The Negative Portrayal of Richard III in Clarence's Dream

Yasmine Lee

Prof. Matthew Sergi

ENG331H1

February 17, 2014

Edited by: Karen Cataluna

The Negative Portrayal of Richard III in Clarence’s Dream

According to Brian Carroll, in the article “Richard as Waking Nightmare: Barthesian Dream, Myth, and Memory in Shakespeare’s Richard III”, “Clarence’s…dream contains the seeds of reality, a telescope into his psychology” (Carroll 37). This means that the dream “is not merely a decorative touch” but is rather an insightful look into the characters involved that may not have otherwise occurred (Carroll 37). Carroll also states that “in its poetic power and echoes of mythology, the dream generates sympathy for Clarence” (Carroll 37). The dream also does more than that, however, because by showing the way in which Clarence responds to the dream, Shakespeare is also able to reveal very important character traits (Carroll 37). What the dream also does is give the audience more reason to dislike Richard. In giving Clarence more background and emotion, Shakespeare allows the audience to connect with Clarence and sympathize for his future all while forming negative opinions about the Yorkist monarch, King Richard III. As Brian Carroll stated, “Richard had to be sacrificed on the altar of Tudor myth as the necessary ‘other’ and convenient monster. As monster, he proved the perfect scapegoat” (Carroll 41). This paper will argue that a great part of this image of Richard III as an evil tyrant originated from Clarence and his dream in Shakespeare’s play.

Clarence’s dream provides insight into Richard’s greed and unrelenting pursuit of wealth. In it, Clarence and Richard embark on a boat and during this trip “Gloucester [stumbles], and in falling/ [Strikes Clarence] (that thought to stay him) overboard” (I.4.18-9). It appears to be an accident, but nevertheless Richard strikes Clarence into the water in an attempt at keeping himself safe. As Clarence recites his dream, the line “what sights of ugly death within mine eyes” is followed by descriptions of dead bodies and “wedges of gold…heaps of pearl,/ Inestimable stones, unvalued jewels…reflecting gems” lying at the bottom of the ocean (I.4.23-32). The “gold”, “pearls”, “stones”, “jewels” and “reflecting gems” show that Richard’s true ambition is wealth and power and in order to achieve these, he must first advance his place in line for the throne (I.4.26-27). Also significant is how the “reflecting gems” “lay in dead men’s skulls…/Where eyes did once inhabit” (I.4.29-31). These bodies, especially the ones with jewels for eyes, can be interpreted as metaphoric warnings against greed. In support of this, the fact that Richard is the one who causes Clarence to fall into the water and see these images in the first place directly connects the greed-driven corpses with Richard. This can even be seen as a prediction of Richard’s eventual death due to his constant pursuit of wealth and power. The rest of the skeletons in the water – the ones whose eye sockets are not filled with jewels – represent the rest of the characters killed by Richard’s greed in the play.

The dream’s prophetic nature is demonstrated by Clarence’s reaction to it and the following experiences he has outside of the dream state. In the dream, Clarence is drowned by his brother Richard (I.4.18-19). Even though his dream foresees the deaths of many caused by his brother and his greed, Clarence insists that Richard pushes him overboard completely accidentally when he recounts his story to his jailer (I.4.18-19). Shortly after Clarence does this, he is drowned in a barrel of malmsey wine by two assassins his brother hires (I.4.270). From the beginning of the play, Clarence believed that his brother loved him only to discover from the two murderers that in fact, his brother wanted him dead. When the first murderer insists that he is “deceived” and that “[his] brother Gloucester hates [him]”, Clarence continues to say “O, no, he loves me and he holds me dear” (I.4.232-33). Carroll states that:

The truths of the otherwise imagined or fictive dreams…are truer than the observed or objective actions on the stage, than the objective “truth” of the play, while the play as a whole shows the cunning with which elements of illusion can insinuate themselves into life and be mistaken for reality. (37)

This is true not only of the dream itself but also of the characters’ reactions to the dream. Richard’s apparent betrayal of Clarence goes unnoticed in the dream just as it goes unnoticed in the “real” play. The dream demonstrates the truth to the audience, but not to Clarence. This is significant because it reinforces the idea that the “real” play consists of characters lying to, tricking and betraying one another. Richard’s lying is only exposed in the dream world, but upon waking, Clarence immediately doubts the veracity of this in the same manner he should doubt Richard himself. Clarence’s naiveté is made clear in this scene, further enforcing just how abhorrent Richard’s betrayal of his loyal brother Clarence is.

Clarence’s dream also consists of one section in which he is tormented by the ghosts of those whom he wronged in the past (I.4.48-61). This section demonstrates Clarence’s remorse at having killed the Prince, son of Henry VI, and others for his brother, Edward’s, chance at taking the throne. His remorse is clearer still when he says:

O God, if my deep prayers cannot appease thee,

But thou wilt be avenged on my misdeeds,

Yet execute thy wrath in me alone.

O, spare my guiltless wife and my poor children. (I.4.69-72)

Not only does this demonstrate Clarence’s change of heart, but it also forgives him of any guilt he (or the audience) held against him for the past actions, again demonizing Richard and laying sympathies with Clarence.

Richard is also portrayed as deeply evil in Shakespeare’s account because this text was largely a form of propaganda. “As the defeated Yorkist contender, [King Richard III] must inevitably have been the butt of Tudor historians” (Zeeveld 946). Richard III’s deformity appeared with John Rous’ account of his reign and was blamed for murdering “Henry VI, the princes, Rivers, Hastings, and the poisoning of Anne” (Zeeveld 946). It was Thomas More’s colourful account, however, that gave inspiration for Shakespeare’s version of the events before, during and after Richard’s reign (Zeeveld 946). Add these accounts of history to the time in which Shakespeare was writing (Tudors) and it becomes clear that Richard III could be seen as propaganda - a dramatic account of history where Richard is portrayed as a deformed, deeply evil tyrant (Zeeveld 946). Clarence’s dream, then, serves a very specific purpose. It not only demonstrates Richard’s cruelty in how ruthless he can be, but also demonstrates his open willingness to kill anyone who stands in his way, including his extremely loyal and admirable brother. This is shown mainly by emphasizing Clarence’s naiveté about his brother’s intentions, remorse at his previous actions, and reactions when told his brother is an evil person via prophetic dream. Clarence’s dream is definitely an occurrence that foreshadows future events in the story of the play but it is also one that gives the audience a person to empathise with while hating the titular character.

Works Cited

Carroll, Brian. “Richard as Waking Nightmare: Barthesian Dream, Myth, and Memory in Shakespeare’s Richard III.” Visual Communication Quarterly. Volume 20 (March 2013): 28-45. PDF.

Shakespeare, W. (2000). The Tragedy of King Richard the Third. (P. Holland, Ed.) Toronto, ON: Penguin Group.

Zeeveld, W. Gordon., "A Tudor Defense of Richard III." PMLA 55.4(1940): 946-957. PDF.