Status Updates From King Richard III

Richard to Buckingham: "My other self [...]
My oracle, my prophet, my dear cousin,
I, as a child, will go by thy direction."

Now I see why this was a common ao3 pairing. (Saying this while including the cousin epithet in my illustrative quote?) But Richard lies to everybody!! At this particular moment, how genuine is he? (How genuine was he when he lovebombed Anne Neville into accepting his proposal? ANNEEee )

Rereading was definitely the right move because now I understand much better what the political alliances are and the identities of the bajillion people all named Edward or Henry. I found out this is Shakespeare's 2nd longest play... you can tell. It drags. Can we give the old king Edward a heart attack already and mooooove oooooooon.

Act I presents Richard and its persuasive and vile heart. Loved the spitting scene with Anne and how dissimulation is his lingua franca.

RICHARD: "Then bid me kill my self, and I will do it."
ANNE: "I have already."
😭😭😭

"Why this it is, when men are ruled by women."

hummm