Shakespeare’s play Richard III was written circa 1592 and was one of Shakespeare’s earlier plays. Richard III is considered a history play and concludes the last part of Shakespeare’s first tetralogy, based on England’s monarchy. There are many characters in this play which all assist in embellishing the plot and setting of Richard III. In may of Shakespeare’s historical plays, female characters are often shown in subordinate, powerless roles due to the historical era of England in Shakespeare’s time. However, female characters also often have essential roles that contribute the central meaning of many plays. Throughout Richard III, women have a vital role in developing Richard’s character while also using language, pain and curses as a weapon
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As Richard continues to gain more power to reach his ultimate goal in becoming King of England, he executes many of his former followers and supporters. As these characters are taken to their death they reflect on Margaret’s curse. Grey is the first character to realize this as he states “Now Margaret’s curse is fall’n upon our heads,” (III.III.14). Through this, Grey indicates to both Rivers and Vaughan (who are also being executed) that Margaret’s curse became real for all of them, exemplifying the power of her pain and language as weapon against all who have wronged or invalidated her. Another example of this is when Hasting has been sentenced to death by Richard and remembers Margaret’s curse, “O Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse / Is lighted on poor Hastings’ wretched head” (III.IV.93-94). Again, Hastings reflects on how Margaret’s curse has altered his fate as she had warned them. As the play reaches climax and Richard has become the King by murdering the two Princes, Queen Elizabeth and the Duchess (Richard’s mother) finally realize the extent of Margaret’s curses and beg Margaret to teach them how to curse Richard. Margaret teaches the act or cursing by stating “Compare dead happiness with living woe; / Think that thy babes were sweeter than they were, / And he that slew them fouler than he is. / Bettering thy loss makes the bad causer worse. / Revolving this will teach thee how to curse” (IV.IV.122-126). In the first line, Margaret suggests comparing what she has lost to how she is suffering now. Through making the loss greater will, in comparison, make Richard appear worse which will cause a greater and more powerful curse. Through contradicting words such as “dead”, “happiness”, “sweeter” and “fouler”, Shakespeare represents how Richard has turned a wonderful and happy future to a dead and
As Richard continues to gain more power to reach his ultimate goal in becoming King of England, he executes many of his former followers and supporters. As these characters are taken to their death they reflect on Margaret’s curse. Grey is the first character to realize this as he states “Now Margaret’s curse is fall’n upon our heads,” (III.III.14). Through this, Grey indicates to both Rivers and Vaughan (who are also being executed) that Margaret’s curse became real for all of them, exemplifying the power of her pain and language as weapon against all who have wronged or invalidated her. Another example of this is when Hasting has been sentenced to death by Richard and remembers Margaret’s curse, “O Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse / Is lighted on poor Hastings’ wretched head” (III.IV.93-94). Again, Hastings reflects on how Margaret’s curse has altered his fate as she had warned them. As the play reaches climax and Richard has become the King by murdering the two Princes, Queen Elizabeth and the Duchess (Richard’s mother) finally realize the extent of Margaret’s curses and beg Margaret to teach them how to curse Richard. Margaret teaches the act or cursing by stating “Compare dead happiness with living woe; / Think that thy babes were sweeter than they were, / And he that slew them fouler than he is. / Bettering thy loss makes the bad causer worse. / Revolving this will teach thee how to curse” (IV.IV.122-126). In the first line, Margaret suggests comparing what she has lost to how she is suffering now. Through making the loss greater will, in comparison, make Richard appear worse which will cause a greater and more powerful curse. Through contradicting words such as “dead”, “happiness”, “sweeter” and “fouler”, Shakespeare represents how Richard has turned a wonderful and happy future to a dead and