The
Power of Manipulation in Richard III
By:
Francesca Bianchi
Shakespeare’s
Richard III, is filled with desires and determination to achieve and fulfill
ambition. Shakespeare uses the power of language to explicate Richard’s
manipulative ways to fulfill his desires of becoming king, thus doing so by bringing
darkness to the content world of others. According to Anderson’s article The Death of a Mind: Study of Shakespeare’s
Richard III Richard’s state of mind is oriented around imposing “dark
shadows over the positive dispositions of the others’ lives” (Anderson 701); he
works at spreading destruction and grievance to those around him. Throughout the
play Richard is in his own state of mind, with his main focus on the crown. Act I scene ii, illustrates Richard’s power
and manipulative ways through language in order to gain advantage and gain a
step forward in achieving the crown. The dialogue between Richard and Lady Anne
at King Henry’s funeral exemplifies his manipulation when he uses charming and
charismatic words to obtain her attention. Throughout this essay I will agree
with Anderson’s point that Richard’s manipulative ploy is a means of fulfilling
his ambition. This essay will explicate how Richard manipulates and uses the power
of language to exemplify what his deranged state of mind can do to unsuspecting
and naive minds. Lady Anne, her
character at the beginning of the scene is distressed and angered, however as
the scene progresses, Richard’s dialogue with Lady Anne begins to illustrate
her naive mind and weak character with his ability to charm and manipulate her
through flirtatious words. He twists the
truth and his true intentions in order to connive her into believing his
feelings are true. Thus, Richard`s charming way with words allows him to uphold
his ambitious character; meanwhile this encounter illustrates Anne`s shift of
character, one who is filled with hatred and anger to one who is naive and weak.
Furthermore, Richard, the protagonist of the play uses manipulation to achieve his ambition of becoming king
meanwhile revealing Lady Anne’s weak character and naivety to lies and false
words.
Richard’s
state of mind throughout the play illustrates his determination to obtain the
crown. Throughout the play Richard uses murder to get rid of those around him,
therefore illustrating his tyrannical state of mind and need for destruction.
Anderson explicates that Richard prefers “proactive villainy and most probably
to vengefully destroy as much of the sunny world of other as he can” (Anderson
702). Thus as a result in Richard crosses
paths with angered individuals filled with hatred, who are aware of his murderous
actions (Anderson 706). In Act I scene ii, the encounter with Lady Anne exemplifies
Richard’s attempt to bring about destruction and darkness upon others. He plays
with Lady Anne’s emotions through flattery and manipulation in order to obtain
her attention. However, Lady Anne filled with grief and anger illustrates the
hatred that has been placed upon Richard. Throughout the play Richard
encounters as Anderson explicated “well-defended minds, clear-thinking and
wrapped in protective hatred toward him...” (Anderson 705). This is evident at
the beginning of the scene in relation to Lady Anne’s anger and hatred. Cursing
Richard, however not yet aware that it was he who murdered her husband, “Cursed
the heart that had the heard to do it/ Cursed the blood that let this blood
from hence” (I, ii, ll.15-16), she is exemplifying a fierce, strong willed
woman, distraught by the death of her husband, however exemplifying her grief
and anger. Lady Anne, aware of Richard’s past actions expresses her anger and
annoyance with him during their exchange of words at the funeral, in which clearly
explicated that he is the cause of the turmoil and destruction that has
occurred. , “For thou hast made the happy earth thy hell/ Filled it with
cursing cries and deep exclaims /.... Thy deeds inhuman and unnatural” (I, ii,
ll. 51-52,60). Lady Anne at the beginning of the scene is firm and stands her
ground, thus does not succumb herself to Richard’s lies and manipulation, she
continuously insults Richard, “Villian, thou know’st nor law of God nor
man.../And thou unfit for any place but hell” (I, ii, ll. 70/109). Lady Anne is
seen strong willed and determined and does not succumb herself to Richard’s attempt
to manipulate and flatter her for his own benefit as exemplified through her
constant cursing and insults towards Richard. Moreover, Lady Anne’s firm hold
on her emotions is portrayed by her ability to refuse Richard, meanwhile
bringing to light Richard’s attempt to bring about darkness and evil to the grief-stricken
Lady Anne.
The
power of language allows for one to gain the ability of power and control over
a treacherous situation. In this case, Richard’s tyranny, deranged state of
mind and ambition gives him the opportunity to put to use his ability of verbal
persuasion. Richard is adamant to dissolve Lady Anne’s hatred and anger for him;
in turn being relentless, he uses words of flattery, as Anderson states Richard
“slyly twists his crime into a good deed for which he should be thanked”
(Anderson 706). Richard uses his wit and charming words to seduce Lady Anne
into believing that the reason for murdering her husband was because of her
beauty, “Your beauty was the cause of that effect/ Your beauty that did haunt
me in my sleep” (I, ii, ll. 121-122). Richard attempts to use his sly and
manipulative words to gain Lady Anne’s attention and trust, thus Richard’s
constant flirtatious words gears Lady Anne into believing that he is speaking
the truth. Anderson comments that Richard’s words “penetrates her defences with
the disguise of his being moved to tenderness by her beauty...” (Anderson 707),
therefore this proves that Richard’s manipulative words are a ruse to hide his
true intentions, “I’ll have her, but I will not keep her long” (I, ii, ll.
229). Furthermore, this scene illustrates Richard reducing Lady Anne as an
object, as he manipulates and plays with her conflicting emotion of grief,
hatred and anger. Richard’s effective persuasion allows him to achieve his
goal, gaining possession of Lady Anne, thus enhancing his opportunity to
achieve the crown.
Throughout
Act I scene ii, it becomes evident that Lady Anne’s firm and strong character
soon diminishes due to her encounter with Richard and his effective persuasive
words. At the beginning of the scene it is evident that Lady Anne holding her ground
and is inventive with her words and hatred for Richard. However, as the scene
progresses Lady Anne falls victim to Richard’s manipulative words, thus becomes
blinded to the truth. Lady Anne not aware of Richard’s lack of interest
illustrates the emergence of her naive character. She becomes manipulated and a
victim to Richard’s false remorseful words. As Richard continues to flatter
Lady Anne, she begins to surrender her defence and resistance, “With all my
hear, and much it joys me too/To see you are become so penitent” (I, ii, l1.
119-120). Lady Anne, naive to Richard’s false words is taken in by his remorse,
moreover portraying Richard’s ability to persuade Lady Anne with his words of
flattery, allowing him to achieve power and control over the situation. This is
evident when he presents Lady Anne with the sword and she is unable to kill
him, “Though I wish thy death, I will not be thy executioner” (I, ii, ll.
84-85). Richard’s ability to play with Anne’s emotions exemplifies his
intellect, superiority and his charismatic ability to achieve his ambition.
Richard’s relentlessness made a task that seemed impossible a reality thus
succeeding at manipulating Lady Anne, “Was ever woman in this humor wooed?/ Was
ever woman in this humor won?” (I, ii, ll.227-228). Therefore, Lady Anne’s
weakness to Richard’s charming words makes her naive and a victim to false
words because of her inability to see behind Richard’s mask of the false
truths. Furthermore, Lady Anne’s “mental
and emotional penetration by manipulation...shatters clarity and imposes
sensory intensity which passes as the truth” (Anderson 707). Richard breaks
through Lady Anne’s defence and strong willed character with manipulation and charisma
to succeed at his seductive ploy, in turn defying the truth to achieve his
ambition of obtaining the crown.
Overall,
the power of language in Shakespeare’s Richard III, illustrates
Richard’s ability to manipulate his way to the throne. Anderson’s argument that
Richard brings darkness to others around him is illustrated throughout Act I
scene ii. Lady Anne at the beginning of the scene is fierce and filled with
anger, cursing Richard when he comes her way. However, Richard, determined and
ambitious uses charming words to seduce Lady Anne, explicating that her beauty
was the reason for his murderous actions. In turn Richard’s manipulative ways
and seductive words cause Lady Anne to fall victim to his words, altering her
strong willed character to one as naive and weak. Furthermore, Richard’s
ability to manipulate and persuade Lady Anne through language illustrates the weakening
her character and illustrating his ability to use language to achieve his
ambition.
Works
Cited
Anderson , Maxime K. "The death of a mind: a
study of Shakespeare's Richard III." Journal of Analytical Psychology. 51. (2008): 701-716. Web.
Shakespeare, William . Richard
III. New York : Penguin Books , 1969. Print.
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