The Role of Self-Denial in Richard’s Seduction of Lady Anne

ENG 331H1

February 17^th, 2014

Kylie Marshall

The Role of Self-Denial in

Richard’s Seduction of Lady Anne

            In the first act of Shakespeare’s Richard III, Richard reveals that his desire to woo Lady Anne involves a, “secret close intent, / By marrying her which I must reach unto” (I.i.158-159). According to Leon Harold Craig, Richard’s secret close intent is the fact that his marriage allows him to, “…disguise the fact that his ‘eros’ is in fact simply pure lust for power” (1). Richard’s secret close intent may well involve using Lady Anne to improve his public support and perception; however, I believe that Richard’s intentions for wooing Lady Anne involve more personal motivations. In particular, I believe Richard’s intent involves allowing himself to believe that he is in a position of control over his passions, thus allowing him to live in a state of self-denial. In this state of self-denial, Richard can ignore the harsh facts of reality: that he possesses the same insatiability which destroys his brother Edward’s reign, and causes his untimely demise.

            According to Craig, Richard’s secret close intent involves allowing him to believe that he has the ability to control his own passions, and is not susceptible to being controlled by women. Craig states that Richard, “… disdains the very idea of men being ruled by women, which is more correctly understood as men failing to master their own passions for women….” (10). Though Richard’s insatiable lust involves power, not women, Richard can most explicitly show that he has the ability to control his passions through his direct control of women. By proving that he is able to control his passions regarding women, Richard deceives himself into believing that he is similarly able to control his passions for power. However, this belief is clearly deceptive: few would argue that Richard has control over his insatiable lust—or passion for—power. For this reason, I consider Richard’s desire to enter into a state of self-denial to be the secret close intent behind Lady Anne’s seduction. To clarify, in this essay Richard’s self-denial refers to his attempts to deceive himself into thinking that he has the ability to control his passions.  Upon entering this comforting state of self-denial—or self-deception— Richard can believe that his control over his lust for power will allow him to safely pursue the crown, without suffering the same fate as his insatiable brother Edward (who clearly lacks the ability to control his insatiable lust for women).

            In order to successfully seduce Lady Anne and fulfil his secret close intent, the unfortunate circumstance in which Richard woos her plays a key role. The circumstance in which Richard chooses to woo Lady Anne is indeed unfortunate. As Craig notes: “Who in his right mind would choose to woo a grieving widow and daughter in public, at a funeral much less at one of which he was the cause?” (4). Further, Craig speculates that, “… given we know that he has some secret intention in marrying … the fair lady, we can be pretty sure that he hasn’t simply happened upon this funeral train by chance” (4). Richard specifically chooses this occasion to woo Lady Anne, as it affords him the greatest opportunity to deceive himself into believing that he has the ability to control his passions. That is, Richard shows he is in a position of control by confidently seducing the woman he wants, regardless of the highly inappropriate situation he finds her in. By showing his resolute dedication to Lady Anne by wooing her in this situation, Richard proves that he is not insatiable like Edward; he knows the one woman he wants and is able to control his passions in order to pursue the one woman he desires. Upon Lady Anne’s acceptance, Richard deceives himself into believing that he is indeed in a position of control over women, and therefore his passions. Thus, he fulfils his secret close intent by entering into a state of self-denial which allows him that he is void of the quality—insatiability—which causes Edward’s untimely demise.

            Upon entering into a relationship with Lady Anne, Richard uses his relationship with her throughout the play to deepen his state of self-denial, and distance himself even further from his insatiable brother Edward. In doing so, Richard becomes more confident that his lack of insatiability will allow him to successfully pursue the crown while simultaneously allowing him to avoid the fate which befalls Edward. Richard instructs Lord Buckingham to reveal Edward’s insatiable nature to officials assembled in the Guildhall. According to Craig, Richard arranges this slander against Edward to make Richard, “… shine by comparison: he’s not lustful, he doesn’t prey upon good citizens’ servants, daughters, wives; you’ve never heard anyone accuse him of luxurious living” (6). Craig’s focus lies on Richard’s public perception. However, Richard’s desire to compare himself with Edward reveals Richard’s efforts to deepen his own self-denial. In contrast with Edward, Richard’s seemingly stable relationship with Lady Anne allows Richard to believe that he is wholly unlike his brother, and can easily avoid the fate which insatiability causes Edward to suffer.

            Interestingly, upon understanding Richard’s secret close intent, Richard’s reasons for trying to gain permission to marry Queen Elizabeth’s daughter become easier to understand. For Craig, this moment reveals that Richard has “lost a bit of his magic” (9). Alternatively, rather than showing that Richard has lost his magic touch, this incident marks the moment when Richard recognizes his true lack of control over his passions, causing his state of self-denial to disintegrate. Throughout the play Richard believes he is in control of his lust for power. However, on the verge of destruction by the Earl of Richmond and his army, Richard can no longer deny that he is unable to control his passions. Upon recognizing that he will suffer a fate similar to insatiable Edward, Richard attempts to gain permission to marry Queen Elizabeth’s daughter in a desperate attempt to regain control. Though Richard once again attempts to obtain the appearance of control by using women, the destruction that his insatiable lust for power causes is too extensive. Richard is slain by the Earl of Richmond, and finally we see Richard destroyed by the same insatiability which destroys Edward.

            Ultimately, Richard’s failure regarding his seduction of Lady Anne involves the misconception that the ability to control his passion for women necessarily means that he is able to control his insatiable lust for power. By using his relationship with Lady Anne to further distance himself from Edward, and consequently deepen his self-denial, Richard merely moves into a state where he is not able to see the self-destruction which is inability to control his insatiable lust for power results in. Ultimately, Richard’s state of self-denial only delays the inevitable fact that Richard’s inability to control his insatiable lust for power causes him to suffer the same fate which befalls his similarly insatiable brother.

             

Works Cited

Harold Craig, Leon. "Beyond Love and Honor: Eros and Will to Power in Richard             III."Shakespearean Criticism 149 (2011): 1-15. Literature Resource Centre. Web.             2 Feb. 14.