Richard III vs. White Heat

White Heat, a 1949 movie directed by Raoul Walsh is one of the greatest mob movies of all time and draws heavily from the original portrayal of a king mobster, King Richard III, in William Shakespeare's infamous tragedy Richard III.

Parallels can be drawn between many of the characters of each work. First of the main mob boss in White Heat, Cody Jarrett, mirrors Richard III in the tyrannical way he rules and his cutthroat tactics to maintain power. Neither man is opposed to using and then disposing of people, both quickly resorting to killing others when they stand in their way or they have no need for them anymore. Both Richard and Cody even kill their right hand men, Buckingham and Big Ed Somers respectively. These men similarly have mother issues, Cody is a mama's boy whose mom even takes over his position when he is in jail, while Richard is hardened by a mother who opposes him and is appalled by his heinous actions. Finally, each tyrant has a lovely lady, a wife, at his side, although neither of them truly support their man. Both women, Verna Jarrett and Lady Anne have their true loves murdered by the mad men, Big Ed Somers and Edward respectively, but only Anne dies at the hand of her husband while Verna tries to sell him out and luckily survives to tell her tale. In both works, the women of the story are the only ones who can see Richard and Cody for who they truly are, ruthless, power-hungry tyrants, while the other men

Not only are the characters of these two works mirror each other, so does the structure of the stories themselves. Both stories feature the general arc of the tyrant’s rise to power, their prime, and their downfall. White Heat opens when Cody is already in his prime so you do not get to see as much of the building process as you do in Richard III, as you see him methodically plot to gain more power and become king. While in their prime both men are still not content because they are paranoid about those closest to them and are anxious about the possibility of their downfall. When each man falls he falls hard, the conclusion of each tyrant’s reign is marked by his death. In White Heat, Hank Fallon describes Cody’s death, saying that he, “finally got to the top of the world, and it blew up right in his face.” While Cody dies in a blaze of glory, Richard’s death is not as spectacular, he faces Richmond in a fight and loses, thereby losing his life along with the war. Regardless, both men died as a direct result of their poor decisions as rulers, selfish endeavors made in the attempt to satisfy their insatiable greed for power.

Richard III Act II Study Guide

Character Study: (Personalities, Actions, and Relationship to Richard)

King Edward IV

• Personalities: he is calming and a level headed king
• Actions: he tries to get Queen Elizabeth and Richard, and their men, to talk it out and resolve their feud before he dies; he feels immense guilt for Clarence’s death

• Relationship to Richard: brother to Richard

Richard III

• Personalities: deceitful (he lies to everyone and makes them feel bad for him), conniving, evil, bored (with no more war he occupies his time with his evil plans), enjoys chaos, self-critical (he sees himself as a deformed mistake)

• Actions: all of his actions and decisions are in the interest of how to get himself into power so that he can rule as king

• Relationship to Richard: name of Richard once he becomes king, former Duke of Gloucester  

Buckingham (Duke)

• Personalities: loyal to Richard, smart and creative with deceitful and political plans

• Actions: he works with Richard to help him ship away the princes and help him get in a position to take the throne as king for himself

• Relationship to Richard: he is Richard’s right hand man, he helps him become king

Queen Elizabeth (formerly the Lady Grey)

• Personalities: blunt and unyielding (in Act 1 Scene 3 she doesn’t shy away from giving Richard a piece of her mind)
• Actions: she tries to make peace with Richard until Edward dies; when she finds out Richard trapped her son’s and brother in the tower she starts plotting how to kick Richard out of power

• Relationship to Richard: Edward's (IV, brother of Richard) wife, mother of Prince Edward (V) and Richard (Duke of York)

Duchess of York

• Personalities:she is sweet and hopeful that Richard, her son, is good and can be trusted
• Actions: she talks to Queen Elizabeth, and is there when she hears the news about her son’s imprisonment.

• Relationship to Richard: mother of Richard, Edward, and Clarence

HONORS ONLY:

Literary Analysis: Read the following scenes closely. Study the persuasive strategy that Richard employs to win Anne over (what arguments work on her?) Also, identify at least five examples of figurative language in the text (alliteration, simile, irony, etc.). For each of these scenes also consider how Richard convinces others of his good intentions. For each passage, write a 6-7 sentence analysis explaining what you discover.

Examples of Figurative Language

1. Alliteration: “And, princely peers, a happy time a day.” (2.1.49
2. Irony: “Who knows not he is dead! Who knows he is?” (2.1.84)
3. Personification: “To reconcile me to his friendly peace.” (2.1.61)
4. Metaphor: “The tiger now hath seized the gentle hind.” (2.4.55)
5. Metaphor: “themselves the conquerors / Make war upon themselves, brother to brother, / Blood to blood, self against self.” (2.4.66-68)

1. Act II scene I lines 54 – 97, 138 – 144

• In this scene Richard initially convinces others of his good intentions by working with Hastings and Buckingham to vow to make and keep peace with Queen Elizabeth and her kindred while they are in the dying King Edward IV’s royal court. Later on in the scene Richard convinces others of his good intentions by pushing the blame of Clarence’s murder from his brother King Edward to the Queen’s kingsmen.  

2. Act II, scene iv, lines 54-70

• In this scene Richard convinces others of his good intentions by claiming that he imprisoned Queen Elizabeth’s brother Rivers, her son Grey, and Sir Thomas Vaughan in the tower in order to keep them safe.

Study Questions:

1. What does Richard blame Elizabeth for in Act II and how might this be strategically important?

• In Act II Richard blames Elizabeth for Clarence's death, this might be strategically important because it pits those supporting him and his brother further against Elizabeth and casts the doubt away from him, both giving him a greater opportunity to gain power in the future.

2. What is ironic about everyone’s behavior in front of King Edward when he is trying to reconcile the members of his family?

• Everyone’s behavior in front of King Edward when he is trying to reconcile the members of his family is ironic because Queen Elizabeth and her kindred and Hastings, Buckingham, and Richard were striking a vow to make and keep a peace among themselves, up until they find out that Clarence has been killed and they turn the blame for his death on each other.

3. What does Elizabeth find out at the end of Act II which has her anticipating “destruction” and the end of all?

• At the end of Act II Elizabeth finds out that Richard has imprisoned Queen Elizabeth’s brother Rivers, her son Grey, and Sir Thomas Vaughan, forcing her to flee to sanctuary with her son the Duke of York, this has her anticipating “destruction” and the end of all.

4. How does the Duchess seem to feel about her son Richard?

• The Duchess seems to feel that her son Richard is not at fault for what Queen Elizabeth accuses him of; she doesn;t seem very fond of him but she isn’t on the attack like Elizabeth is.

Quotes: For each of the following quotes, indicate WHO said the quote and its SIGNIFICANCE.

1. “Tis death to me to be at enmity; I hate it, and desire all good men's love.”

• Said by: Richard (2.1.62-63)
• Significance: This shows Richards attempts to fool people of his goals, saying that it kills him to be enemies with Elizabeth and that all he wants is for everyone to love him, in order to get people on his side and get them to not suspect him for Clarence’s death.

2. “Dissemble not your hatred, swear your love.”

• Said by: King Edward (2.1.8)
• Significance: Edward wants Elizabeth and Richard, and their people, to do more than just not hate each other and not fight, he wants them to love each other.

3. “Ah, that deceit should steal such gentle shape, and with a virtuous visor hide deep vice.”

• Said by: Duchess (2.2.28-29)
• Significance: She is hinting that it is a shame that someone so evil can lie so well and put on a face of friendliness, like Richard does (she can see through his lies).

4. (aside) “And make me die a good old man! That is the butt end of a mother's blessing; I marvel that her Grace did leave it out.”

• Said by: Richard (2.2.112-114)
• Significance: He says he hopes he lives a long life, and dies old, and that that is something a mother should wish upon her son, and he comments how he is surprised she left it out.

5.  “Small herbs have grace; great weeds do grow / apace.' / And since, methinks I would not grow so fast / Because sweet flowers are slow and weeds make / haste.”

• Said by: York (2.4.14-18)
• Significance: It is a metaphor for the difference in Richard, an ugly but fast rising man, vs. the prince, a beautiful but slow rising boy.

6. “Ay me! I see the ruin of my house.../ Welcome destruction, blood and massacre/ I see, as in a map, the end of all.”

• Said by: Queen Elizabeth (2.4.54-59)
• Significance: This shows Queen Elizabeth;s realization of Richards plan to destroy her family, she prophesied the destruction and death he will cause (her son’s) and says the future is very clear to her now.”

7. “And being seated, and domestic broils / Clean overblown, themselves the conquerors / Make war upon themselves, brother to brother, / Blood to blood, self against self.”

• Said by: Duchess (2.4.65-68)

• Significance: The Duchess prophecies that once Richard succeeds in winning the throne he will have war with himself and those who helped him gain the throne.

Scarface Guide Questions

1. Note the stylized use of black and white cinematography. What are some effective examples of this cinematography?  Note in particular a few examples of the use of the ‘X’ symbol to symbolize murder in the film.
1. The stylized use of black and white cinematography created a shady film noir vibe which allowed for a constant feeling like terror was hiding in the shadows ready to steal its next victim through mob violence. Very interestingly whenever a character was about to die a “X” symbol was displayed in the shot by using the black and white shadows of either darkness or light to emphasize the eminent fate of the character, acting as a recurring symbol for murder throughout the film.
2. How does the movie attempt to position itself as condemning gang violence and the government’s response to it?
1. The movie attempts to position itself as condemning gang violence and the government’s response to it by showing the intense violence between the mob and government, and showing how both sides suffer many meaningless deaths, specifically be making Tony die a coward rather than in a blaze of glory as they had originally wanted to).  
3. What specific actions must Comonte take to ascend the ranks of power in the mob?
1. To ascend the ranks of power in the mob Comonte has to betray his superiors, those he had pledged to protect, and take power by killing those who stand in his way and scare and bribe others to follow his new lead.
4. What moment indicates Tony’s passions getting the better of him while simultaneously taking his penchant for excessive violence too far?
1. The moment that indicates Tony’s passions are getting the better of him while simultaneously taking his penchant for excessive violence too far is when Tony is yelling at his sister for dressing in a revealing dress and letting other men look at her that way, when he rips her dress revealing her brassiere.
5. Note the repeated use of the phrase, “expensive, eh?”. Why is this important to Camonte’s character?
1. The repeated use of the phrase, “expensive, eh?” is important to Camonte’s character because it emphasizes the importance he puts on being able to afford and be the best, the idea that he doesn't want anything to be to expensive for him to acquire.
6. Identify TWO of Camonte’s trademarks as a mobster. How does he use this trademark to strike fear into his opponents?
1. Two trademarks of Camonte as a mobster are his thirst for power, money, and respect. Camonte begins his rise to power by using force to bully the bar owners to buy his booze, giving him more money and therefore more power to wield over his opponents and strike fear into their hearts. Camonte also strives to gain respect as he gains more power and the increase in respect for him correlates with the increase in fear of him.  
7. Many critics have noted the bizarre and somewhat perverse relationship between Camonte and his sister. What are some examples of this relationship?  Why was this included in the film?
1. Some examples of the bizarre and somewhat perverse relationship between Camonte and his sister are when he won’t let her date men, he won’t let her dress in any way that makes her attractive to other men because he doesn’t think she should be letting them look at her, basically he is a over controlling brother who wants to micromanage all of his sister’s life so that no other man can come between them. This is included in the film to further fight against glorifying the gangster, by making the viewer grossed out by Camonte and how he treats his sister then the viewer is less inclined to look up to Camonte as someone they want to be.
8. Were the censors correct in contending that the film glorifies violence or glorifies the mobster too much? Explain your opinion with specific examples.
1. No, the censors were incorrect in contending that the film glorifies violence or glorifies the mobster too much because it doesn’t idealize Camonte or make him a character you want to follow or become because they make him gross with his relationship with his sister and his ultimate destruction and death as a direct result of the mistakes he made, and the people he crossed, due to his thirst for power and wealth.
9. What message is on the sign outside Camonte’s window and what is ironic about its inclusion in the final scene?
1. The message on the sign outside Camonte’s window that says, “The World is Yours,” is ironic due to its conclusion in the final scene because once he finally amassed enough power to believe that the world is his, that is the turning point of his downfall because he becomes cocky and lazy and it results in him being vulnerable and weak and ultimately easily defeatable, showing that no one can truly gain or hold the control of the world.
10. Contrast the real ending to the alternate ending of the movie. Which ending is more satisfying and why? Which is more consistent with Camonte’s character?  Finally, consider the final moments of the DePalma version as well. Why does the filmmaker decide to make his version of the movie differently and how does it change the feelings of the viewer at the conclusion of the movie?
1. The alternative ending is more entertaining to watch because watching Camonte die in a blaze of glory is the iconic ending of Scarface, although I think regardless of the ending neither glorifies the gangster enough to make Camonte a character that viewers should want to embody or follow because regardless he dies.
2. The alternate ending is more consistent with Camonte’s character because he is in it for the glory so he would rather go out with a bang than as a coward, though either way he was cowardly in his approach to power, such as when he killed his sister's husband to keep control over her.
3. The final moments of the DePalma version follows the alternate ending of the original movie, keeping with the version in which Camonte dies in a blaze of glory while fighting off a ton of gangsters and police. The filmmaker decides to make this version of the movie differently by having him almost succeed and then when he gets too sure of his own success someone comes from behind and kills him point blank, thereby changing the feelings of the viewer at the conclusion of the movie because it shows that no matter how on top of the world he feels he can be taken down like any other man, therefore counteracting the glorification of the gangster.

Richard III Act 3 Scene 7 Group Questions

1. What did Richard and Buckingham fail to do in the beginning of the scene?
1. Richard and Buckingham failed to persuade London’s citizens and officials that Richard should be king.
2. What is Richard and Buckingham’s next strategy to get Richard to be king, is it successful?
1. Richard and Buckingham stage a scene of Richard's great piety, resulting in the Mayon pleading for Richard to accept the kingship, which Richard ultimately “yields” to.
3. What does Buckingham say to try and discredit the Prince’s claim to the throne, and strengthen Richard’s?
1. Buckingham alludes to the questionability of the Prince’s bloodline, claiming that because his father had slept around a lot he might be a bastard and therefore not of pure bloodline to rule, like Richard is.