IMPORTANT CONCEPTS ON DEPTH STUDY GERMANY

Important concepts on Depth Study : Germany

The Munich Putsch, 1923

Hitler hijacked a local government meeting and announced he was taking over the government of Bavaria, he was joined by the old war  hero Ludendorff.

Nazi troopers began taking over official buildings , but on the next day the Weimar Government forces hit back, the rebellion broke up in chaos and Hitler escaped in a car, he and other Nazi Leaders were arrested and charged with treason.

However, Hitler gained enormous publicity for himself and his ideas and his every word was reported in the newspapers.

In the end, he only served nine months of the sentence in the great comfort of a castle.

Goebbels

Nazis tried to appeal to German workers ,and Hitler appointed Joseph Goebbels to take charge of Nazi propaganda.

Goebbels was highly efficient at spreading the Nazi message, he and Hitler believed that the best way to reach  what they called “the masses” was by appealing to their feelings rather than by rational argument.

Goebbels produced posters, leaflets , films and radio broadcasts, he organized rallies too.

propaganda chief Goebbels created his own version of the events stating that it was Hitler’s destiny to become Germany’s leader and the German people finally came to recognize this.

Goebbels’ campaign methods were modern and effective, their posters could be found everywhere , their rallies impressed people with their energy, and sheer size.

The Nazis also organized soup kitchens and provided shelter in hostels for the unemployed.

The Reichstag Fire

Hitler took steps to complete a Nazi takeover of Germany. He  called another election for March 1933 to try to get an overall Nazi majority in the Reichstag.

Then on 27 February there was a dramatic development , the Reichstag building burnt down.

Hitler blamed the Communists and declared that the fire was the beginning of a communist uprising.

The night of the long knives

Hitler was still not entirely secure of his power, the leading officers in the army were not impressed by him , and were suspicious of  Hitler’s SA and its leader Rohm.

Hitler had to choose between the army and the SA and so he acted ruthlessly.

SS men broke into the house of Rohm and other leading figures of the SA and arrested them.

Hitler accused Rohm of plotting to overthrow and  murder him and over the weekend Rohm and 400 others were executed.

Germany Depth Study - Summary

DEPTH STUDY A : GERMANY 1918 – 1945

WAS THE WEINMAR REPUBLIC DOOMED FROM THE START?

The impact of the First World War on Germany was devastating, the Treaty of Versailles made the country’s problems even worse.The Weimar Government struggled from crisis to crisis. Adolf Hitler and the Nazis emerged as the most powerful group in Germany.

In 1918 the Allies had clearly won the war , Germany was in chaos and the Allies offered Germany peace , but under strict conditions, one conditions was that Germany had to be more democratic and when the Kaiser refused there were mutines led by sailors, workers , socialists from different parts of Germany.

On 9^th November 1918, the Kaiser abdicated his throne, the Socialist Leader Ebert became the new leader of the Republic of Germany and immediately signed an armistice with the Allies.The was was over.He also announced to the people that the new Republic was giving them freedom of speech, a new Constitution was drawn up.

The impact of the Treaty of Versailles on the Republic was crisis.

Germany lost 10% of its land , all of its overseas colonies , 12.5% of its population, 16%of its coal and 48% of its iron industry.

Its army was reduced and it was not allowed to have an airforce , its navy was reduced as well; on top of this , Germany had to accept the blame for starting the war and was forced to pay reparations.

For all of these reasons, most Germans were appalled , they felt betrayed by the Allies and opponents of the Regime turned their fury on Ebert.

Ebert had opposition from the Kaiser’s former advisers who were still in the army, industry judiciary and civil service.

On the other hand , many communists believed that what Germany needed was a Communist Revolution just like Russia had in 1917.

Despite all the opposition free elections took place in 1919 and Ebert’s Party won and he became THE PRESIDENT OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC , CALLED LIKE THIS BECAUSE THE NEW GOVERNMENT met in the small town of Weimar, rather than in Germany’s capital BERLIN.

ECONOMIC DISASTER

The Treaty destabilized Germany politically and economically , the payments they had to pay for reparations were 2% of Germany’s annual output A LOT!!!

The Ruhr

The first installment (50 million pounds) was paid in 1921, but in 1922 nothing was paid and the French ran out of patience, so in 1923 French and Belgian troops entered the Ruhr and began to take what was owed to them

HYPERINFLATION

In August 1923, a new government took over.They introduced a new currency called the Retenmark , negotiated to receive American loans and even negotiated the reparations payments , the economic crisis was solved very quickly.

Between the achievements of the Weimar period we can mention: the Economy, Culture, Politics and Foreign Policy.

The economy was built back again , the reparation payments were spread over a longer period , and 800 million marks in loans from the USA were invested into German industry.

Germany finally achieved the same levels of production as before the war.

There was also a cultural revival regarding artists , writers , poets and painters.

Politics became more stable and Foreign Policy was their greatest triumph . Germany was accepted into the League of Nations and this gave them the opportunity to reverse some of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.

WHY WAS HITLER ABLE TO DOMINATE GERMANY BY 1934?

The Nazis began as the German’s working party, led by Anton Drexler.In 1919, Hitler joined the party. Two years later , he removed Drexler as a leader , they were extremely nationalists.

Hitler blamed the Allies , the Versailles Treaty and politicians who signed it , the Communists and the Jews for Germany’s problems.

I believe Nazis had little success before 1930 because Hitler had underestimated the German people more than once. Nazis has taken over official buildings which ended up in chaos between Nazis and the police. Even though he was sentenced to prison, he had gained an enormous publicity.

Nazis had a   25 point programme and its most important points were:

*the abolition of the Treaty of Versailles

*the union of Germany and Austria

*the fact that only “true” Germans were to be allowed to live in Germany , JEWS in particular were to be excluded

*large business and industries to be nationalized

*a strong central government in Germany

By 1932 the Nazis had become the largest single political party , Hitler demanded the post of chancellor from the President , but Hindenburg, did not trust him so he refused.  He allowed the current chancellor or Papen , to carry on. However, this one was soon on trouble and had no support so he had to be changed (1933).

The President refused again to give Hitler the post , so he chose one of his own advisers , Schleiner. One month later he was forced to resign. The President and Papen , met secretly with industrialists , army leaders and politicians . He finally offered Hitler the post of chancellor, everybody was surprised.

Hitler ended up as Chancellor , not because of the will of the German people , but because of a secret deal by some German Aristocrats. Both Hinderburg and Papen , thought they could control Hitler , they were both wrong.

Hitler became the supreme dictator of Germany by the summer of 1934 and he achieved this through a clever combination of methods (some legal others dubious)

He also managed to defeat or reach agreements with those who could have stopped him.

THE NAZI REGIME : HOW EFFECTIVELY DID THE NAZIS CONTROL GERMANY -1933-45?

There was supposed to be no room for opposition of any kind in Nazi Germany , the aim was to create a totalitarian state where there could be no rival parties.

Ordinary citizens must divert all their energy into serving the state and doing all what its leader wants.

The Nazis had a powerful range of organizations and weapons that they used to control Germany and terrorize Germans into submission.

The GESTAPO was THE SECRET STATE POLICE and it was the force that was feared the most by German citizens.

Gestapo agents had sweeping powers , they could arrest citizens on suspicion and send them to concentration camps without trial or even explanation.

Modern research has shown that Germans thought the Gestapo were much more powerful than they actually were . As a result , many Germans informed on each other because they thought that the Gestapo would find out anyways. There were many facts that determined Hitler’s consolidation of power. In the Reichstag Fire, 4000 communists were arrested and other Nazi opponents too. The Emergency Decree allowed the police to arrest suspects with no trial. Hitler took over regional governments . The Nazis intimidated opponents through the radio and also attracted many new voters.Eventually they took control of all the media.

In the Enabling Act Hitler was made a legal dictator because he won allowance to pass decrees  without the President’s involvement.

The Night of the Long Knives was also very important , within a year any opponents of the Nazis had either left Germany or being taken to special concentration camps.

Other Political Parties were banned but Hitler was still not entirely secure. The S.A was a badly disciplined force  and its leader, Ernst Rohm had talked about turning it into the second German Army . Hitler did not trust Rohm and accused him of plotting against him , so Rohm was arrested and murdered and approximately 400 other men who co-operated with Rohm were murdered too. The S.A remained as part of the Nazi organization.

This was very important because it raised fear among the population and that was an excellent strategy to avoid opponents or traitors.

THE NAZI REGIME : WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO LIVE IN NAZI GERMANY?

It was Hitler’s aim to control every aspect of life in Germany , including the daily life of ordinary people.

Most young people were strong supporters of Adolf Hitler. The Nazis had reorganized every aspect of the school curriculum to make children loyal to them.

At school children learnt the history of Germany and they were outraged to find out how the German army had been “stabbed in the back” by the weak politicians who had made peace. They were also told that the hardships of the 1920’s were caused by Jews squeezing profits out of honest Germans.

By the time students became senior pupils, they were confident that loyalty to the Fuhrer (Hitler) was right and good.

Biology lessons taught students that they were special , as one of the Aryan race which was so superior in intelligence and strength to the sub-human Jews and Slavs of Eastern Europe.

As members of the Hitler’s youth , they marched in exciting parades with loud bands. Young people’s leisure time was also devoted to Hitler and the Nazis .

Children were slightly alienated from their parents because they were not as keen on the Nazis as their children were.

Children were taught that their first loyalty was to Adolf Hitler and no to their parents.

As the war progressed , the activities of the youth movements focused increasingly on the war effort and military drill.The popularity of the movements decreased and an anti-Hitler movement appeared.

The Nazis identified two distinct groups of young people who they were worried about: The Swing Movement and the Edelweiss Pirates.

The Swing Movement was made up mainly of middle class teenagers , they listened to English and American music and accepted Jews in their clubs.

The Edelweiss Pirates were working class teenagers , they were not an organized movement.

Neither of the groups described above had strong political views , they were not political opponents of the Nazis , but they resented and resisted Nazi control over their lives.

All the Nazi leaders were men, the Nazis were a very male-dominated organization. Hitler had a very traditional  view of the role of the German woman as wife and mother.

Many women agreed with him , they felt that their proper role was to support their husband.

There was also resentment towards working women , since they were seen as keeping men out of jobs. This situation created a lot of pressure on woman to conform what the Nazis called “the traditional balance” between men and women.

Alarmed at the falling birth rate , Hitler offered tempting financial incentives for married couples to have at least four children.

There were also some prominent women in the Nazi Germany.

One of the reasons why opposition to Hitler was so limited was the work of the Minister of Enlightenment  and Propaganda. He personally believed in Hitler as the savior  of Germany and his mission was to make sure that others believed this as well.

Throughout the 12 years of Nazi rule he constantly kept his finger on the pulse of public opinion and decided what the German public should and shouldn’t hear.

In the late 1930’s the Nazis suddenly needed more women workers because the supply of unemployed men was drying up. Many women had to struggle between both family and work responsibilities.

However, even during the crisis years of 1942-1945 when German industry was struggling to cope with the demand for war supplies , Nazi policy was still divided between their traditional stereotype of the mother , and the actual  needs of the workplace.

There was no chance for German women to serve in the armed forces .

Hitler and the Nazis came to power because they promised to use radical methods to solve the country’s two main problems: desperate unemployment and a crisis in German farming.

In return for work and other benefits , the majority of the German people gave up their political freedom.

Hitler was fortunate in that , by 1933 the worst of the Depression was over. The Nazis acted with energy and commitment to solve some of the main problems.

The brilliant economist Dr.Schacht organized Germany’s finances to fund a huge programme of work creation. Men were sent on public work projects and conservation programmes, in particular to build motorways. Railways were built from scratch and there were major house-building programmes and grandiose public building projects.

Another measure that brought prosperity was the rearmament plan. He reintroduced conscription for the German army and he announced a 4 year plan to get the German Economy ready for war.

As well as bringing economic recovery , this measurements also brought national pride. Hitler promised and delivered lower unemployment which helped to ensure popularity among industrial workers. These workers were important to the Nazis because good workers were needed to create the industries that would make Germany great and establish a new German Empire in Eastern Europe.He won the loyalty of industrial workers by a variety of initiatives.

The price of these advances was that the workers lost their main political party the SDP. They all had to join the DAF(General Labour Front). This organization kept strict control over workers .They could not strike for better pay and conditions. Many workers expressed that their standard of living was still lower than it had been before the Depression so they did not gain much and had to pay a lot.

Between the farming communities something very similar to what had happened with the workers took place.They did not gain much and paid a lot too.

Regarding business, only big business benefited from Nazi rule, the others didn’t.

Hitler fulfilled the 4 most important aims he had : reverse the Treaty of Versailles, rebuild Germany’s armed forces , unite Germany and Austria and extend German territory into Eastern Europe.

He fulfilled each of these aims , but he started the Second World War in the process.

Germans had no great enthusiasm for was , they still remembered the First World War, but the Nazis used all methods to make the German people support the regime.

Food rationing was introduced , then clothes rationing , but war was going very well for Germany.

Hitler was in control of much of Western and Eastern Europe and supplies of luxury goods flowed into Germany from captured territories.

In 1941, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union and for the next 3 years his troops were engaged in an increasingly expensive war with Russian forces who defeated the Germans.

German people began to see and listen less of Hitler, because he was preoccupied with war.

In 1942 Germans decided to kill millions of Jewish civilians in German-occupied countries, they called this “the final solution”.

Germany’s economy was focused on the armament industries, postal services were suspended, women were drafted into labour work. The S.S could not win the war , Germans were defeated , support for the Nazis weakened , Germans stopped declaring food they had and even refused to give the “Heil Hitler” salute when asked to do so.

Allies were contracted to asked about possible peace terms by Himmler who was the leader of the S.S.

***The SS was formed in 1925 from fanatics loyal to Hitler , it was led by Heinrich Himmler, SS men were of course Aryans , very highly trained and of course loyal to Hitler.

Under Himmler, the SS had primary responsibility  for destroying opposition to Nazism and carrying out the racial policies of the Nazis .

Two important divisions of the SS were:

The Death’s Head  Units responsible for the concentration camps and the slaughter of the Jews

The Waffen-SS special SS armoured regiments which fought alongside the regular army.

King Richard III-Summary

RICHARD III

SYNOPSIS

ACT I, SCENE I

In the first lines of the play, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, reviews the current state of affairs in England. War is over and

the house of York is on the throne. Everyone has put aside the rigors of warfare for the pleasures of peacetime, except for

Richard. He says he is not interested in such playfulness. Because he is physically deformed, he cannot see himself playing

the role of courtier. Instead he commits to villainy. He plots to set King Edward against his brother George, Duke of

Clarence, using as provocation the prophecy that someone with the letter G in his name will murder Edward’s heirs.

Directly, George is led forth by soldiers on the way to the Tower to be imprisoned. Richard suggests that this is really the

doings of the king’s wife, Lady Grey, and that no one is safe from her treachery. Richard promises to intercede for

Clarence, but as soon as he is led away, Richard reveals his true motive is to kill Clarence and get him out of the way.

Lord Hastings, who is the Lord Chamberlain, brings news of the king’s sickness. This adds to Richard’s desire to get

George out of the way. Once the king is dead Richard believes he will be in a strategic position to take over the kingdom.

He also plans to marry Lady Anne, Warwick’s youngest daughter, even though he has killed her husband Edward and her

father-in-law, King Henry VI.

ACT I, SCENE II

Lady Anne follows the hearse carrying the body of her father-in-law Henry VI. She mourns the deaths of Henry and his

son Edward, her husband, and curses Richard who murdered them both. Richard demands that the procession stop, and

Anne calls him a devil, saying that while he could kill Henry, he has no control over his soul. The wounds of Henry begin

to bleed; this most unnatural act is caused by the presence of his murderer Richard.

Richard asks permission to tell his story. He claims that Anne’s husband was actually killed by his brother Edward. He

admits to killing Henry, but thinks he did him a service by sending him to heaven. Anne rails against Richard, saying he

should go to hell, but Richard insinuates that she was the cause of the two deaths, since her beauty haunted his mind,

and he was willing to do anything to win her. He says, that he, who never cries, has shed tears of longing for Anne.

Richard, who never speaks gentle words, now tries to move the heart of Anne. If he cannot convince her of his love, he

would rather be dead. He gives her his sword, telling her to kill him. He confesses his crimes, but says it is her beauty that

provoked him to do these deeds. Richard insists Anne must choose, either kill him or accept him. He will kill himself if

she commands it. Anne relents even as she wonders about Richard’s sincerity. However, she accepts his ring and leaves the

funeral procession to await Richard at Crosby House.

Richard is overjoyed at his success, wondering if anyone has been successful in wooing a woman in such circumstances.

How could Anne forget Edward, a royal prince with a wise and gracious nature, and choose Richard who killed him? He

considers himself a wondrous handsome man to turn a woman’s heart in such a way.

ACT I, SCENE III

At the palace Queen Elizabeth and two advisors, Rivers and Grey, discuss the health of the king. They are fearful Richard

will be entrusted with the protection of the young son of King Edward. Meanwhile the king tries to reconcile the factions.

Richard complains that he has been slandered by the Queen and those loyal to her. He blames them for the imprisonment

of Clarence who fought for Edward’s party.

Queen Margaret listens to their quarrel and condemns all of them. They turn on her, accusing her of crimes, scorning

Richard’s father and killing the baby Rutland. Margaret, hoping for justice, curses each person to suffer just as she has.

She launches into a lengthy curse of Richard, but he interrupts, saying her name—claiming she curses herself. The

company has no patience with her. She warns them they will remember this day when they feel Richard’s treachery.

Richard plots with two murderers to kill Clarence. He plans to blame this murder on the Queen and her allies, Rivers,

Dorset, and Grey. Derby, Hastings, and Buckingham will back Richard when he takes revenge. Meanwhile Richard will

put on a pious face to cover his evil.

A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of William Shakespeare’s Richard III 3

ACT I, SCENE IV

Clarence, imprisoned in the tower, has a fretful night, full of nightmares of death by drowning caused by his brother

Richard. He begs his Keeper to stay with him so he can get some rest.

When the murderers enter with Richard’s commission, they find Clarence sleeping and begin to consider the crime they

have been sent to do. They are torn between conscience and greed. Clarence awakes and realizes they have come to kill

him. He begs them to consider their own salvation and the reward that they can get from Richard. They tell him that

Richard is in fact the murderer. One falters, but the other stabs Clarence and drowns him in a barrel of wine.

ACT II, SCENE I

King Edward, who is very sick, rejoices that he has united enemies and made alliances that will keep the kingdom in order

after his death. Richard swears that he is committed to this peace. When Elizabeth asks the King to be reconciled to

Clarence, Richard strikes with news of Clarence’s death, killed by the order of the King, even though he had reversed it.

Edward is saddened that he had been so rash. He fears that this act of injustice will have serious repercussions. Richard

tries to create new enmity between the two factions, insinuating that the Queen’s allies actually killed Clarence.

ACT II, SCENE II

Richard’s mother, the Duchess of York, realizes that Richard has killed Clarence and fears what will happen when the king

is dead. Elizabeth enters to announce Edward’s death. Elizabeth, the duchess, and the children of Clarence all proclaim

sorrow, but the Duchess claims the greatest grief since she has lost the most with the death of her two sons. Elizabeth’s

advisors council to be moderate and to send for the young prince Edward so he may be crowned.

Richard enters to give his comfort and to confer with the others about the company to be sent to get the prince.

Buckingham urges Richard to join in the embassy so they can plan how to separate the prince from the Queen’s family.

ACT II, SCENE III

Several citizens discuss recent events—the death of Edward and promised reign of his son. They fear that this will be a

dangerous time for the state since the prince is too young to rule and there is a strong rivalry between his uncles on both sides.

ACT II, SCENE IV

Richard, the young Duke of York, Queen Elizabeth, and the Duchess of York await the arrival of the prince. A messenger

arrives to report that Lords Rivers and Grey and Sir Vaughan have been imprisoned on the orders of the Dukes Gloucester and

Buckingham. Fearful of the outcome of this power struggle, Elizabeth decides to place herself and her son in sanctuary.

ACT III, SCENE I

Prince Edward arrives in London with Gloucester and Buckingham. Richard assures the prince that he does not recognize

the treachery of his uncles and he is better off without them. Hastings arrives to report that the Queen will not allow the

Duke of York to join his brother, the prince, and he and the Cardinal are sent to argue with her.

While they wait, Edward hears that he will stay at the Tower, even though he does not like the place. His brother, the

Duke of York, arrives, escorted by the two ambassadors. It is clear that he feels insulted by Richard, and he mocks him as

they talk. Richard and Buckingham surmise that his feelings arise from his mother’s influence. Now they send an embassy

to Lord Hastings so he will approve of the installation of Richard as king. For his part in this plot, Buckingham will be

rewarded with land and goods.

A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of William Shakespeare’s Richard III 4

ACT III, SCENE II

Hastings is drawn into Richard’s net. Because he thinks he is safe as an ally of Richard and that his enemies will be

executed in the Tower, he does not fear that two separate councils are being held. When Catesby queries if he will support

Richard’s bid for the throne, he refuses, saying he will not overthrow the legal line of inheritance from his master, the late

king. Lord Stanley warns him not to be so confident—others were unsuspecting when disaster was about to strike.

ACT III, SCENE III

Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan are taken to their execution in Pomfret Castle. They remember the curse of Margaret that they

would suffer for standing by while Richard killed her son. Their only hope is that her curse on Richard, Buckingham, and

Hastings will also be heard.

ACT III, SCENE IV

The councilors meet in the Tower to discuss the date for the King’s coronation. Hastings feels secure in Richard’s loyalty.

He believes that he can read Richard’s heart through his appearance. Just then Richard returns and claims that his withered

arm is a sign he has been bewitched by the Queen. When Hastings is slow to agree, Richard pronounces him a traitor and

demands beheading immediately. Hastings also remembers the curse of Margaret.

ACT III, SCENE V

Hastings’s head is brought in and Richard and Buckingham convince the Lord Mayor he was a traitor. Richard urges

Buckingham to follow the Mayor to the City Hall, spread rumors that Edward’s children are illegitimate, and that Edward

is both a lecher, and illegitimate himself.

ACT III, SCENE VI

A scrivener, bearing the indictment for Hastings, says it took longer to write the document then it did for Hastings’s

fortunes to change. Bad things are happening in the world.

ACT III, SCENE VII

Buckingham returns from the City Hall, saying the citizens listened to his insinuations without a word. Finally, some of

his men shouted that Richard should be king, and he took that as the general will. The Mayor waits outside to speak to

Richard, and Buckingham counsels Richard to appear to be uninterested.

When the citizens enter, Richard pretends to be deep in prayer with two clergy and refuses to meet with them. Finally,

after they have sent several messages, he appears before the group to see what they want. Buckingham acts as spokesperson

for the group and offers Richard the throne as his lawful and legal due as a legitimate heir. Richard refuses several times,

until finally Buckingham says that if he will not accept, Edward’s son will never reign. A new family will be installed on

the throne. Richard pretends to give in to the wishes of the assembled group, and he is proclaimed king.

ACT IV, SCENE I

Anne meets Queen Elizabeth and the Duchess of York at the Tower. They have come to visit with the young princes, but

the guard refuses to let them enter. All visitors are barred by Richard’s orders. Meanwhile Stanley arrives to take Anne to

Westminster to be crowned queen. Anne remembers the curse she made that Richard’s wife would know no peace. This

has come true for her.

A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of William Shakespeare’s Richard III 5

ACT IV, SCENE II

Richard, newly crowned king, complains to Buckingham that he cannot truly be king as long as young Edward lives. He

wants Buckingham to consent to the execution of the princes, but Buckingham says he needs time to think.

Richard also decides that he wants to marry Edward’s daughter. Because he must eliminate his wife first, he orders Catesby to

spread a rumor that Anne is very sick. Richard believes things are out of control, but he has committed so many crimes he

cannot turn back. He instructs Tyrrel, an assassin, to murder the princes. When Buckingham comes in and demands the

land and possessions Richard had promised him for his loyalty, Richard refuses to hear him, saying, “I am not in the giving

vein today.” Buckingham thinks of what happened to Hastings and decides to leave the court while he still has his head.

ACT IV, SCENE III

Tyrrel reports that the bloody deed is accomplished and the two young princes are dead. Richard thinks he now has to

marry the daughter of Edward so no one will be able to overthrow him. Just then news comes that Buckingham is

mounting a challenge.

ACT IV, SCENE IV

Queen Margaret, lurking near the palace, learns of the destruction of her enemies. She thinks the deaths of Queen

Elizabeth’s sons repay the deaths of her husband and son, and she reminds Elizabeth how all things have come around so

that she is no longer queen, mother, or wife, and has no subjects to do her will. Now she prophesies the death of Richard

who has caused so many deaths. Elizabeth calls on Margaret to teach her how to curse Richard.

When Richard passes in procession, both Elizabeth and his mother, the Duchess of York, accuse him of committing many

crimes. He listens impatiently, and then tries to convince Elizabeth to counsel her daughter to accept his suit. He uses

devious arguments and Elizabeth relents.

Richmond is invading by sea, and Buckingham is joining with him in rebellion against Richard. Richard fears that Stanley

will prove false too and join the forces against him. Later messengers arrive to report that a great storm has destroyed

Buckingham’s army, and he has been taken prisoner.

ACT IV, SCENE V

Stanley speaks with an ally of Richmond, saying that he would join him, except that Richard has imprisoned his son and

he is powerless to do anything at the present time.

ACT V, SCENE I

As he is led to his execution, Buckingham remembers the day he cursed himself if he should prove false to King Edward

and his children. He accepts the justice of his fate; his wrong acts have brought him to this end.

ACT V, SCENE II

At a camp near Tamworth, Richmond gathers his troops to attack Richard. The nobles speculate that Richard’s allies only

stay with him out of fear and soon will desert him.

ACT V, SCENE III

At Bosworth Field, Richard arrives with his troops and surveys the field while his tent is set up for the night. In another

part of the field, Richmond gathers with his troops and sends a secret message to Stanley who plans to aid Richmond even

as he appears to fight for Richard. As both Richmond and Richard sleep in different parts of the field, ghosts appear,

cursing Richard and wishing Richmond good fortune. Richard wakes in a fearful mood, wanting to spy on his soldiers to

see if they are loyal. Richmond, on the other hand, is rested, full of great confidence in victory. Each leader makes a speech

to his soldiers, and then it is time for the battle. Richard learns that Stanley will not fight, but there is no time to kill his

son—that must wait until after the fighting.

A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of William Shakespeare’s Richard III 6

ACT V, SCENE IV

Richard is thrown from his horse but still refuses to leave the battlefield until he has met and killed Richmond.

ACT V, SCENE V

Richard and Richmond fight until Richard is killed. Stanley takes the crown from Richard’s head and places it on

Richmond, proclaiming him king. Richmond pledges to forge an alliance between the families of York and Lancaster by

marrying Elizabeth and so heal the wounds of division in England.

BEFORE READING

 STUDYING SHAKESPEARE’S LANGUAGE

 Syntax: Some of students’ difficulties with Shakespearean language stem from the complex syntax used to create poetic

effects. Choose some lines from the play. Rearrange the words in a more usual word order, then convert the embedded

phrases and clauses into simple sentences. Add, change, or omit some of the words.

For example:

Act I, ii, 188-192:

Richard: That was in thy rage. Speak it again, and even with the word

This hand, which for thy love did kill thy love,

Shall for thy love kill a far truer love.

Act I, ii, 242-245:

Richard: A sweeter and a lovelier gentleman,

Framed in the prodigality of nature,

Young, valiant, wise, and, no doubt, right royal,

The spacious world cannot again afford.

2. Rhymes: Look at the way in which Shakespeare plays with syntax in order to create rhymes. Find other examples

throughout the play.

Act I, ii, 263-264

Richard: Shine out, fair sun, till I have bought a glass

That I may see my shadow as I pass.

Act III, vii, 232-235

Richard: Your mere enforcement shall acquittance me

From all the impure blots and stains thereof;

For God doth know, and you may partly see,

How far I am from the desire of this.

Arrange some of the speeches in the play into rhyming couplets. Vary and omit words as necessary. Find others throughout

the play.

Act III, iii, 24-25

Rivers: Come, Grey, come Vaughan, let us here embrace.

Farewell, until we meet again in heaven.

Rearranged:

Come, Grey, come Vaughan, let us here embrace.

Farewell, until in heaven we find grace.

Act III, iv, 58-61

Richard: I pray you all, tell me what they deserve

That do conspire my death with devilish plots

Of damned witchcraft, and that have prevailed

Upon my body with their hellish charms.

Rearranged:

I pray you all, tell me what they deserve

That do conspire my death with devilish verve

By damned witchcraft, and that have prevailed

Upon my body and with their hellish charms against me railed.

. Dramatic Irony: Because of Richard’s propensity to say one thing while meaning something else, usually something

sinister, this play is full of dramatic irony. Formulate a definition of dramatic irony from your past experiences reading

and seeing plays. (The effect of dramatic irony is to create tension and anxiety. In some cases the audience knows more

about the situation than the unwitting character and, consequently, feels anxiety and pity for the character. At other times

the use of irony allows the character to mask their real intentions, which are evident to the audience.) Look at several

instances of irony in the play.

For example: Act I, ii, 26-28 Anne curses herself when she curses Richard’s wife. Act I, iv, 4 Clarence predicts his own

death when he says he won’t live another night with such terrible nightmares. Identify other examples of dramatic irony.

WHILE READING

 READER RESPONSE

The following quotations may lead to rich responses:

ACT I

1. “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.” (I, i, 28-31)

2. “Why, this it is when men are ruled by women.” (I, i, 62)

3. “And I no friends to back my suit at all

But the plain devil and dissembling looks,

And yet to win her, all the world to nothing” (I, ii, 235-237)

4. “But then I sigh, and with a piece of Scripture

Tell them that God bids us do good for evil;

And thus I clothe my naked villainy

With odd old ends stol’n forth of holy writ,

And seem a saint when most I play the devil. (I, iii, 333-337)

5. “Methought that Gloucester stumbled, and in the falling

Struck me (that thought to stay him) overboard

Into the tumbling billows of the main.” (I, iv, 18-20)

ACT II

1. “Yet none of you would once beg for his life.

O god, I fear thy justice will take hold

On me and you, and mine and yours, for this!” (II, i, 132-134)

2. “This is the fruits of rashness. Marked you not

How that the guilty kindred of the Queen

Looked pale when they hear of Clarence’ death? (II, i, 136-138)

3. “Ah, that deceit should steal such gentle shape

And with a virtuous visor hide deep vice! (II, ii, 27-28)

4. “Better it were they [uncles] all came by his father,

Or by his father there were none at all;

For emulation who shall now be nearest

Will touch us all too near, if God prevent not.” (II, iii, 23-26)

5. “The tiger now hath seized the gentle hind;

Insulting tyranny begins to jut

Upon the innocent and aweless throne.

Welcome destruction, blood, and massacre!

I see, as in a map, the end of all.” (II, iv, 50-54)

A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of William Shakespeare’s Richard III 12

ACT III

1. “Sweet Prince, the untainted virtue of your years

Hath not yet dived into the world’s deceit;

Nor more can you distinguish of a man

Than of his outward show, which, God he knows,

Seldom or never jumpeth with the heart.” (III, i, 7-11)

2. “Now Margaret’s curse is fall’n upon our heads,

When she exclaimed on Hastings, you, and I,

For standing by when Richard stabbed her son”

(spoken by Grey to Rivers, III, iii, 17-19)

3. “I think there’s never a man in Christendom

Can lesser hide his love or hate than he,

For by his face straight shall you know his heart. (Spoken

by Hastings about Richard, III, iv, 51-53)

4. “Who builds his hope in air of your good looks

Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast,

Ready with every nod to tumble down

Into the fatal bowels of the deep. (III, iv, 97-100)

5. “Here’s a good world the while! Who is so gross

That cannot see this palpable device?

Yet who so bold but says he sees it not?

Bad is the world, and all will come to nought

When such ill dealing must be seen in thought. (III, vi, 10-14)

6. “Your brother’s son shall never reign our king,

But we will plant some other in the throne

To the disgrace and downfall of your house” (III, vii, 214-217)

ACT IV

1. “Lo, ere I can repeat this curse again,

Within so small a time, my woman’s heart

Grossly grew captive to his honey words

And proved the subject of mine own soul’s curse” (IV, i, 77-80)

2. “But I am in

So far in blood that sin will pluck on sin.” (IV, ii. 62-63)

3. “Oh thou well skilled in curses, stay awhile

And teach me how to curse mine enemies!” (IV, iv, 116-117)

4. “Bloody thou art, bloody will be thy end” (IV, iv, 195)

ACT V

1. “That high All-seer which I dallied with

Hath turned my feigned prayer on my head

And given in earnest what I begged in jest.” (V, i, 20-22)

2. “He hath no friends but what are friends for fear,

Which in his dearest need will fly from him” (V, ii, 20-21)

3. “There is no creature loves me;

And if I die, no soul will pity me.

Nay, wherefore should they, since that I myself

Find in myself no pity to myself?” (V, iii, 201-204)

4. “Let not our babbling dreams affright our souls;

Conscience is but a word that cowards use,

Devised at first to keep the strong in awe” (V, iii, 309-311)

5. “A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!” (V, iv, 13)

 Reading for meaning: Student one reads several lines of a character. Student two explains what the character “really” means.

Ex. Lady MacBeth: “Out, out damn spot.”

Explanation: I’ve got to wash this blood off my hands or everybody will know that my husband killed the king.

Richard: “Now is the winter of our discontent

Made glorious summer by this sun of York;

And all the clouds that loured upon our house

In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.

Explanation: Our bad times are over and we have time to enjoy more pleasant things.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Explore character, action, and symbolism more fully.

ACT I

1. What does Richard reveal about his character and motives in his opening speech?

2. What does Richard think of his brothers, King Edward and Clarence? What picture does Richard paint of Edward’s character?

3. Why does Richard insinuate to Clarence that he shouldn’t blame Edward for his imprisonment but the King’s wife, Elizabeth?

4. Why is Hastings willing to ally with Richard?

5. Explain Anne’s change of heart toward Richard. What does this scene between Anne and Richard show about Richard’s personality?

6. What do you learn about the political situation in Edward’s court?

What opportunities does this situation present to Richard? What could be Shakespeare’s purpose in painting this picture

of Edward’s reign?

7. What strategies does Richard use to set his plots in motion? Why are they so effective?

8. Why does Shakespeare bring Queen Margaret into Edward’s court?

What do the reactions of Richard, Queen Elizabeth, Hastings, Buckingham, Rivers, and Dorset reveal about their characters?

9. Why is Clarence having nightmares? What are his fears?

10. What is the purpose of the lengthy conversation, first between the two murderers and then the murderers and Clarence?

How do you feel when you are reading or viewing this scene?

ACT II

1. How does Richard use his information about Clarence’s death to further his plots?

2. Explain Edward’s reaction to the news of Clarence’s death. What sense of justice does Edward suspect is in control of the

lives of all his family and allies?

3. What could be Buckingham’s motive in suggesting that the young prince be brought to London with “some little train”?

4. What is the role of the women and children in this act?

5. Why does Shakespeare include a scene where the citizens discuss the political situation?

A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of William Shakespeare’s Richard III 15

ACT III

1. Compare Hastings’ speech in III, iv, 48-53 with his speech in III, iv, 95-100. What has Hastings realized by the end of

the scene?

2. List the people who die by Richard’s orders in Act III. What does each of them realize as they die? What does this suggest

about the idea of justice presented in the play?

3. How does Buckingham’s speech in III, vii, 24-41 support the Scrivener’s speech at the beginning of the scene? What other

characters in this scene act in ways that bear out the Scrivener’s speech?

4. How does Buckingham in III, vii live up to the boast he makes in III, v, 5-12?

ACT IV

1. What does Anne realize about her relationship with Richard?

2. Why is Richard still not satisfied even when he is crowned king?

3. Why is Buckingham reluctant to do Richard’s bidding when it comes to killing the young prince when he has been willing

to go along with all the other plots?

4. Do you agree or disagree with Margaret’s idea of retributive justice and why?

Must death be answered by death or is there another way justice can come about?

5. Do you think Richard’s arguments to get Elizabeth to woo her daughter in his name work? Why or why not?

ACT V

1. What differences do you see between the camps of Richard and Richmond? What do they suggest about the right order

of leadership?

2. What is the impact of the visits of the ghosts to Richard and Richmond?

3. Compare the speeches of Richmond and Richard to their troops before the battle. What do their choices of words and

arguments suggest about the personalities of the two men?

4. What is Richard’s reaction when the fighting seems to be going against him? What does his reaction show about his character?

Has Richard changed in the course of the action in his motivation or dedication?

5. In the end is Richard totally evil or does his portrayal suggest any admirable traits? Defend your point of view.

AFTER READING