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dethroned symbolically before being supplanted by Henry of Richmond.

How true is Shakespeare's history of Richard the Third? To get a clear sense of the historical accuracy of the play, you must take into account the context in which it was presented. William Shakespeare was a member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, and their patron was Queen Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth was the granddaughter of King Henry VII, and she was known for her temper and absolute authority. It was not in the best interest of an Elizabethan playwright to write plays that would call into question the legitimacy of the royal Tudor line. It is interesting that the management of public opinion through the manufacture of false information is a common theme in the play, because the play itself serves that purpose for the Tudor monarchy. The demonized version of Richard became widely accepted as popular truth thanks to Shakespeare's persuasive medium. Richard the Third is, among other things, a beautifully rendered piece of political propaganda. That said, the play does not delve into the absolute depth of pure fiction; Shakespeare touches on historical fact, but only at uneven intervals.

Historically, it was the other brother, George, Duke of Clarence, and not Richard whose acts toward King Edward the IV were treacherous. Historians and scholars agree that Richard's loyalty to King Edward was unwavering. It was Richard who came to Edward's aid after the jealous brother, George, formed an alliance with the Earl of Warwick and imprisoned the King. But if Richard were so loyal to Edward IV, would he have murdered Edward's sons after becoming Lord Protectorate? The fact of their disappearance is also open to historical debate. It is not clear if they were murdered or sent away. Additionally, the time frame of their disappearance would indicate that it may have happened during King Henry VII's reign and not during Richard's brief, two-year run as King. Richard the III knew power for only a short time, and he had no immediate cause for rancor toward his nephews.

Another obvious liberty is the treatment of Anne Neville in Shakespeare's story. The way it is presented in the play Anne, a grieving and heart-broken widow, is swayed in the course of hours to link herself with the villainous Richard by means of flattery and persuasion alone. Most women who read this see the error of such simplistic reasoning; no truly grieving widow would act in such a manner, nor would they be flattered so swiftly by the

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