Richard III - Elizabeth Themes

Question 1

Grief

Answer 1

• emphasises cruelty by her losses
• women used to emphasise losses, one-dimensional, used for sadness, powerless?

Question 2

Perspicacious

Answer 2

• takes York into sanctuary
• initially in the play she is the only character who sees through R (only women)

Question 3

Curses - language

Answer 3

• power of grief, vengeance

Question 4

Powerful or powerless (women)?

Answer 4

• elevated her own status
• unity in curses
• perspicacity
• powerless, victim to woes of men - only reacts
• seems persuaded by R to marry off her daughter

Question 5

Turning wheel of fortune

Answer 5

• Elizabethan belief, demonstrates this

Question 6

Performance skill

Answer 6

• marrying daughter scene, seems to capitulate but maintains control in contrast to Anne - more powerful?, also forces the truth out of R why he wants to marry her (strength/power?)
• reconciliation scene, appears to reconcile, but like R we are aware this is likely to be false