Comparing Richard In William Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

On the other hand, Shakespeare’s Richard begins the play as brilliant at spreading rumors. He calls Catesby and orders to spread rumor that his wife Anne is very sick and likely to die soon. “Come hither, Catesby. Rumor it abroad That Anne my wife is very grievous sick. I will take order for her keeping close. Inquire me out some mean poor gentleman,Whom I will marry straight to Clarence' daughter.” (Act4-2) Richard plans to get Clarence’s kids out the way too –just to be safe. He does not worry about Clarence’s young son and Richard reveals his worst part of his plan. He hires murderer to kill the two princes in the tower because he thinks it would be a good idea to marry her after he gets rid of Anne. “But did’st thou see them dead?..

Richard then gives the audience useful information: he is imprisoned Clarence’s young son, married off Clarence’s daughter to some harmless guy, and killed Edward’s son, married off Clarence’s daughter to some harmless guy, and his wife Anne is dead. By double checking their death, Richard shows that he is trying to cover his fears and concerns. This murder scene makes me feel a sympathy and piteous. I can see his detailed strategies, but

I feel his anxiety about the glory as a king and I see how many questions –death or life- Richard asks himself and to the world. Hi murders are reputed as a murderous psychopath, however, I think his narcissistic tendencies are interesting and attractive. As soon as I read his lines, I became an intellectual complicity with him in order to secure and maintain his power. Shakespeare’s words touched my pity enough. In Act 1 scene 2, Richard tells Anne “But I know none, and therefore am no beast” (line 74) and “But I know none, and therefore am no beast.” (line 86). Some people argue that Richard’s emotional appeal is to obtain sympathy to justify his acts, but I think he knows his inner deformity, the result of uncontrollable