Shakespeare is challenging for a lot of people, so we'll start slow.
Let's begin w/ just recounting the plot of Act I. Some questions to
guide you:
1) What has happened before the play has begun? Who did Richard kill?
2)
What is Anne's relationship to one of the men who Richard killed? What
does Richard try to convince her next to this man's coffin?
3) Who is Clarence and why has he been put in the Tower (the dudgeon)? Why does Richard send the two killers to kill him?
This
is a historical play, based on the real Richard III who ruled for less
than two years in the 15th century, the late Middle Ages. In fact, many
consider the death of the historical Richard III to be the end of the
Middle Ages which led into the Renaissance. Realize that Shakespeare's plays (he wrote no novels) are like long
poems. They're written in verse, not meant to be read like contemporary
realistic plays. So we have to be careful and read the lines and look at
the metaphorical language and word play. There is some interpretation
to do as we read. Use the blog to ask questions you have about the
play and point out lines that you like or feel puzzled by.
Before the play has even begun, there was a civil war for Thorne between the House of York and the House of Lancaster. With the house of york being Richards family to despot and kill King Henry IV and his son Prince Edward. Richard killed King Henry IV because Lady Anne said the the body bleeds when the killer is close by. Its like returning to the scene of the crime, so Richard can see his handy work. Lady Anne was married to King Henry IV and her son was Prince Edward and she was still in mourning because the way the play is setup it seems its happened just a couple of days or weeks ago. Part of Richards plans to take over the throne, he asks Lady Anne hand in marriage. However, she is still upset about the death of the former King and Prince. Richard was able to calm her down and make feel comfortable, while talking to Lady Anne his gives her one of his rings. This gesture shows Lady Anne that he's "sorry" for the murders, to where it seem like he wasn't this evil person but considerate person.
ReplyDeleteEarly in the play we were introduced to Richard's younger brother named Clarence, as part of Richard's plan he had conspired to make it seem that their older brother,who is ill, King Edward IV ,is suspicious of him and had him lock up in the tower. Richard hired two murders because in order to claim the throne legally, Clarence had to be dead. Clarence dream of him drowning was foreshadowing his own death but also meant he was never getting to the throne. He saw the riches at the bottom and couldn't get it or reach it and him drowning could symbolize Richard stoping him from getting it.
Daughter by association and resemblance. That if you stick with me, the world will be a better place for us all. They both know right v from wrong and, or at least, as well as knowing they will know it. Anne: If I thought that, I tell thee, homicide. These nails should rend that beauty from my cheeks. Richard: These eyes could not endure that beauty's wrack.
ReplyDeleteYou should not blemish it if I stood by. As all the world is cheered by the sun. So by that; it is my day, my life. Check out my last blog flash fiction. It won't be fiction, nothing is fiction. In other words everything happens for a reason. From a timely second to an infinite millinium.
Daughter by association and resemblance. That if you stick with me, the world will be a better place for us all. They both know right v from wrong and, or at least, as well as knowing they will know it. Anne: If I thought that, I tell thee, homicide. These nails should rend that beauty from my cheeks. Richard: These eyes could not endure that beauty's wrack.
ReplyDeleteYou should not blemish it if I stood by. As all the world is cheered by the sun. So by that; it is my day, my life. Check out my last blog flash fiction. It won't be fiction, nothing is fiction. In other words everything happens for a reason. From a timely second to an infinite millinium.
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