by Chanin Desiree

Created on: May 11, 2010

Richard III

When considering the two thoughts that are regarded as the basic instructions for rulers and government, the focus is on Aristotle, The Politics, and Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince.  Aristotle talks about rulers in Book 3, defining the six regimes of rulers, as monarchy, tyranny, aristocracy, oligarchy, constitution, and democracy.  Machiavelli only describes the monarchy in his works for in Renaissance Europe there was no other option.  The two different views of government have their supporters and their opponents.  Shakespeare used both in his plays using the definition of tyrant and monarch to highlight his historical plays.  One of the most obviously Machiavellian dramas is Richard III and with the common beliefs of the day, he uses Richard III to show the ugly side of the monarchy, or rather tyranny.

First, the reader must identify what exactly is a tyrant.  In Book 3 of Politics, Aristotle discusses defines a tyrant as a monarch who is only interested in his own desires and needs rather than the states requirements.  This definition is the most common definition of tyrant throughout history. There is someone who views the tyrant, not as a bad ruler, but as a ruler that does what needs to be done and balances the tyrannical acts with the acts of kindness and justice. Actually, Machiavelli’s The Prince does not acknowledge that anyone could be a tyrant. He defines the rulers and government by failure and success of the given reign.  He focuses on the balance of power and justice and the necessity to at times be cruel and at other times be caring and just.  For Machiavelli, this makes a good ruler and a good government.

How do Aristotle and Machiavelli play into Shakespeare’s Richard III?  Shakespeare would have known about the views of the ancient Aristotle, but they would not have influenced him as much as the ideology of Machiavelli and Renaissance Europe.  Thus, when Shakespeare wrote his dramas, he used the definitions associated with Machiavelli in which to describe the historic rulers of England.  He used these dramas not just as histories, but as memories of good and bad rulers and the actions and events that led them in their journey as monarch.

Within Act I, scene 1, Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, tells the audience of his plots, all of which are Machiavelli in nature.

“Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous,

By drunken prophecies, libels, and dreams,

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>