work was, hence, significant as it laid the foundation for latter forms of propaganda, as it acted as the primary influence of Thomas More’s ‘The History of King Richard III’.The work of Thomas More was arguably more significant than that of John Rous in manifesting Richard’s tyrannical image. More successfully cemented the position of the Tudor dynasty by developing Rous’ ideas surrounding Richard’s deformity, using it as a way to discredit Richard III in order to glorify Henry VII’s victory during the Battle of Bosworth. More’s work was also significant in the sense that it acted as the main source of inspiration for Shakespeare’s play,‘Richard III’, which plays heavily on the ideas of deformity echoed in the works of both Rous and More. Paintings as a form of propaganda were also significant as they had the ability to portray Richard as a bad moral example, and influence the perception of past events. Despite this, their impact is not comparable to that of Shakespeare in terms of their accessibility. Such galleries were typically located in the homes of wealthy aristocrats, and therefore the paintings had a narrower scope in regards to their impact during the Tudor period (42). In contrast, Shakespeare’s plays were of more impact due to their widespread accessibility to people of both the high and low social orders.Therefore, after evaluating the different forms of propaganda, it can be concluded that Shakespeare played the most significant role in portraying Richard III as a tyrant. Shakespeare was able to successfully manifest Richard as a tyrant, using the idea of deformity to discredit Richard and his reign, and, as a result, solidifying the Tudor position. However, the work of Shakespeare would not have been possible without the influence of the likes of both Thomas More and John Rous, who undoubtedly underpinned Shakespeare’s ‘Richard III’.
examination concluded that Richard’s abnormal stature was probable, due to adolescent-onset idiopathic scoliosis, which would have developed around the age of 12.This eliminates the proposal made by the likes of Rous, claiming that Richard’s was a mere birth defect, and his reign was prematurely plagued as a result.Additionally, experts stated that although the Cobb angle was drastic, it was not critical enough to prevent him from engaging in demanding physical activity, like that of going to battle. In addition, Shakespeare’s reference to Richard having a “withered arm” was not shown in the skeletal analysis and therefore can be deduced as an exaggeration to further vilify the character of Richard in the play (41). Which form of propaganda was the most significant? Overall, it can be concluded that the role of Shakespeare was the most significant form of Tudor propaganda portraying Richard III as a tyrant. He targeted Richard III’s deformity to signify his tyrannical and despotic rule. Shakespeare’s additional description of Richard at birth, (to have been equipped with a full set of teeth), describing him as a “foul lump of deformity,” predetermined the nature of his rule to be despotic and plagued from the beginning. His portrayal of Henry Tudor is the antithesis of Richard’s, as Shakespeare cultivates a valiant image of the Tudor successor, having saved England from Richard’s oppressive rule. By doing this, Shakespeare was significant in bolstering the Tudor regime by portraying Henry to have restored stability, which quietened the speculation surrounding the alteration of the line of succession and the weak Tudor claim. He hence portrayed the succession of Henry Tudor not as an usurpation, like Richard III, but instead a conquest to restore stability. Shakespeare’s high yield of influence also contributed to his significance in the blackening of Richard III’s reputation. His plays were widely accessible to the English populace, which allowed for the widespread circulation of ideas expressed within the play. However, the roles of both Rous and Thomas More were also highly significant as they acted as the main source of inspiration for Shakespeare’s ‘Richard III’.The work of John Rous was arguably the root of Richard’s ‘deformity’, also stating that the reign of Richard III was plagued from the onset due to his far from normal birth. Rous’
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