Abstract
The paper posits that comparing and contrasting five dramatic and historical interpretations of Richard III is an interesting task, for every actor and director who has ever been involved in a stage or film version of this English king's life has had their own conceptions of how he should be portrayed. The paper notes that a few of them have been influenced more by their understanding of the historical Richard III than by previous portrayals of him, but most of them have chosen to be guided much more by the characterization of Richard in William Shakespeare's famous play.

From the Paper
"Comparing and contrasting five dramatic and historical interpretations of Richard III is an interesting task, for every actor and director who has ever been involved in a stage or film version of this English king's life has had their own conceptions of how he should be portrayed. A few of them have been influenced more by their understanding of the historical Richard III than by previous portrayals of him, but most of them have chosen to be guided much more by the characterization of Richard in William..."

Tags:richard, iii, interpretations

Abstract
The paper discusses how the women of Richard III are downtrodden and disenfranchised; they have experienced extreme losses in terms of their husbands and sons. Despite this apparent lack of power, however, the paper highlights how their actions bring about the changes that occur in Richard's kingdom. The paper describes how they act as agents in foreshadowing the play's actions and their actions bring about the changes that occur during the course of the play. The paper asserts that despite their lack of social power, the roles that women play in Richard III are actually of great importance.

From the Paper
"In most of Shakespeare's plays, women play an inferior role to that of men, even when those women are of noble birth. This portrayal is in many ways an accurate perception of the social behavior prevalent at the time. Women of noble birth were frequently used as pawns in political alliances and were often considered mere conduits for producing heirs to titles. While these social roles are evident in Richard III, women also play a symbolic role. They represent the changes that will take place in Richard's kingdom and, in fact, are used to predict events that take place over the course of the play. Although women are forced to play minor..."

Tags:women, shakespeare, richard iii

Abstract
The paper explains several examples of the history behind Richard III, about whom William Shakespeare wrote his famous, if historically inaccurate, play. The paper deals with the issue of political maneuvering and examines the villainy of Richard III and his rise to power.

From the Paper
"Richard III. Fact vs Fiction. The scandalous portrayal of Richard III was the result of political maneuvering by Henry IV and his Tudor successors who came to the throne by force. This was deemed necessary by the Tudors to make the people believe they had rescued the country from the York Dynasty."

Tags:william, shakespeare, historical, accurate, accuracy, history, Richard, III

Abstract
This paper provides both sides to the debate about whether or not Richard III killed his nephews. The paper determines that he did not and contends that the accusation was a propagandized lie.

From the Paper
"Today Richard III has become almost more of an idea rather than an actual historical figure. To this end it is often hard to separate fact from fiction when dealing with the plethora of information and different faces of the king. Literary a ..."

Tags:richard III, murder, history.

Abstract
This paper takes a look at William Shakespeare's play 'Richard III' and two movie versions based on this play. According to the paper, 'Richard III' is both a tragedy and a historical account of the short career of the last medieval English king. The paper discusses how Shakespeare's 'Richard III' depicts Richard and his "reign of terror" both unflatteringly and beyond historical accuracy.

From the Paper
" In the movie version, "Looking for Richard," Al Pacino creates, directs and stars as Richard III's obsession for power, lust and betrayal through the streets of New York to the birthplace of Shakespeare to an emotionally charged production of Richard III (Richard III Society 1996) It is a presentation of Shakespeare with an untraditional format more accessible to the modern audience and with which this modern audience can relate better. The cast includes Estelle Parsons as Queen Margaret, Alec Baldwin as Clarence, Kevin Spacey as Buckingham, Winona Ryder as Lady Anne and Aidan Quinn as Richmond. Al Pacino also puts in the enthusiasm and help of Sir John Gielgud, Sir Derek Jacobi, Kenneth Branagh, Vanessa Redgrave, James Earl Jones and Kevin Kline in an attempt at making everyone enjoy Shakespeare and his tales truly timeless in exploring human nature. This version is different from the first two interpretations in that Al Pacino and his actors needed to break down the barriers, which render Shakespeare's history complicated and intimidating. Al Pacino allows his viewer to go behind the scenes and witness the actual process of acting. The heavier aspects of the play are made mild by informal shots of actors dealing with their roles in either a comic or heated forum. Al Pacino's methods of analysis are insightful, amusing and engrossing. He transcends the barrier between actors and their audience as he stands in London's legendary Globe Theater and the halls of New York City's Cloisters Museum (Richard III Society)."

Tags:king, england, Edward, lady, anne, society, civil, war, power, lust

Abstract
The paper examines four productions and one biography of Richard III.
The paper explains that a controversial historical figure like Richard III, whose flawed character and life was filled with intrigue, betrayals, confrontations and battle has provided ample opportunities for playwrights, biographers, novelists, and filmmakers to interpret him and the events of his life in a variety of ways. The paper shows how some interpretations rely upon an understanding of the historical Richard III, others rely upon the characterization of him in William Shakespeare's famous play, while others have chosen to rely less upon traditions and more upon innovative approaches.

From the Paper
"Carefully examining the 1954 and 1995 films, both entitled Richard III; as well as Shakespeare's Richard III, Al Pacino's Looking for Richard, and historical and biographical accounts of Richard III provides many opportunities to compare and contrast these various interpretations. William Shakespeare's play is the best known of these productions, and justifiably so, for it created a memorable and lasting image of Richard III that renders the historical figure virtually irrelevant to most people. Shakespeare's interpretation of Richard is so powerful, vivid, and overwhelming that no biography or historical account can even begin to compare."

Tags:Shakespeare, novels, biographies, productions, films, England

Abstract
This paper provides an analysis of how the lies, rumors and murderous route taken to the throne by Richard III in Shakespeare's tragedy "Richard III", impacts major and minor characters from Richard, Queen Anne, King Edward and Buckingham to Princes Edward and Richard, Queen Margaret, and even the citizenry of London.

From the Paper
"Shakespeare's "The Tragedy of Richard III" is a history drama. Following the end of the War of Roses and the ascension of King Edward IV to the throne of England, Richard III, Edward's brother, began plotting against his brother. Richard is deeply envious of his brother's power believing he stands in the shadows of the glorious light of King Edward. "Now is the winter of our discontent. Made glorious summer by this son of York.""

Tags:usurper, power, ambition, War of Roses, York, Battle of Bosworth, history, Tower of London, envy

Abstract
This paper concentrates on exploring why the Duke of Buckingham helped Richard III as extensively as he did to lie, cheat, steal, and murder his way to being king. It also explores why Buckingham left Richard III at a certain point after he was asked to arrange for the murder of Edward. The author argues that Buckingham left Richard not because of his conscience regarding the murder of the boy, but out of a fear that by helping the tyrant to gain his power, he would not get anything in return but his own death.

From the Paper
"Shakespeare's "Richard III" was a play in the series of historical texts that also includes "Henry IV". With these texts, the author left the convention of setting his plays is exotic places like Athens and Italy, and concentrated on the theme of English history. Richard III was a monarch who is shown in Shakespeare's "Richard III" to have lost touch with reality more than a little bit in his quest for power, which has corrupted him deeply. At the end of the play there is little that can be done to redeem Richard III, such is his rejection of morality and his overriding ambition. These qualities caused Richard III to murder many of his own family members, and throughout the play he treats everyone as either someone to use or a potential threat. One of the people whom Richard III used was the Duke of Buckingham, who became his right-hand man during his quest for the throne."

Tags:death, king, tyrant

Abstract
This paper examines the play, "Richard III", focusing on the main character, King Richard III of England. It discusses whether he should be considered a villain and asks, "Did he repent in time?" It explains that, in the play, Edward IV is on the throne, but his brother Richard plans to usurp Edward and be crowned king. To accomplish this goal, he must manipulate and murder, but in the midst of all the chaos he creates, there are glimmers of a better man.

From the Paper
"He has decided that since he is no good at being happy, he will become an outstanding villain. He will soon show just how power-hungry he is. His reasons for acting as he does seem thin, and at this point it is hard to imagine how any good traits could be spotted in such a man. Richard is intelligent and manipulative, and has the ability to lie through his teeth and bee believed. He convinces a just-widowed noble woman, Lady Anne, that she should marry him, even though she knows he murdered her husband. He has his trusting and na ve older brother executed. King Edward is already in poor health, and Richard uses Clarence s death to hasten Edward s death."

Tags:tudor, edward, king, england, villian

Abstract
This paper looks at at Shakespeare's "Richard III," but also discusses the theater and the times in which Shakespeare lived. It starts with an overview of Elizabethan theater and society, then moves specifically to theaters in London and the provinces. William Shakespeare, the man, his life and career in the theater are discussed. "Richard III" is looked at in terms of historical facts, and then the character of Richard is examined.

From the Paper
"A history partly based on The Union of the Two Noble and Illustrious Families of Lancaster and York by the English historian Edward Hall and on the Chronicles by the English historian Raphael Holinshed. Probably first performed in 1593. First published in 1597. In this play, the first history to have a self-contained narrative unity, Shakespeare accentuated the moment of death as a crisis of conscience in which man judges himself and is capable of true prophecy. He centered the drama on a single figure who commits himself to murder, treason, and dissimulation with an inventive imagination that an audience can relish even as it must condemn it; and in defeat Richard discovers a valiant fury that carries him beyond nightmare fear and guilt to unrepentant, crazed defiance."

Tags:shakespeare