Consider the relationship between speech and power and or transgression in one of the Richard III
The relationship between speech and power is a central feature in Richard III and how it allows Richard III and other characters to step beyond the boundaries of accepted moral behaviour. The first half of the play focuses upon Richards evil deeds as he successfully eliminates everyone who stands between him and the crown. Within this first half of the play Richard is able to use both his speech and power to attain his ends. ... It is a historical fact that Richard III was an actual figure and therefore occupied a certain amount of power. Shakespeare based his portrait of Richard III from secondary historical sources written by people such as Edward Hall, Raphael Holinshed and Sir Thomas More . These writers wove three aspects into Richard’s character: the political, the psychological and the metaphysical. The politician, who was a schemer and willing to destroy rival powers and anyone who proved to come between him and the crown. Psychologically Richard possessed the wit and malice to be able to deceive those around him and subsequently the deceit became a reciprocal act. ... He was writing in the time of Tudor power and in order for his plays to be published and accepted, Shakespeare had to make the Tudors look commendable and this, it could be argued, was to the detriment of Richard and his ancestors. Consequently, it could be the language that Shakespeare attributed to Richard within the play that greatly enhances his transgressions. Richard was brought up in an environment that functioned through Machiavellian behaviour. By giving Richard extended speech and power Shakespeare was indirectly using a method which criticised the corrupt and immoral behaviour of the court at the time. The power and actions of the Machiavellian were influential and proved dangerous to those around them. ... Individuals within power use deceit and dishonesty to maintain their status and position. ... Act III. ... Creating the one lone voice of the Scrivener was a method that Shakespeare himself was using to speak against a corrupt society. In his speech , Scrivener questions the moral standards of his society, ‘bad is the world’ . He uses rhetorical questions that demonstrate the difficulty of opposing Richard, ‘That cannot see this palpable device? ... Scrivener makes it clear that he can see the direction that England is taking and understands the dangerous consequences if Richard was allowed to continue his reign, ‘When such ill dealing must be seen in thought. ... Richard knows he is a villain because he proves to be one constantly and deliberately which can be seen from his opening speech, ‘And therefore since I cannot prove a lover To entertain these fair well-spoken days, I am determined to prove a villain; And hate the idle pleasures of these days’ Throughout the first act Richard’s words are firm and insistent, ‘stand thou when I command. ... Richard speaks discernibly of his deformity. ... To an Elizabethan audience the deformities that Richard suffered would reflect inner viciousness and devilish traits. ... Consequently, Shakespeare has used the already vilified figure of Richard III and depicts him as character that is able to deceive and shape people’s ways of thinking. Paintings of Richard III actually show Richard as having a pleasant complexion and of being a handsome man. Richard has a psychological barrier towards women, he cannot be sexually successful with them therefore he is determined to ruin other people’s prosperous times. ... Richard claims the only reason he committed this act was due to Anne’s beauty, ‘. ... that did haunt me in my sleep/…So I might live one hour in your sweet bosom’ .