In Shakespeare's Richard III, Richard Gloucester is portrayed as a twisted, calculating, and conniving individual who will stop at nothing to gain the crown. From betraying his brother George to courting the widowed Lady Anne, Richard is highly unscrupulous in his pursuit of the throne. Although his evilness is evident, his careful plans allow him to carry out his plans unnoticed, hinting at his intellectual grace. Although Richard often complains of his physical ugliness and deformity, his skillful manipulation of those around him demonstrates a sensitivity to their weaknesses, masked by his unwavering charisma. Richard successfully eliminates each of his political opponents, whether through flattery, betrayal, or deception, and ultimately reclaims his place on the throne; these are his Three “Thanks”. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In Greek mythology, the Three Graces referred to a trio of sister goddesses, known to be "givers of charm and beauty" ("Grace"). As evidenced by the following selected passages from Scenes 1-3 of the first Act of Richard III, Richard conceals his true intentions by feigning a harmless and charming persona, subtly influencing those around him to further his plot. The first iteration of “grace” occurs after Richard's opening soliloquy, after he divulges his plans at the end of the Civil War. In the passage, Richard hastily reminds himself to return to his honest facade as his brother, called Clarence, approaches: “Dive, thoughts, to my soul: here comes Clarence. / Brother, have a good day. What does this armed guard / who awaits your grace mean? (1.1.41-43). Within this quote, “grace” is used “as a title of address, representing Richard's awareness of the social expectations placed on him as Duke of Gloucester. The smooth transition from his bitter monologue to the polite greeting, as well as the coherence of the iambic pentameter, also demonstrates Richard's astute judgment and skillful mind, as he nimbly juggles two characters. In this way, Richard not only avoids suspicion regarding his involvement in Clarence's imprisonment, but also sets the stage for further deception as Richard plots his brother's eventual murder. In the next scene, Richard says a slightly different variation of "grace" in order to convince Lady Anne to marry him. The two engage in a bitter battle of wits, as the sad Lady Anne berates Richard for killing her husband, Prince Edward, and her father-in-law, the late King Henry VI. After dispelling Lady Anne's anger with a shower of compliments, Richard slips the ring on her finger and asks her to let him complete the funeral arrangements for King Henry VI: "And if your poor devoted servant can / But beg a favor from thy gentle hand, / Thou confirmest his happiness forever” (1.2.191-196) The use of “gracious” within this passage refers to the qualities of kindness, courtesy, and charity (“gracious”). ") and serves to exemplify the extent to which Richard's tact and charm can influence even the most reluctant people. In this case, Richard's successful courtship of Lady Anne allows him to avoid the "hand" of justice and to get his “hand” in marriage, thus showing how Richard’s silver-tongued flattery paved the way for him to achieve his political goals, one after another. Finally, “grace” appears once again time when Richard lashes out against Queen Elizabeth ei.