How Does Shakespeare Present Richard As A Hero

In William Shakespeare’s Richard III, Richard the third, of England begins as the lowly Duke of Gloucester, but his motives become clear as the story begins. He embodies both the protagonist of the story, and the villain of the story. In the run to gain the crown, rule the land, and live the life of his dreams, he commits heinous acts and. Despite this, Richard embodies the class of a hero; an Antihero to be precise. Through his evil, and through his malice and cruelty, a new and shining England is born; paving the way for Britannia. Due to the actions of Richard the third, the Tudor line of rulers came to pass; this includes Queen Elizabeth, who remains known as one of the greatest rulers of the empire. We can ascertain that his actions,

He begins with how he is deformed and physically unappealing. His deplorable visage and deformed self may allow the audience to show pity and allow the character of Richard to have a chance to develop, before the audience completely rejects him, do to his lack moral integrity. This leads into the first line of the quoted verse. He is determined to be the malefactor; the villain of this piece. He continues by stating that he hates the customs and pleasures that he is supposed to enjoy during these times of peace; he finds them meaningless. He then claims that he has already set plans into motion, and is currently working on a plot to overthrow the king. Finally claiming that he does not believe in the “hocus pocus” of prophecies, or dreams of foolish men, he is fixed on setting his brother, the king, up for a fall that he will not recover from. Richard, the lowly Duke of Gloucester does not realize, that his actions will set up England for the success it would later enjoy under the Tudors. His treachery will bring forth the beginnings of new empire. Even though, one could assume Richard knew the risks of his actions, he could not have predicted that his selfish ambition would lay the foundation for a powerful England. The consequences for his actions surround the rise of the Tudors. Through his villainy, England is allowed a futuristic, yet unforeseen, bright future. His lack of moral conviction, allows for

He has Hastings executed in cold blood. This is key, because Hastings represents a political barrier between Richard and his beloved throne. Richard, appeals to the senses of the people that follow him. He claims that he will not dine, while the head of Lord Hastings remains attached to the appropriate shoulders that it is mounted on. He calls on Saint Paul, who hunted his enemies and executed them, in ancient days, to assist and then childishly demands to his closest supporters to follow him. In this tantrum like outburst the audience sees the villain of Richard; a glimpse of his nature. He remains an antihero, especially in this scene. Throughout his “cleansing” of his coveted kingdom, he paves the way for his rival, the Earl of Richmond to take England without much in the way of political blocking. In effect, Richard cleanses the House of York of any of its powerful members, leaving England ripe for the taking; after the death of Richard. Though of his own house is ironic, because through his cleansing, he leaves the door open to throne, upon his death; which is what occurs. His character is revealed, however, in this moment. He is a paranoid coward, that has left his back door open to Richmond. Finally, at the end of the play, the accomplishments of Richard the Third are realized. He has cleared his house, and politically made it easier for the House of Lancaster to settle and reign in England after