. . .
I, that am curtailed of this fair proportion,
Cheated of feature by dissembling nature,
Deformed, unfinished, sent before my time
Into this breathing world, scarce half made up,
And that so lamely and unfashionable
That dogs bark at me as I halt by them–
Why I, in this weak piping time of peace,
Have no delight to pass away the time,
Unless to see my shadow in the sun,
And descant on mine own deformity.
And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover,
To entertain these fair well-spoken days,
I am determined to prove a villain,
And hate the idle pleasures of these days.
. . .

In this soliloquy from Shakespeare's Richard III, Richard reveals his profound discontent with the era of peace under Edward IV's reign. He feels cheated by nature, perceiving himself as physically deformed and socially marginalized. Richard's deformities, both literal and figurative, isolate him from the pleasures of courtly life. As a result, he resolves to turn his bitterness into villainy, seeking fulfillment through the manipulation and downfall of others. This passage lays bare Richard's motivations, his Machiavellian ambition fueled by envy and resentment. It encapsulates his decision to embrace evil, highlighting the dangerous potential of a mind twisted by perceived injustice and exclusion. Richard's soliloquy not only sets the stage for the ensuing drama but also delves into the psyche of one of Shakespeare's most infamous characters.