The Many Faces of Richard III: Extension Activity

After completing Activity: The Many Faces of Richard III, consider the following.

Richard III has one of the most interesting and close relationships with an audience in all of Shakespeare’s works. He has five soliloquies with the audience in the first three scenes.

• Make a list of all of Richard’s interactions with the audience.

• Take a look at his first opening speech and his final private speech to the audience after the ghosts of his victims appear. How has he changed? How has his language changed? Has his relationship with the audience changed? At which point do we trust him more, if at all?