"richard 3" - читать интересную книгу автора (Cliff Notes)

But thus his simple truth must be abused
With silken, sly, insinuating Jacks
(I, iii, 52-53)

"in" for "by" and "for" for "on" in:

Led in the hand of her kind aunt of Gloucester
Now, for my life, she's wandering to the Tower
(IV, i, 2-3)

"upon" for "with" in:

Are they that I would have thee deal upon
(IV, ii, 73)

and "in" for "about" in:

The late request that you did sound me in.
(IV, ii, 83)

^^^^^^^^^^RICHARD III: MULTIPLE NEGATION

Contemporary English requires only one negative per statement and regards such utterances as:

I haven't none

as nonstandard. Shakespeare often used two or more negatives for emphasis, as when Derby tells the King:

None good, my liege, to please you with the hearing
Nor none so bad but well may be reported.
(IV, iv, 457-8)

^^^^^^^^^^RICHARD III: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

In order to understand Shakespeare's Richard III, you will find it helpful to review the few generally accepted facts about the historical Richard and his ancestors.

In the mid-15th century, a prolonged contest for the rule of England had begun between the noble house of York, whose emblem was the white rose, and the equally high-ranking Lancasters, who were later associated with the red rose. The contest was eventually named the Wars of the Roses after these opposing symbols. It started when the monarchy of the weak Lancastrian King Henry VI was challenged by Richard, Duke of York, who managed to have his own claim to the throne acknowledged by the Parliament. Since Henry and his wife, Margaret of Anjou, had no sons, Richard of York had been named heir. The subsequent birth of a son to the royal couple caused a setback in Richard's plan, so he resorted to arms.

In 1452, the Duke of York's wife gave birth to their youngest son, the future Richard III. He was too young to partake in the first battle between the two sides, which took place in 1455 at St. Albans, about twenty miles northwest of London. The Yorkists were victorious, but a compromise allowed Henry VI to remain on the throne. At another struggle, in 1459, the king was captured by the York opposition. Only by naming Richard of York and his successors as heirs could he retain the throne. But then Queen Margaret raised an army and defeated the Yorkists at Wakefield in 1460. The Duke was slain and his head displayed on the gates of the city of York, wearing a paper crown.

Power shifted back and forth in later battles until the king's party was finally defeated at Mortimer's Cross, and the oldest son of Richard of York marched into London to assume the throne as Edward IV. Henry fled north with Margaret, but was eventually captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London.

Richard openly supported his brother, Edward IV, who ruled for twelve years without a challenge from the opposition. As a reward for his support, Richard was made Duke of Gloucester and also Constable of England. He served his brother faithfully in maintaining peace along the troublesome Scottish borders.

But quarrels broke out among the victors. King Edward IV's brother, the Duke of Clarence, joined forces with the opposition, now led by the Earl of Warwick (Lady Anne Neville's father), the one-time Yorkist champion. In 1470, they succeeded in restoring Henry VI to the throne. But the reign was short. In a matter of months, two important battles were fought at Barnet and Tewkesbury. Warwick was slain along with the Prince of Wales. Margaret was captured and imprisoned, then exiled to France. Henry was taken to the Tower again and executed within a month.

At Edward IV's death in 1483, Richard was named Protector of the Realm. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing the affairs of state in the name of his twelve-year-old nephew, the Prince of Wales, who would become Edward V. But before the boy's coronation could take place, rumors of his and his brother's illegitimacy circulated and Richard was offered the crown, which he accepted.

Once Richard was on the throne, a number of serious problems undermined his position. The Prince of Wales and his brother disappeared from the Tower where Richard had imprisoned them. The boys were never seen again. It was widely rumored that King Richard was responsible for their deaths, but many historians deny this. There are no accurate historical records to confirm either position.