The Tudor Myth
Like we've said, Shakespeare wrote Richard III when Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne. As we know, Elizabeth I's grandfather was none other than Henry, Earl of Richmond – a.k.a. Richmond, a.k....
Richard's Deformity
"Lump of foul deformity." "Elvish-mark'd, abortive, rooting hog!" "Poisonous bunchback'd toad." "Slander of thy mother's heavy womb." "Bottled spider." Dang, this play sure makes a big, nasty de...
The Boar
Various characters refer to Richard as "the boar" throughout the play. What's up with that? Well, Richard's heraldic symbol (on his coat of arms) is the white boar, which is often considered to b...
Curses
"Cancel his bond of life, dear God, I plead. / That I may live and to say, 'The dog is dead'" (4.4.7). In "Characters: Queen Margaret," we told you that the old queen is like the Olympic champion...
Ghosts
On the eve of the Battle of Bosworth Field, Richard dreams that he's visited by the ghosts of some of his murder victims – Prince Edward, King Henry VI, Clarence, Rivers, Gray, Vaughan, the young...
Clarence's Dream
Richard isn't the only character who tosses and turns at night. Clarence has a nightmare, too, and it turns out to be highly symbolic and prophetic. Let's discuss.The day Clarence is murdered by...