Shakespeare's Richard Iii: the Man People Love to Hate

Shakespeare's Richard III: A Man People Love to Hate

Before analyzing Shakespeare's play Richard III it is important to consider the time period in which the play was written and performed. Richard III is the last of a saga of four historical plays which started with Henry VI: Part I, Henry VI: Part II, and Henry VI: Part III. The play most likely was written in 1591. The conclusion of the play is based on actual historical events and dates that occurred in 1485 with the fall of the ruling Plantagenet family and the rise of Tudor monarchy. A century later after these events Shakespeare's Elizabethan audiences were extremely familiar with the events and historical figures portrayed in plays as well as the political factions and the complex family relationships depicted in the plays. The play chronicles the horrible acts and atrocities of its protagonist, Richard Duke of Gloucester on his quest to the throne to become Richard III. Readers and observers of the play are drawn in by the complex personality of Richard. They find themselves equally fascinated with the brilliance of his manipulations as well as repulsed by his evilness. Thus the man people love to hate.

From the opening lines of Shakespeare's Richard III it is clear who the villain is, Richard tells the audience it is him and what he plans to do to those that surround him, yet the audience is intrigue and willing to stay till the end. Richard is a scheming, murdering usurper to the throne and informs the audience that he is "subtle, false and treacherous." But there is also this touch of sympathy for the premature deformed hunchback with withered arm, that just maybe his villainous behavior is justified.

For decades the royal family was locked in a power struggle called the War of the Roses; one the House of Lancaster and the other House of York. At this time in history the War of the Roses as been going on for several decades and now the House of York is in power. It is a time for...