Abstract
The aim of this paper it to focus on some of the shameful deeds that Richard, the Earl of Gloucester, committed as he aspired to become the king of England, and to consider his deeds from a psycho-analytical standpoint, through a close reading of his monologues and conversations with other characters. Thus, several dialogues are reviewed, but two in particular have been selected for linguistic analysis: one involving Lady Ann, and the other the Duke of Buckingham. There dialogues point out some aspects of Richard' s discourse which demonstrate Shakespeare ' s unique psychological acuity. Three more aspects are discussed: (1) the important role that the Duchess of York, Richard' s mother, played in the early stages of her son' s life, (2) Richard' s first meeting with Lady Ann, which seems to have considerably enlarged his superego and, as a result, probably speeded his downfall and (3) the quality of Lady Ann' s love toward Richard.
