Topic > Richard III and Finding Richard Connections

Exploring connections between texts means increasing understanding of humanity's evolving values ​​and underlying relevant themes that continue to engage societies regardless of context. William Shakespeare's King Richard III (1592) (RIII) and Al Pacino's docudrama Looking for Richard (1996) (LFR) demonstrate how opinion is created through comparative study; both explore the struggle for power in different contexts to determine the duplicity of humanity. Ultimately, despite the divergent eras of composition and textual form, these connections expose the relevant social commentary of their composers, highlighting intrinsically human values, which remain constant. Shakespeare's depiction of power reflects the contrasting influences of medieval morality plays and Renaissance literature during the Tudor period. period, demonstrating that the text is a reflection of contextual beliefs. The submission of the Third Citizen to a monotheistic deity in the pathetic fallacy of “Water swells before a violent storm – but leaves it all to God” qualifies the theological determinism of power due to the rise of Calvinism. Pacino embodies Richard's desire for kingship in LFR through the emphasis on celebrity culture, as he is determined to film himself in close-up, which, although it emphasizes Pacino's importance, leaves out the larger scene. Soliloquies are replaced by breaches of the fourth wall, and his metatheatrical audience-facing bit, "I love the silence... whatever it says, I know Shakespeare said it," subverts the cultural boundaries that dissuade contemporary American actors from interpret Shakespeare. Shakespeare's breakdown of iambic pentameter in “Cut Off His Head...And When I Be King” reinforces the Renaissance influence, as Richa......in the center of the card......remained constant regardless of the environment. Evidently, the play itself manipulates the audience's perception of reality as it presents a historical narrative designed to consolidate the reigning monarch and condemn Richard. This one-sided representation is achieved through the animal image of a "usurping boar", as Shakespeare's pro-monarch propaganda highlights how duplicitous representations of reality can influence a society, regardless of context. The comparative study of RIII and LFR reveals the contextual influences on the representation of humanity's power and duplicity, as these values ​​transcend regardless of era. Shakespeare and Pacino point out that learning the connections of texts means dissecting each text and creating appreciation of the other, which reshapes an individual's perception, facilitating a deeper and enriched understanding of the play and docudrama..