Machiavellianism: Definitely use
Opening/Intro paragraph focusing on form, purpose and context: Looking for Richard is
rendered in a stream-of-consciousness style, bordering on pastiche. It endeavours to evoke the
archaic ambience of the Elizabethan era and capture Shakespeare’s theatrical intentions while
simultaneously reinterpreting these elements for a postmodern 20th-century audience.
Pacino’s docudrama involves method acting, which is a form of metatheatricality.
Contexts: Both texts were created within social and cultural contexts, each shaped by its unique
historical context. The significant dissonances in context between them make it essential to
understand the environments in which they were produced.
In the Shakespearean world, the growing influence of Renaissance Humanism encouraged a
deeper examination of psychologically complex human beings, along with moral flaws and
personal agency.
Characters in King Richard III
- Richard
- Power-hungry, Machiavellianism, physically deformed (represents his evilness in
society). Desperately yearns to be king. Manipulative in his language.
- Buckingham
- Supports everything that Richard does, and is a puppet. Reflects of how powerful
and manipulative Richard is with his language and actions. Listens to everything
that Richard tells him to do
- King Edward IV
- Society is more in favour of Edward, as opposed to King Richard. He is also very
oblivious in terms of what Richard is scheming.
- Margaret
- Widow of King Henry IV. She is very bitter and cynical, she hates Rciahrd and
the people that he is trying to get rid of, all who were part of the destruction
schemes of the Lancasters.
, - Richmond
- He is someone who embodies a lot of positive qualities, such as justice and
fairness.
- Hastings
- He remains loyal to King Edward IV’s family, however, he ends up dead for
trusting Richard.
- Queen Elizabeth
- Wife of King Edward IV. She is perceived as an enemy in Richard’s eyes, as she
is intelligent and aware. She also opposes his rise to sudden power.
- Anne
- Richard used her vulnerability and hence married her, connecting the two
families. She is a subtle symbol of vulnerability and victimhood.
Elizabethan Values
- Women can’t hold power
- Betrayal in order to protect your power
- Divine Right of Kings and The Great Chain of Being- Kings have over-ruling power,
they can get away with everything. Lots of protection regardless of their actions.
- Cosmic Determinism/ Belief in fate (Witchcraft and ghosts, along with God)
- Significance of Bloodline in ensuring kingship (Richard violently killed all the legitimate
heirs to the throne, thinking that he will easily become King)
- Deception (Lots of political deception happening, Richard pretends to be a humble being,
but obviously he proves to be the complete opposite)
QUOTES RICHARD III
QUOTE TECHNIQUE/FORM/CONTEXT ANALYSIS
“I shall shortly - Context: Elizabethan era. - Showcases the historical context of religion
send your soul - Technique: Religious within the society and how that connects
to heaven” imagery: The phrase, “send with the divine right of kings
your soul to heaven,” touches - Religion helped protect the kings as
on religious elements such as an excuse
the existence of heaven and - ‘Brave’ and ‘reckless’ being represented as
, souls. morals as princes/kings fighting amongst
each other to be on the throne was common
within the era
- Determinism (Cosmic)- How society would
believe in supernatural elements, such as
ghosts. Also slight use of foreshadowing.
“More direful - Negative connotation through - Cosmic determinism as they mention that
hap betide that the use of wolves, spiders and ‘evil’ can fall upon someone. Use of
hated wretch toads - Negative connotation through the use of
That makes us wolves, spiders and toads, as they allude to
wretched by the creepy, grotesque ambience.
death of thee - Witchcraft through the use of negative
Than I can wish connotations. Witchcraft would fall under
to wolves, to cosmic determinism and the context of the
spiders, toads, era.
Or any creeping - Superstitious values such as witchcraft.
venomed thing
that lives”
POWER
DIVINE MANIPULATION OF POWER MACHIAVELLIANISM- Portrayal of archetypal
RIGHT OF BY KING RICHARD, like a villain, as opposed to the contemporary moral
KINGS POWER TRIP to make people follow codes.
his favours.
“Was ever Context: The Elizabethan era - He puts power as he is asking questions,
woman with Technique: Rhetorical Questions. and exploring different scenarios
this humour Dramatic Irony - Dramatic irony is demonstrated through
wooed? Was anaphora, in “Was Ever Woman…” which
ever a woman Values: Women were heavily illustrates the rhetorical nature of Richard’s
with this marginalised during the Elizabethan scheming and manipulation of Anne and the
humour won? era audience.
I’ll have her, - This prompts the audience to evaluate the
but I will not quality of Richards's aesthetic under what
keep her long” High modality in ‘will not.’ he operates.
- This reflects on the Elizabethan era, as
Women were heavily marginalised. Richard
III saying ‘have’ and ‘keep,’ shows that he
thinks of women as property.
- High modality in ‘will not,’ expresses the
Elizabethan era of the value of chaos that
will ensue if one disturbs the natural order.
Manipulation
Opening/Intro paragraph focusing on form, purpose and context: Looking for Richard is
rendered in a stream-of-consciousness style, bordering on pastiche. It endeavours to evoke the
archaic ambience of the Elizabethan era and capture Shakespeare’s theatrical intentions while
simultaneously reinterpreting these elements for a postmodern 20th-century audience.
Pacino’s docudrama involves method acting, which is a form of metatheatricality.
Contexts: Both texts were created within social and cultural contexts, each shaped by its unique
historical context. The significant dissonances in context between them make it essential to
understand the environments in which they were produced.
In the Shakespearean world, the growing influence of Renaissance Humanism encouraged a
deeper examination of psychologically complex human beings, along with moral flaws and
personal agency.
Characters in King Richard III
- Richard
- Power-hungry, Machiavellianism, physically deformed (represents his evilness in
society). Desperately yearns to be king. Manipulative in his language.
- Buckingham
- Supports everything that Richard does, and is a puppet. Reflects of how powerful
and manipulative Richard is with his language and actions. Listens to everything
that Richard tells him to do
- King Edward IV
- Society is more in favour of Edward, as opposed to King Richard. He is also very
oblivious in terms of what Richard is scheming.
- Margaret
- Widow of King Henry IV. She is very bitter and cynical, she hates Rciahrd and
the people that he is trying to get rid of, all who were part of the destruction
schemes of the Lancasters.
, - Richmond
- He is someone who embodies a lot of positive qualities, such as justice and
fairness.
- Hastings
- He remains loyal to King Edward IV’s family, however, he ends up dead for
trusting Richard.
- Queen Elizabeth
- Wife of King Edward IV. She is perceived as an enemy in Richard’s eyes, as she
is intelligent and aware. She also opposes his rise to sudden power.
- Anne
- Richard used her vulnerability and hence married her, connecting the two
families. She is a subtle symbol of vulnerability and victimhood.
Elizabethan Values
- Women can’t hold power
- Betrayal in order to protect your power
- Divine Right of Kings and The Great Chain of Being- Kings have over-ruling power,
they can get away with everything. Lots of protection regardless of their actions.
- Cosmic Determinism/ Belief in fate (Witchcraft and ghosts, along with God)
- Significance of Bloodline in ensuring kingship (Richard violently killed all the legitimate
heirs to the throne, thinking that he will easily become King)
- Deception (Lots of political deception happening, Richard pretends to be a humble being,
but obviously he proves to be the complete opposite)
QUOTES RICHARD III
QUOTE TECHNIQUE/FORM/CONTEXT ANALYSIS
“I shall shortly - Context: Elizabethan era. - Showcases the historical context of religion
send your soul - Technique: Religious within the society and how that connects
to heaven” imagery: The phrase, “send with the divine right of kings
your soul to heaven,” touches - Religion helped protect the kings as
on religious elements such as an excuse
the existence of heaven and - ‘Brave’ and ‘reckless’ being represented as
, souls. morals as princes/kings fighting amongst
each other to be on the throne was common
within the era
- Determinism (Cosmic)- How society would
believe in supernatural elements, such as
ghosts. Also slight use of foreshadowing.
“More direful - Negative connotation through - Cosmic determinism as they mention that
hap betide that the use of wolves, spiders and ‘evil’ can fall upon someone. Use of
hated wretch toads - Negative connotation through the use of
That makes us wolves, spiders and toads, as they allude to
wretched by the creepy, grotesque ambience.
death of thee - Witchcraft through the use of negative
Than I can wish connotations. Witchcraft would fall under
to wolves, to cosmic determinism and the context of the
spiders, toads, era.
Or any creeping - Superstitious values such as witchcraft.
venomed thing
that lives”
POWER
DIVINE MANIPULATION OF POWER MACHIAVELLIANISM- Portrayal of archetypal
RIGHT OF BY KING RICHARD, like a villain, as opposed to the contemporary moral
KINGS POWER TRIP to make people follow codes.
his favours.
“Was ever Context: The Elizabethan era - He puts power as he is asking questions,
woman with Technique: Rhetorical Questions. and exploring different scenarios
this humour Dramatic Irony - Dramatic irony is demonstrated through
wooed? Was anaphora, in “Was Ever Woman…” which
ever a woman Values: Women were heavily illustrates the rhetorical nature of Richard’s
with this marginalised during the Elizabethan scheming and manipulation of Anne and the
humour won? era audience.
I’ll have her, - This prompts the audience to evaluate the
but I will not quality of Richards's aesthetic under what
keep her long” High modality in ‘will not.’ he operates.
- This reflects on the Elizabethan era, as
Women were heavily marginalised. Richard
III saying ‘have’ and ‘keep,’ shows that he
thinks of women as property.
- High modality in ‘will not,’ expresses the
Elizabethan era of the value of chaos that
will ensue if one disturbs the natural order.
Manipulation
