Reasons We Love Richard III

[poliphilo]

Well, it's mostly down to Shakespeare, isn't it? 

Firstly because his Richard is a fascinating monster and we can't get enough of him.

Secondly because we know the real man is being traduced and this makes us sorry for him and want to work for his rehabilitation.

So Richard wins both ways: (a) because Shakespeare's version of him is so brilliant and (b) because it's so unjust. 

Comments

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Killing people is what kings (and presidents and prime ministers) do for a living.

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

Right. His big brother wasn't exactly saintly. Nor his successor (not to mention the rest of the Tudors).

Henry VII knew how to deal with troublesome young relatives. Keep them in the Tower until they're no longer children, and THEN kill them.

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

Or in Henry VIII's case find everyone with Plantagenet blood and kill them, except Cardinal Pole, naturally, as he was unlikely to be any threat on the breeding front.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

If the choice lies between a murder or two and future civil unrest it could be argued that the murders are morally justified.