The Tragedy of Richard III

"The tragedy of Richard III lies in the progressive isolation of its protagonist". Discuss. From the very opening of the play when Richard III enters "solus", the protagonist's isolation is made clear. Richard's isolation progresses as he separates himself from the other characters and breaks the natural bonds between Man and nature through his efforts to gain power. The first scene of the play begins with a soliloquy, which emphasizes Richard's physical isolation as he …

…with his uncle. This appears to be the greatest tragic loss in the play, which is heightened because of their youth and innocence. The tragedy of the protagonist is felt because of his attractiveness as a villain and as someone who is not constrained by the rules of society. However, the audience never forgets that he is wicked and therefore we cannot feel a sense of great loss of potential or waste in his death.