Shakespeare, Richard III-IX

Love and loyalty

Love and hate are also important themes within the play and both were first introduced by Richard at its outset. Love or some variation thereof appears 88 times in the play; hate or some variation thereof appears 22 times. As we’ve just seen Richard may not love or hate anyone, but he is adept at feigning love and at sowing hate. His speech immediately after the dream sequence has many instances of self-love and self-hatred.