Shakespearean Wordplay and the Art of Persuasion: An Analysis of Rhetoric in Act IV, Scene IV of Richard III

In the Modern era, an intense reverence for William Shakespeare and his works-a condition sometimes called Bardolatry -pervades the academic realm, from high school classrooms to universities. As it manifests itself in the public, an aspect of this condition seems to be an appreciation for and a keen interest in the ways in which Shakespeare manipulates language to the benefit of his characters and his themes. In this essay, I examine that element of the Bard\u27s work in microcosm. Focusing on Act IV, Scene IV of Richard III, I attempt to bring to light the subtleties and nuances of Shakespearean rhetoric and wordplay by examining an argument between King Richard and Queen Elizabeth. Tracking the argument to its end, I aim to explicate how each character uses certain rhetorical devices to gain the upper hand-devices that are, needless to say, thoroughly Shakespearean