Grieving Women and Protective Mothers: How Queen Margaret Helps Elizabeth Ensure Richard III’s Downfall Puja Harikumar College

Given that Shakespeare’s primary motivation for writing Richard III was less fueled by a desire to accurately depict the objective truth regarding the title character’s short-lived tenure as England’s monarch, than it was by the intention of glorifying the reigning Tudor dynasty, criticizing the extent to which he takes a creative license to the details of history can often seem like a faux pas in literary circles. However, when it comes to Shakespeare’s decision to include Queen Margaret’s presence during the events of Richard’s rise to power, he still has scholars struggling to understand his reasoning behind such a seemingly pointless character inclusion to this very day. Roy E. Ayecock points out, how wedged in her role in the story is, as she was not around to bear witness to Richard’s reign in real life, and only appears in two scenes throughout the entirety of the play (70).

What many fail to realize is that Margaret serves as a catalyst for Richard’s demise by helping Elizabeth Woodville realize the potential she has to orchestrate his downfall. The primary tools of Margaret’s arsenal for revenge as a woman, with no allies or political power, are the advantage she has over her enemies that comes from them thinking of...