Richard III: Now is the winter of our discontent
‘Looked at one way, Richard III belongs to a distant world of medieval politics, obscure chronicles and vanished theatrical traditions. But from another angle his story still speaks to a contemporary world, which views politicians and their schemes with mistrust and looks for reassurances about the power of good to overcome evil. The need for some kind of providential logic to events is deep, even if it is not sustained by the religious faith of our ancestors. We do not like to think of tyrants ending their days in comfortable retirement. We would much prefer to see them vanquished by the righteous in battle, even if they go into it with the kind of wild courage that Richard does. There is no shortage of power-hungry and ruthless politicians and executives today. Over 400 years since its composition, Richard III still tells us a story we want to hear.’