History is Written by the Biggest Liar.

Well, it worked for a while, didn't it? Referring to the body of Richard III being discovered beneath a parking lot. The joke is playing on a gag from Blackadder S1E1, where Edmund accidentally decapitates the king, whom Edmund thought was stealing his horse. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t9qaYpPyfz0/URBzS_IfPMI/AAAAAAAAUBY/wDvTSGetYQQ/s1600/66190_4288074489309_136643974_n.jpg

       Most people know the claim that history is written by the victor. The person who won the war, spread the rumor faster, and occasionally the person who threatened the chronicler, gets to decided what is put on the record as the true events. Act 5, scene 5 of Richard the Third shows Henry Tudor as the new king, pious and merciful, fighting for peace in the kingdom, not just a man out to advance his own station.

Inter their bodies as befits their births.

 Proclaim a pardon to the soldiers fled

That in submission return to us,

And then, as we have ta'en the sacrament,

We will unite the white rose and the red. (5.5.15-19)

     Not only is it in Henry's interests to play the good guy, it is in Shakespeare's interests to write him that way. Queen Elizabeth I was, after all, Henry's granddaughter. I doubt any monarch would be pleased if a popular playwright claimed their ancestor's claim to the throne (and thus their own) was weak or illegitimate, let alone a bad person.

Uncertainty; A Disastrous Thought Process

There is nothing worse than uncertainty. While reading Act 2, Scene 4 of Richard III by Shakespeare I was reminded of an event that took place this past year concerning uncertainty, and what it leads to. In this scene, The Duchess of York starts to talk about how she hopes the young Prince had grown since the last time she saw him. Then Queen Elizabeth, young York, and the Cardinal all talk about how the Prince had not grown, and start to worry about his rule and if he is fit for the crown. This all leads to the unfolding of bad news coming from Dorset. As stated by Dorset, “Lord Rivers and Lord Grey are sent to Pomfret, with them Sir Thomas Vaughan, prisoners.” (Shakespeare, Act 2, Scene IV, Line 45) This act was committed by Richard III. Thoughts of tyranny, destruction, death, and massacre come to Queen Elizabeth’s mind. They are advised to retreat. This scene reminds me of the Wells Fargo scandal that happened recently. Many employees were faced with uncertainty when instructed to create fake accounts to make the bank more money. They feared the worst, loss of their jobs, and fell under the tyrannical spell of their managers. The managers instructed them to behave this way. According to CNN, “unrealistic sales goals placed on employees,” was the main cause of the major fraud committed by the company. (CNN) This later lead to a disaster for Wells Fargo, and illustrates how employees who were uncertain about moral principles lead to a disaster for the banking powerhouse. Uncertainty can lead to many negative events for people in power. As Shakespeare showed us, the uncertainty in young Prince Edward allowed for the twisted Richard III to take the thrown.

The "Irrelevant" Perspective

In Act 2, Scene 3 we gain an insight to the way the citizens feel about Richard the Third becoming King. The story takes a step back for the readers to look at everything in front of them and not just the one perspective stories give you to focus on. Instead of only reading the thoughts of the main cast, Shakespeare shares the opinions of three citizens to help the reader open their eyes and see the full truth behind what is happening. The first citizen is fearful and states, "Bad news, by'r lady; seldom comes the better. I fear, I fear 'twill prove a giddy world"(Act 2, Scene 3, Line 5). The second citizen however is optimistic about the future, "Come, come, we fear the worst; all shall be well"(Act 2, Scene 3, Line 31). The third citizen does not think they are in good hands if Richard the Third were to rule, "O, full of danger is the Duke of Gloucester" (Act 2, Scene 3, Line 27). The three citizens in this scene speak about how they feel Prince Edward is to young to rule, how they worry that the family seeks power with jealousy, and see Richard as dangerous. They fear what the future will bring, and Shakespeare shares that with us. I thought this was interesting because with most stories, there is only one point of view shown. An author usually only writes about the main cast and their perspectives. Because of this, the reader only gets to see the point of view from the most dominant figures, instead of getting a look at how the average, outside people feel about those dominant figures. Shakespeare brings out minor figures that were once irrelevant and lets the readers see another point of view to open their mind from all angles on what is really happening in the story

The glasses indicate another way to see things.

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What Do The People Really Want?

"Woe to that land that's govern'd by a child" (2.3.11) This quote is said by a citizen who is talking with their neighbors. I thought it was odd of them to say this because they hadn't give the prince a chance to rule yet. They were so quick to say that their lives were about to be shit shows that they didn't stop to think the alternative. All the citizens thought that the prince would do better with a noble man by his side to guide him. "For emulation now who shall be nearest/ Will touch us all too near, if God prevent not./ O, full of danger is the Duke of Gloucester." (2.3.25-27) However in the same breath they are willing to say that the only man able to guide the prince is a danger to society. It is as if they aren't sure if they want a child to be the king on his own or if they want a child guided by a dangerous guardian to be king.

Did Shakespeare truly believe the rumor?

"But say, my lord, it were not register'd, / Methinks the truth should live from age to age, /
 as 'twere retail'd to all posterity, / even to the general all-ending day." (3.1.75 - 78). I don't think he really believed the rumor that Richard III killed his nephews. It almost seems like, through Prince Edward, Shakespeare is making a point to say that truth should be absolute and not ambiguous. I could be wrong.

Why change the past?

As we begin to read Shakespeare's Richard the Third we are faced with this hunchback nephew killing England king. Richard the Third is portrayed as this evil man who has no heart. But is he really like this? We know from reading the Daughter of Time that Richard isn't this evil man that history claims him to be. So why is poor Richard portrayed as is this evil villain? This is because people like to change history for their personal gain. Henry Tutor portrayed Richard as an evil guy to make himself look more powerful and kind. I don't find it hard to draw a comparison to our current leader Donald Trump. Trump accused former president Barrack Obama of not reaching out to families who just lost their sons in an ambush in Niger. Trump bragged about writing all the families and flying out to see them. He tried to make Obama look like he didn't care about the military and was a selfish guy. Obama did actually write letters and visit the families. This shows that no matter what time period rulers will try to change information for a better image and to make the last ruler look evil.

Monster in Disguise

      Our class discussion on what tonypandy, literature, and history is becomes relevant the second we dive into Shakespeare's Richard III. Richard's opening monologue not only provides a brief summary of his intentions, but also reveals a story being told that discusses greed, righteousness, and deceit. The lines, "I...cheated of feature by dissembling nature, deform'd, unfinish'd, sent before my time...that dogs bark at me as I halt by them," solidify the imagery of Richard as a dastardly, ugly villain. His very appearance evokes a horror story (1. 1. 14-23). Shakespeare at every turn during act one makes Richard seem treacherous -- the second George leaves, he mutters to himself about his desire to kill him. When he receives news of Edward's illness, he just hopes he doesn't die before George can be murdered. Shakespeare also makes George seem gentle and a bit aloof: "We know thy charge, Brackenbury, and will obey," at least compared to Richard's standoffish attitude to Brackenbury and Hastings (1. 1. 105). Knowing the true events of Richard's life and ascent to the throne, it's fascinating to see how every detail is both familiar and utterly different. From our point of view, this seems like a text published with the goal of hiding the truth. Or, more unfortunately, this perception is the only truth that will be believed. Overall, the character we see here perfectly represents a blending of history and tonypandy, and for that reason alone this text is an interesting read.

Richard's description is reminiscent of Quasimodo.

https://images.penguinrandomhouse.com/cover/9781415910214

Richard's character exposed

"Arise, dissembler: though I wish thy death, I will not be the executioner" (1.2.170-171). This quote is said by Lady Anne to Richard III after Richard confesses his "love" to her. He tells her to stab him and she decides not to. I think this is really highlighting and helping us to understand the character of Richard in comparison to the other characters in the play. It also helps us to see what kind of marriage Lady Anne is getting herself into, as well as what kind of character Lady Anne is herself.