Shakespeare shaped Richard III around the social, historical, and political context that both himself and his original audience inhabited. Shakespere portrays Ritchard as a villain and supports his own queen, Queen Elizabeth. Al Pachino’s film “Looking for Richard” is aimed at the 21st century audience and is about bringing shakespere to the public’s eye. In his film, he portrays his understanding of the important values in the play, even though they might seem different at the surface. The reason for this shift in appearance is because of the change in context. The nature of evil is very evident throughout the play and is also emphasised throughout the film. This is because it created interest to the reader no-matter what context they are situated in. The status of women and their role in the social hierarchy is also explored throughout the play and clearly evident throughout Pachino’s film.
The role of women is important in any society and context. Although it is important, it can be viewed differently by different people especially in totally different contexts. Shakespeare values women and views them as smart, and persuasive. This is evident when Lady Anne is getting pressure by Richard into marrying him. Anne has power over language and ends up marrying Richard, not because she is fooled by him but because of the political advancements and the hierarchy she will obtain. [quote]. Her power over language is evident by her use of rhyming couplets and metaphors. Because of the change in context, Feminism and equalitarianism have been introduced. Due to this, it is expected that in LFR, women would have a less important part to play. This is evident and Anne who was a master of words and a political strategist, now becomes a young immature girl who is able to forgive Richard for murdering her husband and father and fall helplessly in love. Pachino removes almost all of her speaking parts and views her as an object, “ill have her but I will not keep her for long”....