MovieChat Forums > Richard III (1956) Discussion > This shouldn't be taken as real history

This shouldn't be taken as real history

posted 8 years ago by wendyhull-52071
3 replies | jump to latest

The real Richard lll wasn't a one dimensional cartoon villain.

[–] roreyking 8 years ago

The real Richard lll wasn't a one dimensional cartoon villain.

NO! Really? Do you think Macbeth shouldn't be taken as real history either?

LOL! Who takes theatrical treatments of historical figures as "real history"? Dope.

[–] david_colbourne 8 years ago

Well, the first Duke of Marlborough is supposed to have said that the only English history he knew was what he had learned from Shakespeare's plays.

Must have gone to Eton!

[–] Lava-Rocks 8 years ago

Shakespeare was writing for a specific audience. He had to embellish his stories. Historical accuracy was an early victim. He had characters meet in battle who could never have done so, one being dead before the other was born. It is called theatrical licence.

I think Richard III was hamstrung by soldiers though. That part was dead one. He was a hated man.