Supernatural in Richard 111

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Richard III

Analyse the purpose and effect of the dreams and prophecies in Shakespeare's Richard III.

As with many of Shakespeare's plays dreams, superstitions and prophecies play a large part in the play Richard III. This play was written in the Elizabethan period, which was a time when most, if not all people were very conscious and superstitious of their dreams. They often used their dreams as a guide of what they thought was going to occur in their future. So they constantly analysed and read a great deal in to the dreams they had, so that they could be prepared for what was to come.

So what are the real purpose and effects of the dreams and prophecies in this play?

Many of these dreams and prophecies were actually a warning to the characters in the play, in their dreams they actually envisaged their fates! Even though the Elizabethans believed in dreams so greatly why don't these men realise and take notice of what they were warned against? In some of the dreams events were revealed to us concerning particular characters, such as Clarence who we would not necessarily be aware of, if this dream had not taken place.

Whilst Clarence awaited execution in the tower his dream explains to the audience that he actually committed the murder of Ann's late husband, and that it was not actually Richard who we were previously led to believe it to be.

Evidence …. My Great-Father in law, renowned Warwick….

Clarence…. That stabbed me in the field of Tewksbury….

Personally I think that the dreams and prophecies are actually a dramatic device for the benefit of the audience. The dreams help to get them ready for what is going to follow later in the play. They drive the action leaving the audience in anticipation and suspense, waiting and trying to predict when the characters will meet their fate.

The dreams and prophecies in the play also reinforce the need for male authority and divide the two sexes (which was not uncommon in the society of the Elizabethans). It is apparent that Shakespeare only gives the dreams to the men in the play, the only woman who actually plays a part in the dreams and prophecies, is Margaret. Because of this she is portrayed as being involved with witchcraft and the supernatural, therefore not a woman but a witch! This is because all of the curses she lays on Richard do actually come true. Margaret continuously curses and damns Richard throughout the play. When Margaret does so, her language and tone is very important because it is very witch like and when you read it, this sounds like she is actually casting a spell on Richard.

Evidence Margaret to Richard; …. No sleep close up that deadly eye of thine, unless it be while some tormenting dream affrights thee with hell of ugly devils.

After Margaret curses Richard, we find out from Anne that Richard is a very bad sleeper and if he does manage to fall asleep he is violently woken by terrifying nightmares and torturous demons!

Evidence Anne; …For never yet one hour in his bed did I enjoy the golden dew of sleep, but with this timorous dreams was still awak'd.

The dreams and prophecies in the play also have a great effect on the audience and characters during the play, which are very closely related to the purpose of the dreams and prophecies of the play! All of the dreams in the play are a dramatic device so that the audience feel involved in the play and they have a sense of pantomime. Knowing about the dreams and events to come throughout the play, the audience would be left in suspense sitting on the edge of their seats during the play, trying to guess when the next murder will occur because they are very aware of what is happening whereas the characters seem oblivious!

The only character in play that is aware of the danger he is about to face is Hastings! He has a tormenting dream of being slaughtered, having his head removed although, he does not take any action to try and stop this horrid event occurring, he is well prepared and conscious of what he is to face! I believe that this makes the audience more sympathetic towards Hastings as he endures torment about the way he will die right up until his dreadful execution!

Evidence …And started when he looked upon the tower, as loath to bear me to the slaughterhouse. …O Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse is lighed on poor Hastings' wretched head!

A large device that is used in the dreams is that of imagery. In all of the dreams there is always horrible and negative imagery which makes the audience imagines the dreams that the characters have had and really think about the reasons behind those images! For example the imagery used in Clarence's dream, is very unpleasant (as with all of the imagery in the play). The audience is encouraged to imagine deep murky water with dead corpses floating about at the bottom! The corpses are particularly important since they are of those who have died by the hand of Richard. This should automatically make the audience think that Clarence should be the next victim to die by Richards's hand. The meaning behind dreaming of water is very significant to this part of the play. It is said that if a person dreams of water that, they are submerged in then they may be subject to misfortune, death and problems with friends or family. As we know from the play this is actually very close to what happens to Clarence.

When Clarence is in the tower and the two murderers arrive to execute him, Clarence asks them if he can have a drink of wine. This is where the irony comes in to it because the keeper tells Clarence that he will have plenty of wine, just before he tells him that he shall be drowned in it. This relates to Clarence's dream of drowning! If Clarence had taken any notice of his dream then he would have realised that he was probably coming close to his death.

Evidence Where art thou keeper? Give me a glass of wine.

You shall have wine enough my lord, I'll drown you in the malmsey-butt within.

Another good example of imagery in the dreams is found in the dream that Stanley has. He dreams of an animal (a boar) attacking him in the side, which is thought of as being violent and aggressive, this instantly puts unpleasant images in to our minds! If this dream is read in to deeper you realise that this is a very clever device that Shakespeare has used. Therefore, those in the audience who know about Richard's history would know that the boar is actually Richard's symbol. He used this symbol when he was battling in the war of the roses against the house of Lancaster (which Richmond was actually a part of).

If Stanley had not been foolish like the other men in the play then he should have realised that Richard was actually going to be a threat against him and he should have been very cautious when dealing with Richard!

Evidence Hastings; Cannot my lord Stanley sleep these tedious nights?

…And for his dreams, I wonder he's so simple to trust the mockery of unquiet slumber. To fly the boar before the boar purses were to incense the boar to follow us,

… and we will both together to the tower, where he shall see the boar will use us kingly.

I have also researched the true meaning behind dreaming about boars, I have found that if a man dreams about being attacked or bitten by a boar then they should be on there guard against a false friend. This piece of information is particularly relevant to my essay because that is exactly what Stanley should have been aware of from the beginning of all of the turmoil with Richard.

A clever prophecy that is also used regarding a death in the tower is a very innocent one. The prophecy is a warning to Richard from the younger of the two little princes. Richard tells them that they must stay in the tower so that they are safe! The prince tells Richard that he does not want to stay in the tower for the fear that he will see Clarence's angry ghost.

Evidence I shall not sleep in quiet at the tower.

Why what should you fear?

Marry my uncle Clarence' angry ghost- my grandam told me he was murdered there.

I feel that this is a significant piece in the play because although Clarence's angry ghost does not turn up in the tower he does turn up in a nightmare that Richard has at the very end of the play. It was almost as if this little child new that Clarence was not happy and would come back to haunt a character, (most likely to be Richard!) Richards's nightmare was also a prophecy this is because he is visited by all of the ghosts of those people that he has killed. The purpose of this dream is that the ghosts are able to warn Richard that he will not win that battle against Richmond the following day as they will all be on the side of Richmond! This dream leaves Richard tormented and frightened, so frightened in fact that he tells Ratcliffe of his anguish.

Clarence's ghost to Richard Let me sit heavy in thy soul tomorrow- I that washed to death with fulsome wine, poor Clarence by thy guile betrayed to death!

Tomorrow in the battle think on me, and fall thy edgeless sword; despair and die!

Clarence to Richmond ....Good angles guard thy battle! Live and flourish!

Evidence O Ratcliffe I have had a fearful dream!

The nightmare that Richard has before the battle is also evidence that Margaret's prophecy would torture him until he died. The purpose of this particular dream was to give the play and Richard a sense of morality concerning all of the bad deeds that Richard has been involved in or responsible for. For me I thought that Richard had actually become aware of the conscience that he should have, (after all he is human) Including this dream in the play makes the audience realise that during the battle, Richard will not die the death of a brave man, but he shall die the death of what he truly is, a murderer!

An important example of a prophecy in the play is the very first one that we as an audience are informed of. The prophecy is that of the letter G, which concerns Richard telling Edward that a wizard told him he would have great heartache caused to him by a person with the name beginning with the letter G.

Evidence He harkens after prophecies and dreams and by the letter G his issue disinherited shall be.

Meaning that his heirs to the throne are in terrible danger, from a person with name the letter G.

And of course the play would not be as effective if Edward did not jump straight to entirely the wrong conclusion! This resulting in his dear brother killed for something that he did not do and would never even dream of doing.

This prophecy is extremely ironic because the person that did actually kill the boys or at least have them killed was Richard him self. The irony is that Richard's bestowed name is Duke of Gloucester, which would explain why he told Edward that they would be killed by someone with the name letter G. It would seem almost as if Richard is playing a game with Edward. This gives us a glimpse of what Richard develops in to, a dark, sinister humorous character.

I believe that the dreams and prophecies in the play are actually a reflection of the play itself, full of horrible, disturbing imagery surrounded by people who are all devious and hate each other! The overall effect and purpose of the dreams and prophecies is to get the audience involved and give the characters parts, a good pace and sense of action, as the dreams are strategically placed in appropriate intervals throughout the play.

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