Shakespeare’s Richard III - Richard

• Richard III is a play by English playwright William Shakespeare.

• Richard III is a history play, which means it is based on real people and events from history, but fictional elements have been added.

• At the start of the play, Richard is the Duke of Gloucester. He then betrays his family and commits crimes until he’s crowned the king of England.

• Richard III’s reign of tyranny is finally ended when he is killed in battle by Richmond, who then becomes King Henry VII.

Watch the video below to see how a director might cast the part of Richard.

The real Richard III was the last English king to die on the battlefield. Historical evidence also suggests that Richard III was a confident horseman and a skilled warrior. Shakespeare’s Richard III is also shown as a great soldier.

Click through the slideshow to see Richard’s key moments

Richard is a fascinating character and an entertaining villain. Although he commits terrible deeds, his energy and fearless confidence make him interesting to watch.

Cunning
Richard is intelligent and cunning. He uses language skilfully to manipulate and dominate other characters.

Immoral
Richard commits many crimes in the play, including the murder of men, women and children. He lies to gain power and turns against his family and friends. He pretends to be a protective and harmless uncle, but secretly plans the imprisonment and murder of his young nephews.

Two-faced
Richard is a skilled actor and pretends to be caring, honest and pious. He pretends to be friends with many of the characters at court but is secretly plotting against them. He shares his true nature with the audience, who can see his ruthless and immoral character.

Ambitious
Richard is determined to seize power and become king. He cleverly encourages an atmosphere of mistrust in the royal court. He then plots his way to the throne by murdering those that stand in his way. It is suggested that other characters underestimate Richard because he has a disability.

In 2012 the remains of the real Richard III were found underneath a car park in Leicester, England. The skeleton proved that the real Richard had a condition called scoliosis, which led to his spine being twisted with his right shoulder higher than his left shoulder.

Watch the video below about how a director might stage the scene in which Richard is offered the crown and then answer the question below.

Family

Richard has no loyalty to his family and many of them are fooled by his skilful acting.

Richard’s brother Clarence is unaware of his brother’s true nature. Even as he’s about to be killed on Richard’s orders, he calls out for his brother to help him.

Richard’s brother Edward believes Richard is loyal and makes him Lord Protector of his two young sons. Richard also kills his own wife, tries to marry his niece and has his two nephews murdered.

Friends and allies

Some characters, like Hastings, are manipulated by Richard’s charming side and don’t realise how dangerous he is. Hastings believes Richard is not capable of deception and thinks they are friends and allies. Hastings remains loyal to King Edward IV and his sons, so Richard makes false accusations against him and has him executed.

Buckingham is an influential nobleman. At first, he is loyal to Richard and helps him become king, including staging a scene that seems to show Richard as a pious man who is reluctant to become king.

Buckingham later decides to join Richmond against Richard when he doesn’t get his promised reward. He is captured by Richard and executed.

Enemies

Queen Margaret is the widow of King Henry VI. Her husband has been murdered by Richard and his throne has been taken by Richard’s brother during the Wars of the Roses. She realises that Richard is evil and frequently insults and curses him. She is delighted when her curses come true.

Queen Elizabeth is married to Richard’s brother, King Edward IV. She stands up to Richard and tries to protect her sons. When Richard wants to marry her daughter, she secretly promises her daughter to Richmond instead.

The Earl of Richmond is also Richard’s enemy. Richmond raises an army against Richard, and some of Richard’s supporters even join his side in the battle. He fights Richard at the Battle of Bosworth Field and wins. He marries Queen Elizabeth’s daughter, Princess Elizabeth, and becomes the first Tudor king, Henry VII.

Richard doesn’t change much during the play. At the start of the play he is a villain and at the end of the play he is a villain. He shows no true feelings of guilt or remorse, even when he is visited by the ghosts of all those he had murdered.

At the start of the play, Richard is not likely to become king. He has two older brothers and their heirs standing between him and the crown. After the deaths of his two brothers, he becomes Lord Protector of the young princes. He then manipulates this position of power to gain the crown, killing his nephews in the process.

Towards the end of the play, Richard starts to lose his power. He has less control over events and starts to pity himself. Because he hasn’t shown genuine loyalty to any of his followers, many of them leave him and join his enemies.

His boldness continues to the end. He fights bravely on the battlefield before losing everything, including his life and the crown.