03/06/2015

VALUES AND IDEAS

CONSCIENCE
- How far are we prepared to go?
- ‘Conscience is but a word that cowards use, devised at first to keep the strong in
awe.’
- Even at the end when Richard has been confronted by the ghosts of those he killed
and betrayed he exclaims ‘O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me?’ (AV,
SIII) He does not seek salvation.
- Shakespeare explores how individuals can ignore their conscience and commit evil
such as the murders of Clarence who hesitate only for a moment before taking his life
or Buckingham who supports Richard until he makes that mistake of having to
consider whether he supports the murder of the two young princes – ‘He did all the
dirty work and propped up the king’.
- The existence of conscience is a constant in the play. Richard sees it as a weakness –
using personification and alliteration.
- The entire scene of Richard’s dream and the cursing of the ghosts is a representation
of conscience.

QUOTES
- Margaret – ‘The worm of conscience still begnaw thy soul’ [Metaphor]
- Second Murderer – ‘Some certain dregs of conscience are yet within me’
- Tyrell – ‘With conscience and remorse / They could not speak’.

POLITICS AND POWER

- ‘The truth is that those in power have total contempt for everything they promise,
everything they promise, everything they pledge, and this is really about.’ – Vanessa
Redgrove
- In the 21st century the pursuit of power is still a concern; thus, providing one
explanation for the continuing resonance of KRIII and Pacino’s fascination.
- Elizabethan times: Machiavellian, Catholicism, political unrest
- US: cynicism and loss of trust in government
- Pacino’s ambition: ‘Our revels now are ended. These are our actors, As I foretold
you, were all spirits and Are melted into air, into thin air: And like the baseless fabric
of this vision… This insubstantial pageant’.
- ‘What, do you tremble? Are you all afraid? / Alas, I blame you not, for you are
mortal…” (AI, SII)
- The actors in Looking for Richard are fascinated by the battle for power and the
hatred that is palable – ‘They are clawing at each other for the throne!’
- ‘The gathering of the Dons in this room.’ Looking for Richard makes the connection
between Elizabethan times today and stressing that there will always be individuals
who will betray others for power.
- The end justifies the means.
- ‘There is no creature loves me, / And if I die no soul shall pity me.’ (AV, SIII) – The
terrible consequences of supressing your humanity for power. His villains die alone
and without respect of love. Pacino observes that Richard ‘has no friends’.
- As a history play KRIII is concerned with the consequences of the behaviour of those
in power, and with ideas of good rulership and governance. It is significant that the
common people fear and distrust Richard and their opposition enables Richmond to
overthrow him. IN these ways Richard III explores a theme later revisited in Hamlet
 ad Macbeth – the idea that the moral righteousness of a political ruler directly affects
the health of the state.
- Richard’s skill is in
DUPLICITY
- Richard III is never what he seems. He is only honest with the audience informing
them of his plans and celebrating his success. He uses irony skilfully to hide his
ruthlessness and lack of conscience. Even after all of the bloody deeds he is able to
convince the people, albeit for a brief time, to support him.
- As one actor observes in Looking for Richard ‘so now all that’s left is winning the
people!’ Pacino sings gleefully ‘He’s got the whole world in his hands!’
- Example: he persuades Anne to marry him after killing her husband because he
claims to have done this out of love for her. She is susceptible to his flattery.
- The Archbishop is convinced to hand over the children from the sanctuary of the
church so that Richard can “protect” them in the tower.
CONNECTIONS
Artistry
- The power of Shakespeare’s language