Where to begin? The War of Roses...the bloodshed of war...the bloodshed of a tyrant...the triumph of good and the union of families.
The House of York
The House of Lancaster
The two houses under the rule of Richard.
The union and rebirth of the House of York and the House of Lancaster.
The Conscience
Throughout Richard III, Shakespeare presents the issue of following or disregarding one's conscience. Following one's conscience was often seen as a sign of weakness, and oftentimes the driving reason behind ignoring it. Multiple times in the play, a contrast is made between Richard and other characters when it comes to the conscience. Not once does Richard seek his conscience in making a decision. In fact, Richard's conscience is never even mentioned, leading to the conclusion that he does not have one. This reflects just how evil Richard is; so dark that nothing can soften his cruel, hard heart. Such evilness is further developed in the contrast created when other characters, also evil, consult their consciences. In Scene 4 of Act I, the Second Murderer is uncertain in whether or not he really wants to go through with the murder of Clarence. "Faith, some certain dregs of conscience are yet within me" he informs the First Murderer. Of all people, even a murderer has a conscience, which he ultimately follows, as illustrated in the warning he gives Clarence. This establishes a sharp, defined comparison to Richard. In showing a spark of goodness in a murderer, Shakespeare develops the magnitude of evilness embodied in Richard's soul. Such absence of any trace of goodness in Richard is also seen in the murder of the two princes. One of the murderers, Forrest, almost decides against the hideous act; just for a moment, there is hesitation; the conscience is considered.
Thus via the conflict of the conscience, and Richard's apparent lack of such conflict, Shakespeare is able to depict just how evil Richard really is. This further establishes one of the overall themes of the play, evil versus good.
Favorite Quote
"I have bewept a worthy husband's death,/ And have lived by looking at his images: But now two mirrors of his princely semblance/ Are crack'd in pieces by malignant death/ And I, for comfort, have but one false glass, / Which grieves me when I see my shame in him" says the Duchess of York (Shakespeare 2.2)
This is by far my favorite quote because it is so significant. It not only discloses key details about the Duchess of York, but also Richard. The pain, shame, and helplessness that the Duchess feels is revealed. She describes her melancholy over losing her husband, but how she overcomes it via her two sons, Clarence and Edward, the two shining images of her husband. Both of them essentially are their father, in physical resemblance and spirit. Now however, even those beautiful mirrors are cracked to pieces. The Duchess's two support beams have fallen, leaving her helpless, and alone. Alone, by the fact that she does not consider Richard her son. He is the cursed abomination that her womb bore, the false glass. Richard's false glass represents his two different faces. He appears to be the kind, gentle brother, but deep down, he is the dark, cruel, and pure evil one. In being glass, as opposed to a mirror, he is transparent to his mother; she is one of the few who know who he truly is, and is disgusted with him to the point of disowning him.
Thoughts on the Play
This play was artfully crafted - then again it is Shakespeare, so no surprise there. I found slight humor (but mostly pity) in the naiveness of every character Margaret dooms; how just about every single one of them does not acknowledge the truth about Richard, until it is too late; how Margaret's intuition, curses, and forewarnings prove true. Furthermore, I must applaud Richard. Although his abhorrent actions are purely for his own benefit, and he kills so many, I must praise his success in the execution of his scheme. He has so many factors working against him, yet overcomes them and for the most part, uses these as advantages. For instance, with his physical deformity; he miraculously is able to woo Lady Anne. He also uses his deformity in his claim that his arm was withered by witchcraft. Richard is the essence of true evil and makes the play (hence the title); without him, Shakespeare would not have a play. And after Richard blackens everything in his path for the crown, this source of hideous evil is finally purged from the pages of the play. Good conquers evil - my favorite type of ending! So yes, I truly enoyed reading Richard III!
