Richard III Act V - Questions/Analysis

 

11 May 2005

William Shakespeare

“The Tragedy of King Richard the Third”

 

Act V

1. Contrast Richard and Richmond’s orations to troops before battle

            

   1) Substance

The substances of their orations are very much different in mood influencing by their dream. Moreover, most of Richard’s men either flee away from him or betray for Richmond. Even though Richard bids Stanley to bring his power, threatening him to kill his son, but Stanley moves on Richmond’s side.

 

    2) Tone

In their tone, Richmond, encouraged by angel of Ghosts from his dream, is full of confidence to win the battle, inspiring his soldiers with God’s power. However Richard, denounced by Ghosts from his dream, is full of fear yet, pretending he is not a coward.

 

    3) Appeals

Richmond appeals to his solders that if they fight for their wives’ and children’s safe, they will be free from the sword, indicating its protection from bloody tyrant. If he wins, his soldiers will be rewarded. on the other hand, Richard just scorns the enemy that they are just a scum of Bretons. He doesn’t mention any encouraging words appealing to his soldiers.

 

    4) Values

Richmond values this battle as a loyalty of God saying that, “if you fight against God’s enemy, God will in justice ward you as his soldiers.” Contrarily, Richard doesn’t have any values on this battle, he just keeps this land for his sake from rags of France, the famished beggars.

 

2. Use of dream? (Procession Ghost)

 

           Right before the battle, ghosts who have been murdered by Richard show up both Richard’s and Richmond’s dreams. The ghosts say to Richard, “Despair, and die,” implying that he will be judged by God’s hand. Also, Ghosts say to Richmond, “Good angels guard thy battle. Live and flourish!” indicating that he will win the battle and take over England’s throne.

           Ghosts imprecate Richard bitterly and bless Richmond cheerfully before the battle, foreshadowing who will win the battle.

 

3. Can you find a place where Richard has stirrings of conscience?

 

           In scene 3, verse 178-207, right after Richard awakes from his dream execrated by Ghosts; he is afflicted by his own coward conscience. Richard fears for murderer in the midnight, there is no one else by but him. He recognizes himself the murderer who he fears for. Since every ghost condemns him for a villain, he says himself that stern murder should be punished in the direst degree stating, “Perjury, perjury, in the highest degree.” Finally, he realizes that there is no one loves him and no soul pity on him even if he dies stating, “I shall despair.”