Shakespeares Language in Richard III

Shakespeare’s Language in Richard III

In Richard III, Shakespeare shows his ability to use language to make his characters more engaging and interesting, through their dialogue. This is very apparent in the character known as “Second Murderer” in Scene Four in Act One. In this scene, the murderer has a moment of wavering resolve, and almost changes his mind about carrying out the murder he was hired to perform. His exchange with his partner shows the intricate nature of his inner turmoil, enhanced by Shakespeare’s masterful use of language. The translated version of the play, “No Fear Shakespeare”, attempts to re-write the play in such a way that main plot is more easily understood by readers. Unfortunately, this drastically decreases the effectiveness of the dialogue, as the true wit behind the language is lost.

When the two murderers who are sent to kill Clarence are having a moment of guilt before executing their mission, the First Murderer says “I’ll back to the duke of Gloucester and tell them so” and the Second Murder replies,

“Nay, I prithee stay a little. I hope this passionate humor of mine will change. It was wont to hold me but while one tells twenty.”

The “No Fear” version of the play interprets this reply as

“Please, just wait a minute. I’m hoping my holy mood will pass. It usually only lasts about twenty seconds.”

In the original text, the Second Murderer hoping that his “passionate humor…will change,” depicts him as a person who thinks that his moment of compassion is laughable, as he should, being that he is a murderer, but, in the “No Fear” text, his description of this moment as a “holy

mood” could lead the reader to believe that he is honestly contemplating his actions. While he does hesitate to carry out his mission in the