Date of Award
4-4-2022
Document Type
Thesis
Department
English
First Advisor
L. Monique Pittman
Abstract
Traditional portrayals of William Shakespeare’s Richard III (1592) in film interpret Richard’s physical disability as an outward reflection of his evil. In recent years, disabilities studies scholars have reconsidered the historic association of Richard’s physical deformity with immorality. Unlike previous Richard III films, the BBC’s Hollow Crown: Richard III (Dominic Cooke, 2016) highlights Richard’s mental abuse and trauma. While the film does not shy away from Richard’s villainy, its more empathic depiction of Richard contests the one-dimensional stage and film representation of him as a conniving monster. Ultimately, this film presents Richard III to critique society’s treatment of disabled individuals.
Recommended Citation
Uphus, Taylor E., "A Man Not a Monster : Reimagining Disability in Hollow Crown's Richard III" (2022). Honors Theses. 272.
https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/honors/272
Subject Area
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616--Film adaptations; Richard III, King of England, 1452-1485; Hollow crown : Richard III; Disabilities in literature
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