Question

From act 1 scene 1 of Richard 3 what two purposes does the soliloquy serve in the opening scene?

Answer 1

The opening scenes of the play tell us a lot about Richard's character. And that character—wicked, scheming and insanely ambitious—is expressed through Richard's numerous soliloquies. The House of York has achieved victory in its seemingly endless war with the rival House of Lancaster. Yorkists can smile again, enjoying themselves by dancing in their ladies' chambers to the seductive tones of the lute.