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Nikesh Patel
Father Ross Pribyl, S.J.
Shakespeare – Period 4
February 23, 2007
The Role of Queen Margaret in Richard III
Queen Margaret is essential to Richard III because she is the ultimate symbol of tragedy,
rage, and fatalism, the unifying themes of the play. Margaret’s husband and son are both dead,
leaving her with no power or authority in England. Unlike the other characters in the play,
Margaret has no opportunity to regain influence; consequently, she is the only primal
representation of tragedy. This position allows her the unique opportunity to objectively judge
Richard, Queen Elizabeth, and their constituents. Following Buckingham’s request for Margaret
to stop the curses, she responds, “My charity is outrage, life my shame, and in that shame still
live my sorrows’ rage” (I. iii. 295-296). This quote exemplifies Margaret as not only a defeated
and tragic character, but also as an angry and vengeful woman. Her rage is unique among the
other characters because of its universal nature, a trait that establishes Margaret as the
embodiment of rage and revenge in Richard III. Shakespeare’s development of Margaret as a
character of such emotional and thematic extremes underscores her purpose as the source of
fatalism in the play. After being insulted by Richard, Margaret responds with the curse, “Thy
friends suspect for traitors while thou liv’st, and take deep traitors for thy dearest friends” (I. iii.
234-235). This quote exhibits the true thematic power of Margaret, as her simple curse
eventually manifests itself as Richard’s fate. Without the symbolic presence of Margaret and her
curses, Richard III would be a fundamentally different play in its significance and style.
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The exclusion of Queen Margaret and her curses from Richard III would alter the
meaning of the play and affect an audience’s interpretation and enjoyment of the performance.
Margaret serves as the source of fatalism in Richard III, a major thematic and plot component of
the play. Without her curses, Richard III would lose the prophetic element of the story, a crucial
factor when tracing Richard’s identity as a tragic hero. Although her appearances in Richard III
are infrequent, Margaret also provides guidance for the story’s development. After Richard
refers to his elite birthright putting him close to the sun, Margaret responds “And turns the sun to
shade” (I. iii. 283). This quote exemplifies Margaret’s central position for developing motifs in
the play. Without her guidance, audiences would find little thematic or symbolic continuity in
the play. Removing her curses and character would also affect the audience’s enjoyment of the
play. Margaret’s fanatic character image and colorful language appeal to the audience, such as
in her cursing of Richard, “Thou elvish-marked, abortive, rooting hog” (I. iii. 239). Without
Queen Margaret, Richard III would lose much of its appeal to the working class, Shakespeare’s
original audience. Margaret’s presence is critical not only for thematic unity, but also for
maintaining the production’s stylistic integrity during performance. An audience cannot fully
learn from Richard’s downfall without Margaret’s presence or her curses. Without Margaret,
Richard is not a tragic hero.
Word Count: 487