The role of prophecy in Shakespeare?s The Tragedy of King Richard the Third

Abstract

This study of The Tragedy of King Richard the Third concludes that Shakespeare makes extensive use of the various facets of prophecy in his play. He does so for the purpose of giving his drama unity and of giving his audiences the feelings of anticipation and foreboding. He also uses the various facets of prophecy to recapitulate what has already happened in a complicated story. The use of prophecies, curses, and dreams thus contributes to the dramatic effectiveness of William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of King Richard the Third.