King Richard III

By William Shakespeare
Directed by Allan Loebs

 

Before Darth Vader changed how we think of classic villains, there was Shakespeare's humpbacked, ruthless, yet intelligent King Richard. A character whose evil knows no depth, he is one of the most studied and fascinating characters in all of Shakespeare's plays.

Richard III finishes the cycle of plays about the bloody War of the Roses; (begun with the play Henry IV, part One) between the red rose of the noble House of Lancaster, and the white of York. As the play begins, Richard's Yorkist party has finally been victorious against the Lancastrians, and his brother Edward IV rules an uneasy alliance of noblemen.

His younger brother, Richard of Gloucester, immediately sets out to become King of England. He brings suspicion upon an elder brother, George, causing his death; while he incites disaffection around the current king, queen and court. He also becomes a trusted advisor to the King, and protector of his two young boys, all while wooing the widow of a former enemy. Shaken by George's supposed betrayal, and worn down by strife, King Edward eventually sickens and dies, clearing the way for Richard's ambition. He uses bribery, political marriage, and political leverage to win or shunt aside any suspicion of his eventual aim, while feigning piety and using imagined treason to eliminate any powerful political enemies. He also manages to ensure that the two sons of Edward are deemed bastards, and has them imprisoned in the Tower of London where an horrific fate awaits them.

Unfortunately for Richard, some of his staunchest allies are also powerful, ruthless men, whose own egos conflict with his. Eventually, he is betrayed, and shortly after his coronation, word comes that a group of disaffected noblemen is backing another heir to the throne, Henry Tudor, Duke of Richmond. The stage is then set for final confrontation and the play culminates in the Battle of Bosworth Field, where he is slain in combat. The Wars of the Roses come to an end with Richard's death, and it also ushers in a new dynasty of English Kings: The Tudors.

Historical Note:

The play was written around 1593, and drew upon historical resources as well as characterizations found in Sir Thomas More's History of Edward V and Richard III. Although the wooing scene of Richard and Lady Anne is a popular part of the play, it is generally agreed by scholars to be largely fictional. However, the major characters are all included; their respective factions and changes of allegiance are clearly detailed by Shakespeare. If some of the deaths are fanciful (George stabbed and pushed into a barrel of wine and the two princes smothered in their beds), one thing is clear: The Yorkists' grip on the throne lasted only a short while, and its end was just as horrific as the murders and disappearances attributed to Richard. There has been some attempt to resurrect Richard's reputation in recent decades; by looking at his achievements, rather than reading accounts left by his enemies. However, the image of the bloody-handed, stooped, and conniving figure has endured to this day, rivaling the reputations of modern tyrants that are better chronicled.