Richard III
Shakespeare created one of theater's great villains — a man so charismatic and self-aware in his evil that audiences cannot help but watch.
history playEnglishmoderateshort · ~3.5h
Influence
6.5/10
Popularity
8.0/10
“Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this sun of York.”
Why It Matters
Shakespeare created one of theater's great villains — a man so charismatic and self-aware in his evil that audiences cannot help but watch. Richard's direct addresses to the audience invented a kind of complicity between villain and viewer that film and TV still use constantly. The play also established Shakespeare as the dominant voice in English drama.
Notable Quotes
“A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!”
“Was ever woman in this humour wooed? Was ever woman in this humour won?”