Discussion: Richard III

Richard III is a singular charismatic monster; he both dominates the play and has seeped so far into the cultural consciousness as to surpass historical ‘truth’. Shakespeare ingeniously structures the play as an unrelenting ascent to power followed by an equally steep decline in fortunes; Richard invites the audience into his confidence during the ascent so we feel deliciously complicit in his schemes and then stare in horror as it all goes south.

Discussion Topics:

• Richard III is extravagantly theatrical both in its structure and in how Richard is always playingthe consummate actor, so much so he delights himself in how far he can push boundaries. Howdoes Richard’s theatricality and seeming transparency contribute to his charm with theaudience?
• The last Plantagenet king will no doubt be portrayed negatively by historians (and theplaywright) working during Elizabeth’s reign; after all, Elizabeth’s grandfather defeated RichardIII to take the crown. Richard III’s historical truth may be more complicated, and may neverovercome Shakespeare’s vivid portrayal. Who gets to decide what is historically accurate?Further, do we read history exclusively in terms of winner and loser, and does it matter?
• The women in Richard III are either dupes or scolds and mostly work in opposition to the titlecharacter. How do the women help define the title character and modulate the audienceresponse to the character? Consider both their presence throughout the play and theirsignificant absence at the end.

Folger Shakespeare Link: https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/richard-iii/
*Carnegie-Stout Public Library also has paper copies of the play.

Kanopy BBC production link: https://www.kanopy.com/en/dubuque/video/851091

Other Resources to Consider:

• Richard III film adaptation starring Laurence Olivier (1955)- library holding and on Kanopy https://www.kanopy.com/en/dubuque/video/113189
• Richard III film adaptation starring Ian McKellan (1995)
• Looking for Richard by Al Pacino (film, 1996)
• The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tay (novel, 1952) – library holding
• Shakespeare and Modern Culture by Marjorie Gerber (book, 2008), Chapter 5 on Richard III
• The Lost King (film, 2022) about finding Richard III’s grave.

Carnegie-Stout Public Library also has many other books on Richard III, histories and historical fiction.