HSC English – Advanced Module A: Textual Conversations – Richard III & Looking for Richard Sample Essay
King Richard III & Looking for Richard In Class Assessment 20/20
A text is not a single, unified object but merely an element open to interpretation. Texts are vehicles that transport ideas and values central to the human condition to a single destination, their audience. Linguistic theorist Roland Barthes argued that composers are merely ‘orchestrators’ of things already written, supporting the notion that texts are multi- dimensional spaces, ‘a tissue of quotations.’ A comparative study of texts such as Shakespeare’s ‘King Richard III’ and Al Pacino’s docu-drama ‘Looking for Richard’ offer a contrasting reappraisal of themes and values which mutually elucidate new insights into core values. These texts engage with emerging and dominant discourses in their respective contexts, therefore, enriching each text as a singular object and
Page 1 of 6 HSC English – Advanced Module A: Textual Conversations – Richard III & Looking for Richard Sample Essay as a unified whole. To a large extent, texts are enriched by their connections with other texts.
The concept of intertextuality relies on a pair of texts’ ability to strategically utilise parent texts to progress viewpoints. Shakespeare’s ‘King Richard III’ utilises the Elizabethan providentialist worldview to propagate the Tudor myth. Strategically manipulating features of context, Shakespeare’s portrayal of this controversial historical figure is dehumanised through meta- theatrical elements of the text. The opening soliloquy of the play sees Richard paradoxically claim his intentions of dishonesty, honestly to responders. The use of tricolon, ‘false, subtle, treacherous,’ further exemplifies his comfortability with his evil nature and his attempt to, ‘prove a villain’ is further associated with claims of deformity. ‘I that am curtailed, I that am made for sportive tricks.’ Shakespeare further dehumanises Richard through this physical
Page 2 of 6 HSC English – Advanced Module A: Textual Conversations – Richard III & Looking for Richard Sample Essay disadvantage, a metaphor for the evil that lies within. Shakespeare aligns Richard with the vice of the Machiavellian allegorical embodiments of evil. Shakespeare, through Richard, acknowledges a rise in humanism, but further exemplifies a propagation of the providential worldview in condemning his actions through direct engagement with the audience. Shakespeare manipulates the representation of Richard to act as the vehicle to present his audience with the importance of Elizabethan values and a religious worldview in a search for meaning.
Contrastingly, Al Pacino utilises his medium to commentate on the importance of Shakespeare in secular American society. Through features of meta- documentary Pacino exemplifies his purpose through interviews, acting, actors circle portions and other candid features of visual stimuli. Pacino wishes ‘to communicate a Shakespeare about how we feel and
Page 3 of 6 HSC English – Advanced Module A: Textual Conversations – Richard III & Looking for Richard Sample Essay think today.’ Pacino, where Shakespeare uses soliloquy, utilises monologues to communicate his views on the value of Shakespeare and his relevance in a post-modern world. As Pacino embodies both actor and director, the ability for Richard as a character to have dual appearance in his pursuit of power is emulated. Vanessa Redgrave states, ‘Politicians and those in power have total contempt for all that they pledge, this is what Shakespeare’s play is really about.’ Matched with interviews from society’s commoners, ‘Shakespeare did more than help us, he instructed us.’ These consistent hyperbolic claims, Pacino’s purpose is sought through features of meta-documentary. Through these duelling portrayals, both texts seek to concurrently impose meaning through core ideas and themes of political power, constructing greater depth that transports to their audience. Further exemplifying the importance of a comparative study of texts to
Page 4 of 6 HSC English – Advanced Module A: Textual Conversations – Richard III & Looking for Richard Sample Essay enrich the audiences understanding by mutually and strategically elucidating new insights.
A texts ability to re-examine and re-shape the values presented in a single text allows its themes and ideas to be enriched for a new, contemporary audience. This ability allows meaning to be transported to an audience more fluidly, utilising the text as the vehicle and the audience, the final destination. Shakespeare’s representation of Richard is foregrounded in depth within his opening soliloquy, his defiance of divine right is exemplified in the opening lines, ‘unless to see my shadow in the sun,’ as the play opens in the ‘winter of our discontent’ Richard is represented as a shadow over the regal ‘sun’. This prophetic pun is developed throughout a series of animalistic claims to further dehumanise Richard, ‘foul swine’, ‘toad’, ‘boar’. Contrastingly, Pacino, in the wooing Lady Anne scene progresses the idea of Richard as a shadow through
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Chiaroscuro lighting and seraphic non-diegetic music. However, this re-shaping and re-representation is used in conjunction with his deception of Lady Anne, exemplifying the effects of feminist movements in twentieth century society. This re-shaping and dehumanisation is a clear evaluation of the values and discourses present in respective contexts which have been made relevant, and enriched through the concept of intertextuality.
Both ‘King Richard III’ and ‘Looking for Richard’ are vehicles, commentating on values, themes and ideas central to the human condition. Their representation of history is enriched by their connection and engagement with dominant and emerging discourses. The destination, their audience, is thus elucidated by the new insight, proving the statement to a large extent.
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