King Richard The Third Research Paper

Words: 610
Pages: 3

Shakespeare's literary genius has captured the hearts of men since the early 1600s. Through the pages of his mastery, we can travel back in time to the events leading up to the coronation of King Richard the Third. But, how accurate is the history behind this tragic tale? Many scholars argue that Shakespeare's play was inspired by the legends of King Richard the Third, rather than the actual historical accounts of Richard's life. However, very little evidence of this era, including the reign of Richard the Third, has survived to this day to confirm their theories. So, the question remains. Should Shakespeare's play be considered primarily a history or a tragedy? Regardless of the gaps in history, we can deduce that the actual historical events of King Richard the Third’s life did little to impact Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of King Richard the Third. We can verify this by looking first, through the documented historical accounts, second, through the dramatic characters, and finally, through Shakespeare’s literary priorities in his play. …show more content…
The protagonist, Richard the Duke of Gloucester, is determined to gain control of the crown once Edward the Fourth is dead, but there are many obstacles in his way. Through manipulation and cunning Richard turns his brothers against each other. He then exterminates any competition to the throne, regardless of their age. Richard blames his murderous actions on his friend and family. He not only uses murder and cunning to grow closer to the crown, but also a romance. After eliminating the husband and the son of young Lady Ann, he pursues her hand in marriage. When the current king breathes his last breath, Richard plays the role of a saint and succeeds the throne. This gains him the loyalty of his people and strengthens his role as the King, but his power hunger soon turns him into a