Richard III by William Shakespeare
"How genuine was the relationship between Richard and Buckingham?"
This essay is to assess how authentic the friendship between the cunning Richard and the apt and able Buckingham, discussing whether they were ever truly friends or whether they were just using each other to get what they wanted. Throughout their so-called "friendship", Richard and Buckingham stood by each other through thick and thin on the course of Richard's rise to the throne. Unfortunately, once Richard realised that he had got as much as he could out of Buckingham, he disposed of him, although they worked closely together and Buckingham did everything possible to help Richard's ascent to be King of England, he reached a certain point of remorse when he was asked to murder the two young princes, one of which was heir to the throne.
Before we note of Richards and Buckingham's friendship kindling only a few scenes in from the beginning of the play, the audience already know of Richard's sinister plans due to his opening soliloquy, advanced dominantly where he admits his motives to becoming King of England.
Elizabeth Freeman (LOC)
English: King Richard III and his family in the co...
English: Buckingham Palace in London, England. tak...The first scene where it is apparent that Richard and Buckingham seem to be on the same wave-length and assisting each other is that of Act I Scene III. We, as the audience, have previously learnt of Richard's powerful determination to get what he wants as he has already planned the striking off of the next in line for the throne, his brother Clarence, and has wooed the heart of Anne, although he murdered her husband and father-in-law during the War of the Roses. These accomplishments are proof enough to show that nothing will stand in Richards's way to get what he wants and it seems as though Buckingham doesn't know what he...