Morality in Richard III by William Shakespeare

Morality in Richard III by William Shakespeare

In Richard III, Shakespeare invites us on moral holiday. The early part of

the play draws its readers to identify with Richard and thereby to participate in a

fantasy of total control of self and domination of others. We begin to be pulled

into the fantasy in the play's opening speech, where Richard presents himself as

an enterprising, self made villain and offers an elaborate justification for this self

he renovation.

In the first scene of the play, Richard announces in a narration, his plan to

become king. Richard is truly a Machiavel. A Machiavel is "one who views

politics as amoral and that any means, however unscrupulous, can justifiably be

used to achieve power". Richard plainly states that he is "Deformed, Unfinished,

and sent before his time" and "since he cannot prove to be a lover; he is

determined to prove a villain". As a villain Richard must be heartless; he cannot

let his emotions interfere with his actions. He must also be intelligent and

organized; a...