The Third Enemy Does the Work
At court Richard plays the plain man who cannot live and think no harm. He points at Elizabeth's family as the source of every injury, then clothes his own villainy with odd old ends stolen from holy writ. Margaret names the bottled spider. The room still prefers the simpler enemy.
Key Insight
A third party who is always the problem keeps you from inspecting the speaker. Richard needs the Woodvilles to be the threat so he can look like the only safe brother left.
“And thus I clothe my naked villainy with odd old ends stolen forth of holy writ.”Full analysis
