King Edward Research Paper

However, it was during Edward IV reign that there were a moral and political corruption in the government. England under Edward was plagued by murders, extortions and oppressions, most of these affected the poor and helpless people. Many commoners feared for their own lives, but also for their land which were their livelihood Pollard (1991). Richard cared for his people and Pollard writes the following about Richard and a law passed by him, the Titulus Regius: “Richard, on the other hand, was known to possess ‘great wit, prudence, justice, princely courage {and} great nobles and excellence of birth. In short it was an act passed for public consumption” (1991, p.154). However, under Tudor’s rule people began to doubt Richard’s pure intentions since they thought he put on a show of being a good man to win the favor of the common people (Pollard, 1991). Pollard (1991), on the other hand, argues that there is no way in determining whether his legislations and reforms were because of his desire to be a good king or an attempt of him to restore his reputation. Either way, he looked out for the good of the common man, whatever his intentions might have

Upon Richard's return to England, he learns of the events that had transpired in his absence. At first his own arrogance allows him to believe that since it is his God given right to rule as King, he will be protected. But then just as quickly, Richard's arrogance turns into despair upon the realization that Henry has gained support of the nobles and the people of England. Henry and Richard finally meet at Ramparts Castle leading to the climax of the play. Henry demands retribution for the allocation of his families' possessions and

Richard’s political ambition is revealed through his strategic calculations based on the order of birth in his York family which puts him third away from the throne. Ahead of him is his elder brother, George Clarence, a barrier which will have to eradicate. His brother, King Edward, is another political barrier, by simply being alive, in power and equally by being the father of the two young princes . Richard’s creates a political mistrust between his two

It is only during his deposition and his imprisonment that Richard shows his greatest strength as a dramatic figure. Although occasionally he seems to demonstrate self-pity, he also reveals himself to have an acute awareness of the ironies and absurdities in the structure of power of his kingdom. He still compels the court to reconsider his initial claim that the crown is divinely appointed: “Not all the water… can wash the balm of an anointed king (3.2.55)”. Although he keeps reminding those present of his God-given mandate to rule, he seems also to take pleasure in passing on the trails of kingship to his successor. As a King, He does have a God-given position of being the king. But as a king one should know the difference between moral values and ethics values. Just because Richard is King and is appointed by God doesn’t give him any rights to be an awful ruler. He can’t always fight a problem by saying that he is

Since Richard cannot do anything about his deformity and ugliness he turns his bitterness to ambition and lays the groundwork for his plan to betray King Edward IV. Richard tells the audience, “plots have I laid, inductions dangerous, by drunken prophecies, libels and dreams, to set my brother Clarence and the King in deadly hate against the other; and if King Edward be as true and just as I am subtle, false, and treacherous, this day should Clarence closely be mewed up, about a prophecy, which says that G OF Edward’s heirs the murderer shall be” (1.1.32-40). In these lines, Richard reveals his plan that he will turn Clarence and King Edward against each other so Edward will banish Clarence to the tower because he believes Clarence will be his murderer. Richard will do this through declaring a prophecy that this will be so. Richard explains that this will work because King Edward is as just as Richard is treacherous and Richard will use that against King Edward to cause his and Clarence’s demise. It is not known whether the character Richard would have revealed more about his plan this early in the play because he is interrupted by Clarence. Richard ends the speech with the lines, “dive thoughts down to my soul, here Clarence comes” (1.1.41), which basically means that he better keep

Ambition is an earnest desire for achievement. Both texts are self reflexive and emphasise Richard’s obsessive ambition, desire and longing for the throne. Each Richard strives towards capturing the throne regardless of consequences and bloodshed. Richard is depicted in both texts as an ambitious character who strives to gain power and independence through deception and self confessed villainy. ‘Since I cannot prove a lover. . . I am determined to prove a villain’ This obsession which drives Richard to commit horrific evils to gain and then protect his claim to the throne. His ambition, power and evil blinds him and inevitably is responsible for his downfall in both of the texts. A connection is formed between Looking for Richard and King Richard III in the final scenes Al Pacino’s interpretation and ‘Hollywood’ background influences an ending which can be interpreted as portraying Richmond as a coward. Elizabethan audiences

Richard then gloats over his success in a soliloquy stating how he has won her heart even though he is regarded by her as the devil with dissembling looks and he stabbed Edward her love just 3 months earlier. This highlights how he thinks of himself as the best as he brags about his misdeeds as though he is immortal.

great wealth, likely long to live, to reign, and rule in the realm – by traitorous tyranny

Late 14th century English king Richard II lost all of his power towards the end of his reign as a result of his exploded sense of self-importance and godly association, which led to fatal opposition from multiple prominent aristocrats and eventually England as a whole. This gradual growth of opposition can be seen in the persecution of Richard’s most favored advisors; the aftermath of fear and apprehension that followed Richard’s execution of the Lord’s appellant in 1397; and his swift and universally encouraged abdication by Henry Bolingbroke, future Henry IV.

Richard’s aspiration for power caused him to sacrifice his morals and loyalties in order to gain the throne of England. Shakespeare refers to the political instability of England, which is evident through the War of the Roses between the Yorks and Lancastrians fighting for the right to rule. In order to educate and entertain the audience of the instability of politics, Shakespeare poses Richard as a caricature of the Vice who is willing to do anything to get what he wants. As a result, the plans Richard executed were unethical, but done with pride and cunningness. Additionally, his physically crippled figure that was, “so lamely and unfashionable, that dogs bark at me as I halt by them,” reflects the deformity and corruption of his soul. The constant fauna imagery of Richard as the boar reflected his greedy nature and emphasises that he has lost his sense of humanity.

Here it sounds like he is talking about how cruel Richard is because he has destroyed good people, Namely; Anthony, Richard Grey, and Thomas Vaughan. Each were considered loyal to the children and would never have come to their untimely demise if Richard had never gained the Crown. So, how could anyone consider themselves safe under his

Marshall knew his one true test would be balancing the kingdom against his future lord John. His loyalty to Richard was unceasing during his time away. Marshall was prepared to fight John with the other co-justicars to defend the kingdom from John during Richard’s captivity.

Then, Chapuys comes to visit Sir Thomas. Chapuys says that he doesn't approve of what the King is doing with Catherine. He tells Sir Thomas that maybe he should think about resigning, because that will send a signal that he does not stand for everything the King says and does. Sir Thomas says that the King is at war with the Pope because the Pope will not declare that Catherine is not his wife. Sir Thomas is resigning and Norfolk tells him that the King is very saddened by this, but accepts his resignation. Lady Alice wants to get a statement from Sir Thomas about his thoughts on the King's divorce, but he refuses because he doesn't want to start trouble. Sir Thomas realizes that he will have to let most of his servants go, but he says he won't until he finds another place for them to work. He tells Matthew that he can stay if he will take smaller pay, but Matthew doesn't want to. In Scene 2, Cromwell and Norfolk are discussing Sir Thomas and Cromwell says that he needs Sir Thomas to give a brief declaration of his loyalty to the King. He says the way they can make him do this is with some pressure. He brings in Richard and Richard tells them about the silver cup that was given to him by Sir Thomas. Cromwell wants to make it look like Sir Thomas accepted bribe. Norfolk proves him wrong, and Cromwell says he will find something better to pressure Sir Thomas with. Matthew wants to be Richard's steward. In Scene 3, Chapuys

But our beloved villain is not a Hitler. The Hitlerisation of the coronation scene was just reinforcement (a powerful reinforcement) of Richard’s monumental status. This particular anti-hero is more than just evil. Where as our horrified fascination for Hitler comes only from the magnitude of his crimes, Richard to us is infinitely more interesting with his charm, humorous wit and ability to stay two steps ahead of his opponents at all times.

Richard the Third was a power-hungry tyrant, willing to do whatever it took to become the most powerful man in the land. He lied, schemed, and ran down anyone who stumbled across his highway to fame and fortune. His exploits, though morally deplorable, were highly successful for him up until his fateful end. Many of his actions were taken straight from Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince, which is famous for its hard-hearted philosophies on achieving power and ruling. Richard followed Machiavelli’s advice in that he was ruthless and careful to cover his tracks, but he failed to heed one of his warnings: he made himself unpopular.