Edward Hall and Raphael Holinshed Essays

Edward Hall and Raphael Holinshed Essays Edward Hall and Raphael Holinshed Paper Edward Hall and Raphael Holinshed Paper Richard III has fascinated generations of readers; they have found themselves seduced by his brilliance with words and his persuasive emotional manipulations even though most are repelled by his evil. Characters in the play realise his evil but are still caught out with his crafty word play and dissembling nature. Written in 1593 as a sequel to Henry VI parts one, two and three, which focused on the wars of the roses. Richard III was used as propaganda material for the Tudors. The play damns the previous reigns of the York and Lancaster houses, the Tudors used it to promote how much better England was under their rule. Shakespeare used the chronicles of Edward Hall and Raphael Holinshed as sources of historical material for Richard III; although these historical sources were adapted from Sir Thomas Mores History of Richard III. However, Mores unfinished work deals with the rise of Richard and so Shakespeare used Halls and Holinsheds works for Richards decline. Richard III tells the story of how the intelligently evil Richard Duke of Gloucester schemes his way to the throne of England. The play starts as the civil wars end, however, the Duke of Gloucester finds himself discontented in peacetime, so he starts to plot against the throne. From the very beginning of the play you hear of his cold-hearted murderous deeds, but also of his cunning plots to succeed the throne. Many themes run throughout the play, the struggle of good over evil is one more obvious theme. Richard, the villain, has no redemption from his evil except perhaps his wit. Within the play there is a lack of goodness, any good that does exist in the play is quickly eradicated by Richards plot for the crown. It is perhaps the lack of this virtue, which makes the play so intriguing. The play is also about a battle of conscience; Richard refuses to accept he even has a conscience, another sign that he is rooted in pure evil. Although he collapses mentally the night before the battle at Bosworth, he finds that he is forced to confront the reality of something he chose to ignore. It can be argued that this lack of acceptance led to his downfall. Richard III still remains compelling today because of Shakespeares use of irony. The play contains both verbal and situational irony. For the first three acts, Richard draws the audience in with his witty asides and soliloquies. Although, Richard fails to see the dramatic irony in his own situation, he is destined to fail because he is evil. Shakespeare had to do this because it is part of human nature that evil never succeeds. So in the second half of the play irony works against Richard. We first see Richards tyranny as he plots to see his brother, Clarence, imprisoned. About a prophecy, which says that G Of Edwards heirs the murderer shall be Richard pretends to express sympathy for his brother, blaming Queen Elizabeth and her family for Clarences arrest. He promises Clarence he will have him released; however he orders his execution. This is a prime example of how Richard is sincere to his victims, but then he turns and stabs them in the back. Even though he is a tyrant, Richard crafts his sentences with the uttermost care in order to bewilder and entrance his victim. Richard uses his cunning word play in order to woo Lady Anne in Act 1 Scene 2; he does it so well they become husband and wife. Although throughout the scene insulted by Anne with her likening him to the devil he is able to manipulate her. Avaunt, thou dreadful minister of hell Richard calms Anne with his praise for his, reacting quickly and intelligently to the situation. Vouchsafe, divine perfection of a women Richard deviously ensnares her with his rhetoric. He always has an answer for his own question and he flatters her. In their dialogue Richard tells her bluntly that he wishes to lie in her bedchamber and her beauty led him to kill her husband. Anne knows she should not be taken in. She calls Richard a dissembler, but it is Anne that has allowed herself to accept the statements of his affection for her. Richard offers Anne his ring and she accepts. This is a symbol of his future marriage to her. When the characters have heard of Clarences death and the natural death of Edward in Act 2 Scene 2. The Duchess and Elizabeth along with others lament the deaths, Clarence s children are eager to find out the truth behind their fathers death. Richard enters the scene and quickly befriends and comforts the morning women. His mother, the Duchess, praises him. God bless thee and put meekness in thy breast, Love, charity, obedience, and true duty This situation shows Richards ingenious reaction to the emotions of his enemies in an effort to seem like he is not the devilish character, which he is made out to be. After his mothers praise, Richard extremely ironically tells us, aside, that he will die a good old man. This shows Richardss lack of conscience that he has already committed the most dreadful of crimes and will continue to murder without the slightest concern. Both irony and lack of conscience are themes, which run through the play and make up the backbone of Richards dialogue. In Act 2 Scene 4 we see Elizabeth resolving to go into sanctuary with her young son after she hears of the arrests of the family members Rivers, Vaughan and Grey on the command of Richard and Buckingham.