Shakespeare's Richard III - A look at the Duke of Gloucester's soliloquy in HENRY VI by Shakespeare

If you are worried about reading Shakespeare, or are not a native English speaker and think Shakespeare is beyond you, you will want to watch this video.
In this installment of Tristan and the Classics, we take a look at the Duke of Gloucester's (aka Richard III) speech in Shakespeare's play Henry VI act III with the famous line "and set the murderous Machiavel to school."
When Shakespeare decides to put words into the mouths of nobles the effect is wondrous. Richard, Duke of Gloucester is no exception. In fact he is one of the most vibrant characters ever written. His cunning, eloquence, and evil is both fascinating and amusing to behold.
Enjoy!

[@lucyssweetjournaling]

Yay! I love it when you do Shakespeare.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

He is the best!

[@mtnshelby7059]

This is fantastic, thank you so much. I cannot believe this brilliant speech has escaped my notice all these years. You really have a gift for explaining complex subjects while bringing them to life. That's a talent.

[@ChrisHunt4497]

Magnificent! I think reading out loud this soliloquy each morning is al that is needed to set me up for the day. To make me energised, focused and motivated - better than any modern ideas about affirmations. Fantastic, thanks.

[@patriciatolliver4057]

Patty-I love the Bard. He is my favorite classic author. Always has been, always will. I learned to love him when I was in theater during high school. I love the way you talk about him in your videos. It's so obvious how much you appreciate him. Thank you, and I'm glad you are back and feeling better.

[@andyalam5074]

You are absolutely a master. Why don’t you pick one play and do a line by line series for that entire work? I’m really getting into Shakespeare from your videos. ☝️🥃

[@elainemcfarlane9805]

Tristan, love, love your Shakespeare analyses. Really helps my understanding and enables me to enjoy performances even more. Thank you.

[@cynthiazocca4352]

Absolutely wonderful presentation. Throughly enjoyed and learned alot. The passion you put into it...marvellous. looking at Richard again. Many thanks.

[@Leebearify]

Super well done, thank you !!

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Pleased you enjoyed it Lee!😃👍

[@melissafrye5752]

Congratulations and Thank you! This is the first time in my whole life that i'm excited to read Shakespeare! You have opened my mind to really understanding the language! I'm so glad you are back!

[@KitNMagick]

I 😍 your enthusiasm in teaching this Richard character 👏❣️🙏💯💯💯

[@Dericulus]

Even just having a passing familiarity with Game of Thrones and having only started my journey through Shakespeare, immediately i see that Game of Thrones takes right from this play in its character of Tyrion Lannister (youngest brother who is deformed that lusts for the throne). Supported by the fact that George R. R. Martin is a known fan of history, so it's unlikely he didn't or doesn't take inspiration from these histories. All that to say, I'm constantly surprised at how fresh Shakespeare is and continues to be. It's almost scary how timeless it proves to be.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

You are right! I think Martin himself said he drew on Richard iii. As for the timeless nature of Shakespeare, I think it's because he understood his fellow humans so deeply that he lasts. We haven't changed one iota.

[@Dericulus]

@@tristanandtheclassics6538 Did he? I hadn't heard that before. Even better that he did. Now I don't look like a fool. Shots in the dark hit only as often as they need to. And that's proving to be true. Which could also mean that the day we as a society no longer relate to these themes and characters of othe classic stories, we'll know that we've, as a species, reached a point we can't turn back from. And if that's the case, I've never been so glad to be so far from the point of progress.

[@antoninima9007]

I love these Shakespeare analysis videos! When, and which speech will you cover next! 😍

[@lilybarth4272]

Merci Tristan , You've done a tremendous job and I really enjoyed this video. Brilliant ! I discovered your channel a few months ago and I watched the one you made about Mark Anthony Speech ... Which was so fascinating. I"ve already subscribed to your channel and try to watch your videos when I've got spare time. Thanks again for all the time you spend making these incredible videos.

[@ShaizaShamim]

This was lovely, thank you so much!❤

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@marjoriedonnett5467]

Thank you for this video! Richard III is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays (along with Julius Caesar). I have three film versions of Richard III and I can't decide which I love best! Lovely!

[@VincentComet-l8e]

It’s a pretty amazing use of language isn’t it! And Olivier does a really terrific job of that speech in Richard III…

[@ralphjenkins1507]

❤ the Bard !

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

He's the best by far.

[@stefashaler8340]

Wonderful. Thank you.

[@margueritespringer3687]

You're a joy to look and listen to ❤

[@Ygnez]

Great stuff! Keep them comming for all shapespeare plays! :D

[@JanHowe-ll3zr]

Loved it. Thank you.

[@errata9968]

Thank-you I loved this. Love your enthusiasm.

[@elainemcfarlane9805]

I find these analyses so, so helpful. Please do more of them Tristan when you're feeling up to it. I

[@josephharley9448]

This is simply brilliant.

[@tombuckles6985]

love this channel. I recognized parts of this soliloquy from Olivier's film version of the Winter of our Discontent soliloquy, which borrows liberally from this soliloquy, for an ultra-Richard speech.

[@genemcn3579]

Love Shakespeare, Love Richard III, Love this soliloquy.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Awesome! This soliloquy is used by Laurence Olivier at the beginning of the film Richard iii and is attached to the opening of that play. It was too good to not put in.

[@Beesmakelifegoo]

You are awesome! Thank you very much.

[@veronicagarcia2025]

Wonderful video! It's a delightful. Like You've been saying as spanish speeker, i'm always intimidanting by Shakespeare's work. A couple years ago i tried to read Don Quijote and i just couldn't get through it (cause the old spanish language that was written) . And that's why makes me hesitate, because if i couldn't get through it in spanish how can i make it in English?. Saludos from México ❤

[@kirenireves]

If people want more of this kind of "translation" from Shakespeare to a common-man explanation, have a look at the series of study books called "No Fear, Shakespeare".

[@MsKK909]

You’re a better actor than you think……very enjoyable!

[@jessica.2673]

Please talk about Cleopatra and julius ceaser my favorite play ♡♡

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Great Idea!!!

[@joyceredman2136]

Bravo!

[@a.sharma474]

Too good❤️

[@MsKK909]

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could resurrect Shakespeare and keep him just long enough for him to write a work on the Harry and Meghan debacle? It contains so many examples of the human condition gone wrong….which was The Bard’s speciality. What magic he could write for us!

[@nedmerrill5705]

Dogs bark at him in the street. He's just a spare. How would you turn out? Sounds like _Kind Hearts and Coronets._

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Totally! I just love how he is so self aware and yet openly transparent with the audience.

[@shadunduwayo5084]

I love be it all. Did you do the whole play? Any link? Thanks so so a lot.

[@josephharley9448]

How is yer back,me old mucker ?

[@xaviercrain7336]

Sirens are birds hence the song and mermaids are not…and it is sirens in the Greek epics…so let us watch for misrepresentation

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

You are right. The sirens are traditionally held to be half human half birds. Though in the first mention of them in Homers Odyssey, there is no description. Some Greek works refer to them as human/fish like tritonesses, their music coming from the playing of the lyre. By Shakespeare's day, the more common view of sirens was as mermaids. However I truly appreciate your comment as it is more technically accurate.👍

[@susprime7018]

Oh that scamp Richard, naturally he blames his Mother, should have left his murdering behind under the car park. Apologies to Josephine Tey in Daughter of Time, Richie was guilty as sin. Thank you, enjoyed it very much.

[@nicoleroth3127]

While I disagree with your opinion that Richard murdered his nephews, let's agree to disagree instead.

[@margaretgaskin4928]

This is all great, but Edward IV is, famously, a wencher: "lustful". Richard's line about Edward using women honorably is ironic. And Henry is not in the Yorkist line for the throne. Henry is a Lancastrian - and Henry's son dies at the Battle of Tewkesbury. Very complicated family!

[@josephharley9448]

To use one of your fancy things, in the words of Liam Neeson if you do not love "the grass arena" by john Healey I will find you,, i will track you down ............