William Shakespeare s King Richard IIi - 1188 Words

Texts are shaped by their compositional context and thus offer new insights about the composer’s era. However, as there are ongoing concerns of humanity, key ideologies resonate over time and are affirmed between texts as shown in William Shakespeare’s play ‘King Richard III’ (1591) and Al Pacino’s docudrama ‘Looking For Richard’ (1996). King Richard III examines the irrational behaviours and moral ramifications of a power lust Richard to explore ideas of the relentless pursuit of power, betrayal and deceit, reflective of the theocentric context of the Elizabethan society. Centuries later, Looking For Richard explores Pacino’s journey to reshape a Shakespearean text that is representative of the changing contextual norms and values of a contemporary American audience who are confused and sceptical about the relevance of Shakespeare’s plays. Both texts provide an image of Richard’s deceit reflective of their distincti ve contexts. However, despite the disparity of time, both texts display how key ideas such as deceit, endure and resonate over time. Distinctive contexts have the capacity to offer new insights and understandings that can challenge and drastically alter the portrayal of societal norms and values. Shakespeare critics the nature of the relentless pursuit for power and authority and its effects, through the lens of Richard’s ambitious but deceitful actions, reflective in his opening soliloquy ‘I am determined to prove a villain’ and ‘now is the winter of ourShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s King Richard IIi1258 Words   |  6 PagesRichard: What have you done to me! Shakespeare: My historical tragedy â€Å"King Richard III† is just my dramatic presentation of your exploits in your bloody pursuit of the throne. Pacino: My postmodernist docudrama â€Å"Looking for Richard† is my modern interpretation of Richard III. My attempt to establish connections that enhance our understandings and interpretations of our respective contexts, ideas and values, primarily involving the representation of the human condition through the character of RichardRead MoreCompare the ways Shakespeare presents fear and doubt in Macbeth and Richard III?1222 Words   |  5 Pagespresented in Richard III and Macbeth Macbeth is a tragedy play written by William Shakespeare. The play is set in Scotland during the mid  11th century. But, the play was written in 1606 at a time where James I was on the throne. King James was a very superstitious man who believed in magic and witchcraft and these themes were presented in Macbeth to please the King. Also the political context is important as it was included in Macbeth with the ideas of excessive ambition. On the other hand, Richard III isRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth And Richard IIi906 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Shakespeare employs a variety of techniques in his plays to show good characters from bad characters; one such technique as the application of deformity or an abnormality manifests itself physically and psychologically with the dramas. The incorporation of a defect, whether it be physically or psychology, reveals flawed characteristics within the said character. Most of these flawed characteristics, though revealed in different si tuations, share similar problems and consequences. For exampleRead MoreHistory Of King Richard IIi Of England1382 Words   |  6 Pagesborne out by the facts. The case of the written history of King Richard III of England is an outstanding example of the lack of adequate research and actual perfidy on the part of historians. Richard III reigned for a brief period in the late 15th century, 26 June 1483 to 22 August 1485. He was the last Yorkist king and the last of the Plantagenet kings. He traced his ancestry to William the Conquerer. He was also the last English king to die in battle. He was succeeded on the throne by HenryRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Richard II1543 Words   |  7 PagesSamantha Van Dine Richard Spacek ENGL 3250 September 24, 2015 Richard II, William Shakespeare Richard II is a play written by William Shakespeare in the closing stages of the 16th Century. It is based on Richard II and his scheme of taking the throne of England. Richard II is a carefully balanced play, characterized by precise and formal arrangements of characters and actions. This balance is enhanced by various parallel incidents which are included in the themes, plots, and the nature of theRead MoreAnalyse How the Central Values Portrayed in King Richard Iii Are Creatively Reshaped in Looking for Richard.1683 Words   |  7 PagesAn honest tale speeds best, being plainly told.† This quote from William Shakespeare’s King Richard III is a seed from which Al Pacino’s docu-drama Looking For Richard grows, both texts demonstrating the intrinsic relationship between contexts and the composition of texts. As 21st century students, we see Pacino’s creative reshaping emphasise inherent values within the original text, from dynamic perspectives to interpre tational understandings, presented in an ‘honest’ and ‘plainly told’ compositionRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Influence On The Course Of World History1440 Words   |  6 PagesWaldo Emerson, a famous essayist inspired by Shakespeare’s works. William Shakespeare was a renowned author, poet, actor, and playwright. He has contributed to many components of life today such as; founding modern English language, contributing to literature, contributing to modern theater, and contributing many of his works to modern English. William Shakespeare has greatly impacted the course of world history. William Shakespeare was believed to be born on April 23,1564, in his hometown of Stratford-upon-AvonRead MoreMonarchy Is The Oldest Form Of Government1657 Words   |  7 PagesMonarchy is the oldest form of government in the United Kingdom. In a monarchy, the king or queen is Head of State (or Sovereign), but the ability to make and pass legislation resides with an elected Parliament. Although the British Sovereign no longer has a political or executive role, he or she continues to play an important part in the life of the nation. The Monarch also has constitutional and representational duties which have developed over the past one thousand years. In addition to the StateRead MoreRichard IIi, By William Shakespeare1168 Words   |  5 PagesChildren bring out the underlying disposition and wicked intentions we all possess. Richard III, by William Shakespeare, is a tragic play about the Duke of Gloucester who desires to be the king of England. He does this through the manipulation and murder of many characters, including Queen Elizabeth’s children, Prince Edward and the Duke of York. These children emphasize some of the â€Å"adult† themes in the play and reveals the devastating nature of these themes. Their characteristics and deaths allRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare : The Greatest Writer Of All Time1008 Words   |  5 Pages William Shakespeare is considered the most influential and greatest writers of all time because he writes great stories, he has the ability to turn phrases, and has very a compelling use of characters. I will be including in my research countless facts about Shakespeare and educated information on why William Shakespeare is considered the greatest writer of all time. Shakespeare s feats and accomplishments have all been established and based on his early life and childhood. William Shakespeare