This paper examines how although Shakespeare's Richard III, The Duke of Gloucester, may not bear much resemblance to the
real life King, in character and appearance, in the play, he is certainly the most dominant and a fully developed figure that serves as both the
protagonist and villain of the play. It discusses whether "Richard III" can actually be called a
tragedy since the protagonist appears less a tragic figure and more a vain, cruel and malicious king who was ruthlessly ambitious and killed people not for the love of his country, as most other tragic kings did, but to advance his own objectives.