Richard III: The Power of SeductionThe word “seduce” according to Webster’s Dictionary means “to tempt and distract from good conduct.” This is exactly what Richard, Duke of Gloucester/King Richard III accomplishes in Richard III. In Richard's life, he not only goes from deformed "hedgehog" to husband, but also from "beast" to king. One may wonder how such acts were accomplished. However, a second look may make the actions seem simple. Richard demonstrated a strong power of seduction throughout the play which seduced not only Lady Anne, but many others. Richard's first conquest by seduction was Lady Anne. In the passage where Anne accuses Gloucter of being the cause of her husband's death (I.ii.120-21), Gloucter responds without denying that he was the agent who caused the death. However, he goes on to tell Anne: “Your beauty was the cause of this effect” (I.ii.121). He continues by claiming that her beauty caused everything. Eventually he admits that he killed Anne's husband, but in the same breath he says that she caused it. “I killed King Henry -/[but] it was your beauty that provoked me” (I.ii.179-80). This seemingly sick and twisted style of persuasion manages to seduce the spitting Lady Anne into becoming his wife. Obviously, by Anne taking the same hand in marriage that killed her former husband; we see that she was “distracted from good conduct”. The citizens were also won over by Richard. However, in Act III.vii. his wit alone was not enough to convince. He had help from the bishops, props and Buchingham. The mayor shouts to the citizens: “See where His Grace is located, between two ecclesiastics! (III.vii.95). This is all part of Richard's good deed. He wants to win the people by being a noble and good man. He wants them to believe that he is not only a moral man, but also a modest one. Buchingham continues to support Richard in this attempt. Buchingham observes Richard and declares to the people: Two accessories of virtue for a Christian prince, To keep him from the fall of vanity; And see, a prayer book in his hands – True ornaments for knowing a holy man. (III.vii.96-99). Richard influences the citizens much differently than he persuaded Anne. He persuaded Anne by reminding her that her fault was due to her beauty. You could say he was playing with his emotions.