Media project
In Richard III, the character King Richards is portrayed by the writer through his deformed figure. The character is portrayed in a stereotypical manner since the play attaches negativity to his body and clearly emphasizes it (Williams, 2009).
The ethical issue raised in this portrayal includes attaching the dignity and character of someone to his deformity rather than realizing the difference between the individual’s character and their deformed body.
The labeling in this novel is depicted where the writer relates the deformity of king Richards to his evil ways as if tending to blame the deformity to the character traits of this person.
The character is indicated as having tough relationships with both with his close people and the country. The portrayed attitude towards his deformity and moral depravity seems to have affected the way he relates with people. He manipulates other characters in the play and is portrayed as injuring others to his own advantage (Smith, 2012).
If the character were to read they way he is portrayed as his worst enemy, he would feel self-pity and burdensome to the society. This is upon his realization that he would have to be disposed of having no value or positive contribution to the community.
An average person’s reaction towards this portrayal would involve feeling sympathetic for the character due to his struggling with opposition and distrust from the people he is ruling. If only the individual would be healed of the deformity people would love and trust their king.
To change this portrayal would involve having the character cease from blaming his moral depravity on his deformity. The writer would have to portray the king as embracing the physical disability and overcoming the stereotypical perception people have about him.
Reference
Williams, K. (2009).Enabling Richard: The Rhetoric of Disability in Richard III. Retrieved from: http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/997/1181
Smith, E. (2012). The Cambridge Shakespeare guide. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
