On Richard III & Manipulation

Oh, hello. It's been awhile, hasn't it? So long, in fact, that you may not even visit this old relic of a blog much anymore. I ran into an old friend yesterday whose dad writes a column in Saskatoon's "Star Phoenix" three times a week. I mentioned that I saluted his father for being so consistent. He mentioned that it's a little easier to be motivated to write when one's paycheque depends on it--and then said something I've found to be true: "anyone can write for 30 days. After that though, 95% of people run out of steam and quit. That's why blogs always fail. Those 5% that can keep it up for years are the ones who are dedicated and focused." So maybe I'm not very focused. Either way, you didn't come here to read a journal, so let us go quickly to the point.

First, a word of background. I've begun my final year of university (Incidentally, if you or anyone you know is looking for a bright young Finance graduate, feel free to consider me...) and, since I took all but two of my school's available Finance classes in my 3rd year, my 4th year is a little more enjoyable: I've cashed in my "free senior electives" and am taking a two-term Shakespeare class from a wonderful, insane, red-headed, cat-eye-glasses-wearing professor who shouts at us while she describes the dramatic irony in Twelfth Night. It's the highlight of my school week--I feel like I'm actually learning, instead of merely regurgitating. This week we're discussing Richard III.

Now, you really should read Richard III, even if you're not normally a "Shakespeare person." It's delightful. I won't ruin it for you, but here's a synopsis so that the rest of this post isn't boring: Richard, Duke of Gloucester, is the King's brother. He is, in a word, a villain. He opens the play with these famous words:

Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York;

But, you see, Richard is miserable. He is ugly, evil, cruel, and manipulative, and wants nothing more than to put an end to the peace that has just settled over England. He tells us, the audience:

And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover,
To entertain these fair well-spoken days,
I am determined to prove a villain
And hate the idle pleasures of these days.
Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous,
By drunken prophecies, libels and dreams,
To set my brother Clarence and the king
In deadly hate the one against the other:

What makes the play so delicious is that although Richard is horrible, he bewitches the audience into being his cheering squad. While he usurps the throne, kills his rivals, and marries the wife of one of his victims, he is all the while allowing us to be in on his sick little joke. He often answers questions truthfully, but his quick wit prevents the hearer from understanding the true meaning behind his words. A beautiful example of this is seen in Act 3, where Richard is traveling with the two princes who are in line for the throne. In theory he is their "guardian" since their father's death, but in reality he will kill them just a few scenes later. During their trip, the prince looks at the dagger on Richard's belt:

Prince: "I pray you, uncle, give me this dagger."

Richard: "My dagger, little cousin? with all my heart."

The irony is sickening, and yet morbidly humorous: Richard will soon "give him the dagger" alright--him and everyone else standing in the way of Richard becoming king.

So what's the point? This post is not really about Richard III, it is about manipulation in general, using Richard as a study. If you read the play, you will notice that not only does he successfully evade blame for everything evil he does, he actually manages to pin his crimes on his enemies. He is good at it because he knows himself. He can recognize his own evil, and dances perfectly around discovery with his smooth words. In fact, he thinks of it as a game: how far can I get without being discovered? Just how blatantly can I murder without repercussions?

How is this relevant to your life or mine? While we may not know anyone who will murder to get what they want, we see this play acted out in our lives every day. We all have that friend who just happens to know something that someone else said when we weren't around...the friend who enjoys the game. In fact, we might even enjoy the game; since playing it is inherent in humans. This is why you should watch out for anyone who is always trying to make someone else look bad; this rule extends to politics, religion, and life in general, and is also why I think if someone would go into politics on the platform of "construction, not destruction" they would probably get a lot of votes.