Richard III
Character Traits:
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.
Despite his villainous nature, Richard wants to appear as a modest and pious man. He hopes this will strengthen his popularity with the common people. Buckingham stages a scene and pretends to encourage a reluctant Richard to take the crown. These political games are an attempt to shows he is a moral leader who is worthy of becoming king.
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.
Changes in Character
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.
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.
Changes in Character
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.
Richard's Key Moments
Richard persuades Lady Anne to marry him, even though he has killed her husband and father-in-law.
Richard organizes the murder of his older brother Clarence. His other brother King Edward IV dies of an illness and Richard imprisons Edward’s sons in the Tower of London.
Richard has Queen Elizabeth’s brother and son from her first marriage executed. Richard also executes Hastings, his former friend and ally, when he finds out that he has remained loyal to his nephew. Richard becomes King Richard III.
Richard has his nephews and wife killed, then proposes to his niece, Princess Elizabeth. Buckingham asks Richard for a reward for his loyalty and is rejected.
Richmond returns to England from France to claim the crown. He kills Richard in battle and becomes King Henry VII.
Richmond returns to England from France to claim the crown. He kills Richard in battle and becomes King Henry VII.
