Richard is a case study of pshchological evil; he is clearly a villain and makes his wicked intentions clear in every speech. However, at the same time, he is also the protagonist of the play and a charismatic and mesmerizing figure that can actually earn the audience's sympathy. His evil nature is revealed expertly through his wickedness, yet brilliant wordplay, his skillful argumentation, and his relentless pursuit of his selfish desires.Richard’s plans and excited confessions of all his evil thoughts, through his amazing monologues, are central to the audience’s experience of Richard. Richard claims that his malevalence is due to the fact that he is unloved because of his physical deformity. In turn, he masterfully causes the other characters to be viewed as villans rather than victims--still more evil, although it does become quickly apparent that Richard is simply using his deformity as a tool to gain the sympathy of others. It is my belief that Richard’s evil is a much more intrinsic part of his character than straightforward resentment about his ugly body. His real nature is that he is much more the monster that he is rather than the sympathy deserving character he would have us believe he is.
It is my interpretation that Richard III is very complex, in that, he is very egotistical, yet his insecurities make for a malevolent attitude. Because of his birth defects, Richard III has felt rejected by the world. He seeks revenge against the world.
Richard's love/hate relationship with himself creates a conflict so great that he cannot control it, thus creating such a profoundly evil character.
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