Clarence in Richard Iii Essay

Clarence is the most sympathetically presented character in the play Richard the Third To what extent do you agree?

Richard the Third is a tragic-history where various characters are allowed to gain sympathy through the use of language and plot. Shakespeare is problematizing it through the introduction of other characters. In comparison with the rest of the characters, he suceeds in convincing the audience that Clarence is indeed the most sympathetically presented character in the play due to his ultimate loss through death.

Richard is portrayed pitiously as a result of Anne's downright repulsion towards Richard. As Richard attempts to express his love for Anne and proposes to her, Anne is filled with utter disgust at the mere sight of him, more so to accept his insensitive proposal for he was the cause of Anne's husband and father-in-law's death. She refuses to acknowledge Richard as a human being for she refers Richard as a fiend, foul devil and lump of foul deformity. These descriptions are powerful imageries as they serve to portray Richard as the epitome of evil and attempts to highlight the intense hatred she has towards Richard in this manner. She shows no hesitation in being forthright in her opinion of him and is clearly outraged through the incessive use of exclamation marks. However, in contrast to her aversion towards Richard, he is mellow in his response for he calls her sweet saint and gentle Lady Anne. He projects submissiveness as a result, due to Anne's spew of spite and hatred. Furthermore, Anne also spits at him and claims that the mere sight of Richard [infects her] eyes. This suggests that Anne has completely no respect nor regard for Richard which accounts for her behaviour. She is not prepared to give even the slightest of acknowledgement to Richard's emotions although it is undeniable that she has all the rights to act in such a manner due to her recent loss of loved ones. Anne's verbal and physical lash of her hatred towards Richard presents him most sympathetically due to the contrast in reactions which encourages audience to percieve him in a sympathetic light.

However, Richard's real intentions of trying to woo Anne are evident to the audience through his monologue which follows their conversation. By wooing Anne and getting her to marry him, Richard obtains this empowerment and greater self-assurance in attaining kingship by having Anne by his side. Anne, being the Queen, promises Richard of royalty benefits and his desire to marry her would ultimately be beneficial to achieve his agenda. In his monologue, Richard gloats about his success in wooing Anne as he says Was ever woman in this humour wooed?/ Was ever woman in this humour won? thus debasing Anne's feminine qualities and is highlighting how readily she fell for his manipulation. It conveys his arrogance and insincerity, as a result, for he appears triumphant with malicious satisfaction thus ruining his sympathetic image.

Clarence is condemned as the murderer through the authority of the prophecy in society thus challenging his influence as the King. Being the King, Clarence who has the highest power in the hierachial system of the society is bounded by prophecies which seem like a even greater power than a King. This higher power prevents Clarence from freeing himself from his situation and is evidently belittled despite being the King. Clarence says a wizard told him that by 'G'/ His issue disinherited should be/ And for my name of George begins with 'G'/ It follows in his thought that I am he. The consistent rhythm present in the ending words of each line has a compounded effect. The wizard does not directly refer to Clarence but the prophecy is created in such a way that it is able to convince people that Clarence is the predicted murderer. The intelligently constructed prophecy has many people subscribing to it without any hesitation. It seems like an authoritative influence on Clarence as an ambiguous prophecy could dictate his fate. The fact that Clarence has been suspected with the sole evidence of the letter 'G', used in the prophecy, shows Clarence's lack of ability to control his life. His inability to act to save himself from his situation due to the presence of a much higher force presents Clarence in the most sympathetic position although, in actual fact he has the supreme power in the society, as no one else is able to free him from his situation.

Richard's greed for power overrules brotherhood for he plot's Clarence's death. Richard clearly neglects brotherhood and expresses blatant rejection of Clarence just for the sake of ascending the throne. He has no qualms or whatsoever about setting this up against his own brother as his greed for power clouds his vision of kinship as supported by his complete disregard for brotherhood as he goes about with his plan. Richard's final conversation with the murderers before the deed is done highlights how desperate Richard is in getting rid of Clarence for he says Do not hear him plead,/ For Clarence is well spoken and perhaps/ May move your hearts to pity if you mark him. Richard recognises these qualities of being articulate and compassionate in Clarence and demands the murderers to not view him as such. In the process, Richard is dehumanizing Clarence and removing all emotional qualities from him. He wants them to view Clarence as a completely different person devoid of these humanly attributes. Furthermore, Richard aims to vilify Clarence by saying that he would actually use there admirable traits to manipulate the murderers. This coming from a sibling, is rather pitiful as Richard displays sheer determination in literally destroying his own brother. Thus, it is evident that Clarence is the most sympathetically presented as his ultimate demise would be due to Richard, his brother, and he would have never believed that Richard would go to such an extent to fulfil his personal desires as the tone acquired by Richard is one of utter ruthlessness.

Clarence's experience of the trauma of death while he is imprisoned in the Tower of London places him in a sympathetic light as he is able to draw upon the audience's empathy. Clarence was able to see the terrifying vision of the underworld which is heavily laced with classical and medieval literary traditions. The voice he hears in his dream speaks Seize on him, furies, take him unto torment. The diction used accentuates the extremity of his dream for he has to endure it although there is no reason for him to do so. This is a terrifying experience for Clarence is unable to control the events and thus forced to mentally view the traumatic experience. He describes a 'death-in-life' experience for he says he cannot yield a ghost and is instead kept alive by a malicious force, an envious flood that is intent only on providing endless agony. The ensuing breathlessness and clautrophobia highlight his inability for actions. He is compelled to go through the agony although it is just in his dream. His hallucination leads him to a state of paranoia. Therefore, Clarence is most sympathetically presented in this scene for he is unable to help himself as the dream he experiences overpowers his emotional state and he is forced to tolerate the extent of violence in his dream.

Hence, Clarence experiences the brunt of Richard's plans for he had to endure the strongest struggles such as the betrayal of his brother, being imprisoned withouta reason and sacrificing his life for a wrongful cause. Thus, Clarence is the most sympathetically presented character in the play.