv)

  - illustrates their dramatic relationship and the constant need to drown each other out in a conversation.
• "The meeting between a mother and a man who's killed her children. A special intimacy, even beyond hatred. A dreadful intimacy. Maternalism vs Power"

  Bill Alexander ( QUEEN LIZ SCENE )

  - provokes their peculiar relationship that was uncommon for what had occurred between the two.

  - their relationship should be harsh and full of hatred and showcase their constant need to kill each other.

  - Elizabeth maternalist persona in this scene decompress Richard intension to marry her daughter his neice.

  - she is able to know how important her daughter is in finally stopping Richard's rule.

  -she gives Elizabeth to Richmond = establishes peace
• how does Margaret show strength 


  "shinning a glaring spotlight on Richard's true actions" Nikki Isbell (critic)
• Margaret showing strength 


  " Litany of revenege " Shirley Garland
• Elizabeth vs Richard 


  "responds with vicious and sober honestry that makes him look utterly foolish"
• Women in Richard and his manipulation 


  "through their vulnerability allowed their manipulation" Sarah Garland
• Duchess of York and Margaret 


  "Monotones of complaints" Shirley Galloway
• the women in richard

  "the women of the play function as voices of protest and morality" Shirley Galloway
• Richard and his manipulation 


  " sweet talking psychological manipulations"
• "his faults were stressed and perhaps exaggerated"


  Ian McKellen on Thomas More's presentation of Richard in his biography. Links to Tudor Propaganda
• "she haunts Richard like a living ghost"

  Ian McKellen on Margaret's relationship with Richard

  
• "persistant litany of revenge"


  Ian McKellen on Margaret's incessant desire for revenge