Shakespeare’s Richard 3 Analysis

Shakespeare’s Richard III

It is arguable that William Shakespeare was one of the best authors and writers in the history of the world. Many hold strong to that statement as others reject that. But, in Richard III, Shakespeare gave the appearance of Richard as a sick twisted individual, while in historical background he was given a different image.

Richard III was the reigning king’s, King Edward IV, younger brother. Richard displayed courage and nobility to his appointing of military commander by his brother. Richard had a deformity, presently known as hunchback, but he felt that was the least of his worries. Due to his efforts in leadership, his brother made him very rich. Also, he was awarded with the title of Duke of Gloucester and became the Governor of the North. When King Edward IV passed, there were two successors, which happened to be his sons, Edward V, age 12, and Richard of Shrewsbury, age 9. Richard III eventually had the kid’s guardians executed for trying to murder Edward V, and sent both children to the Tower Of London. Soon after that, Richard gave a decree, which stated that the marriage of late King Edward IV was invalid. Therefore, Richard III declared that he was the next King in line instead of Edward V, backed up by a priest who testified on that. Two weeks later Richard III was crowned King. He rules justly until his death at a war with King Henry, nearly reaching him personally before he was killed. {Wikipedia} This is how Richard III was historically presented.

In the play Richard III, by William Shakespeare, Richard is visualized as a villain and a bad person who wont stop until he gets what he wants. Portrayed as profligate, he blames everybody else for his contortion and states that he is unloved and anybody in his path will pay for that. Richard easily tricks the audience into sympathizing with him, and his attempts to seize the throne, making his enemies look like villains instead of him being seen as a villain. He kills and kills just to be king, killing his brother’s, the late King Edward IV, two sons to become next in throne. The killing of two children is malicious and distraught even if it means to be King of England. Richard then becomes King, rules how he pleases and dies in war. This is how King Richard III was seen in the play Richard III, by William Shakespeare.

Even though, William Shakespeare and history may not have portrayed Richard III the same, indeed there are similarities. Both works explain Richard’s demand for power. In the play, Richard is longing for the throne and extirpates anybody in his way to Kingship. And, in history, Richard III has a hunger to be King, but uses his eagerness in legal ways and proves that the old king’s marriage was illegitimate and he becomes