Attitude Towards Women Essay

Richard is portrayed in many different styles through-out the play; from charming and cheeky to manipulative and arrogant.  He obviously has a clear set judgement on women, which to the audience is perhaps more apparent than to the characters in the play. He has a down cast view on them, and thinks the same of who continue to be intrigued by them, therefore mimics them. We can see this in Richards opening speech of the play.  In Richards opening speech he is addressing the audience directly, which was good on Shakespeare’s behalf, as it then gives the audience the feel that they are involved from the very beginning. In his opening speech, Richard states †Ã¢â‚¬ ¦To strut before a wanton-ambling nymph,†, referring to men trying to impress women. It shows he see’s women as flirtatious, loose, easy even. It shows Richard had not yet any respect for women, why we do not quite know; but it sounds as if he feels they are game playing and men who fall for the game’s he frowns upon. Perhaps there is a reason for Richards dis-interest. In his opening speech he also tells the audience about his deformities. It is possible that maybe Richard puts up a barrier to women to avoid rejection, getting hurt, as he feels they won’t love him due to his deformities. He perhaps feels he is at a disadvantage to other men, which is why he shames them, perhaps it is even jealousy. We know of his down glance on men who fall for women, and of his self pity, as earlier in his speech he claims †He capers nimbly in a ladys chamber, To the lascivious pleasing of a lute. But I that am not shaped for sportive tricks nor made to court an amorous looking glass,†. In this, he mimics men who allow their attention to be swayed by women. He believes men should concentrate more on what they are fighting for (in battle), rather than paying attention to vain women. Another speech that highlights Richards’s attitude to women  Is the one at the start of Act 2 Scene 1, the speech he makes before he goes to speak to Anne.  In this speech, he shows confidence. He knows he is able to manipulate Anne and feels proud of what he knows he can accomplish. This is shown when he predicts the outcome from saying †For then I’ll marry Warwick’s youngest daughter .. What though I killed her husband and her father? † He in a way makes it out to be a joke. As he can see how ridiculous the outcome he predicted may seem, for why would Anne want to marry Richard after what he has done to her family. Richard knows this and is proud to know he has this power of manipulation. He also shows his confidence in manipulation when saying † The readiest way to make wench amends † , meaning for himself rather than her, this shows a type of irony. Richard tells the audience how he wants to be in power; and he feels this power in knowing he can influence other people’s decisions and actions, in order to help himself. He wants to be seen as Anne’s father figure as well as her husband, as it is known how fathers in traditional life guide their daughters decisions, which is exactly what Richard would like to do to Anne, This is a perfect example to show how crude, snide and bitter Richard is, seeing as he killed both her husband and her father. The audience can see Richard wants to use Anne but what for exactly we are unsure. This of course is good as it leaves the audience with a sense of mystery and suspense. There are many reasons why Shakespeare has made Richard into such a character. Perhaps Richard is portrayed like this to the audience because he feels that women are to blame for his  deformities, which he had from birth and obviously have quite an effect in him. Perhaps he feels as he was born with them, from his mother (who is of course female), all women are capable of affecting men in such a way. And Richard of course believes  They have no right to, especially as then he feels he (or men in general) have no sense of power in such an event. Therefore Richard ‘punishes’ them through what he may see as his gift of manipulation. I think the way in which Shakespeare has portrayed Richard to the audience in this play is very clever. As it leaves the play with a constant air of suspense. Of course I do not agree with how Richards view and attitude towards women is portrayed, I find it appalling, but I do believe it gives the play an extra feeling of suspense as it does truly entice the audience. What really stands out as good to me is how Richards’s speeches are shared in confidence with the audience. It allows him to show more emotions and therefore the audience know that whatever act he may put on to others, his true colours are dark, and he is really a very snide and bitter person. This also shows what a brilliant play act Richard is portrayed as. His private speeches give the audience a feel as if they where actually involved in the play. Like they’ve been let in on a secret, just not all of it, so they need to wait through the play to discover what Richards’s true plans are.