Frank Underwood VS. Richard The III

Name:Sogol Tehranchi

Instructor’s Name: Brian Ganter

Date: 22/May/2015

It is not really easy to make a connection between a modern TV series and a Shakespearian drama. The language, history, and thought hidden behind all Shakespeare’s works make them especially unique. On the other hand, modern TV series represent todays’ world conflicts with a more understandable language. However, by comparing and contrasting the American TV series “House of Cards” and “Richard The III”, one of Shakespearian’s dramas, we find quite few similarities and differences between both main character’s, Richard The III himself and Frank Underwood, personality. The greed of power makes both characters stone hearted; and ambition blinds their eyes. Disregard of their main difference, the level of attention they pay to their wives, Frank Underwood and Richard The III share few characteristics in common. For example, they both have the same and definitely unique way of communication with their audiences. Moreover, they both are really authoritarian and ambitious. This essay will explain all of these differences and similarities in more detail.

Audiences are the closest friends of both Frank Underwood and Richard the III. They both keep everything hidden even from their closest allies but audience. This is a really common thing in Shakespeare’s works that characters out loud their thought specifically to audience. However, in Richard the III, Richard is the only person who looks into audiences’ eyes and shares his evil thoughts with them. On the same hand, Frank Underwood distinguishes audiences from other people around him and gives them special access to his unreadable mind. Indeed, regardless of what crime or murder they commit, they make us feel like we are their confidants. This way of communication has barely used in modern film making industry and that is why Frank Underwood personality can be coupled with Richard The Thirds.

Another similarity between Frank Underwood and Richard The III is their ambition for power. Frank Underwood is climbing the hills of vice presidency while his request for being head secretary of state was rejected from president of United State. Frank uses everyone around him to smooth his way out to vice presidency. In that regard, he nominates Peter Russo, another congressman, for an upcoming governing seat to get closer to president. After Frank is done with Peter, he kills him by his own hands and makes his death to be seen as suicide. He also uses Zoe Barns, a smart reporter, to spread out some critical news that can destroy his road blockers. Additionally, at the end of season 1 when Frank is left alone by his wife; he tells the audience “I will march on even if I have to do so alone”(House of Cards, Season 1, Episode11). His ambition doesn’t let him to consider anything but reaching his goals, even if it is about killing his marriage.

In comparison, Richard the III uses Buckingham as his right hand to destroy his enemies. He promises Buckingham that “when I am [he is] a king, claim thou of me the earldom of Hereford, and all the movables whereof the king my [his] brother was possessed”(Richard the III, Act 3, Scene 3). However, Richard rejects Buckingham request, for what Buckingham has been promised for, after he becomes the king of throne. He simply rejects Buckingham request and announces audiences that “ Buckingham no more shall be the neighbor to my counsels. Hath he so long held out with me untired”(Richard The III, Act 4, Scene 2). Like Frank, Richard The Third’s ambition blinds his eyes on everything except the power he is reaching for.

In Contrast, Richard The III and Frank Underwood are significantly different in one aspect. Frank Underwood and his wife, Claire, have gone through everything together, although their relationship cant considered being a romantic relationship. Even when Frank uses his wife’s power to reach his goal, he doesn’t hide anything from Clair’s eyes. This becomes more obvious when Clair goes to Zoe’s house and tells Zoe: “ I [she] knew everything from beginning. My [her] husband and I [she] tell everything to each other”(House of Cards, Season 1, Episode 10). She surprises Zoe by pointing at a specific detail happened between Frank and Zoe when they were alone such as “is there any spider I can trap for you Zoe?”(House of Cards, Season 1, Episode 10). It shows Frank’s clarity to his wife regardless of his abusive personality toward anybody else. In Contrast, Richard The III marries Lady Ann for reasons of politics and sadistic pleasure. He never let his wife influencing his decisions or become aware of what he wants to do in next. After he gets revenge from Lady Ann’d family, he orders Catesby to spread a rumor that “my [his] wife is really sick and like to die”(Richard The III, Act 4, Scene 2) so he will be able to “marry straight to Clarence’s daughter”(Richard The III, Act 4, Scene 2). Richard is really stone hearted and no one can be in his inner circle for long period of time, not even his wife.

This paper was an overview of similarities and a difference between the main two characters of House of Cards and Richard The III. House of Cards is an American TV series, which focuses on White house in United State. Frank Underwood, a congressman, is in greed of vice presidency and climbing the problems by politics. On the same hand, Richard The III is thirsty for the reign. They both find audiences their best confidant and share their devil thoughts, plans, and emotions with them. Moreover, they both are super authoritarian and do anything to obtain the power. On the other hand, what makes these two characters distinct is the level of attention they spend to their wives. Unlike Frank, Richard chooses his wives due to his need to job security. Generally speaking, House of Cards can be a modern version of Richard the Third as their main characters are following the same route.