"I did not kill your husband."
"Why, then he is alive."
-Richard and Anne
"Why, then he is alive."
-Richard and Anne
Stichomythia - the arguments of Shakespeare
Many times during Richard III characters engage in a competition of wit in the form of fast wordplay. In these cases, this usually results in short alternating lines and exchanges between two characters that attempt to seize upon the others' use of language. This is a language feature called Stichomythia that is very popular to Richard,
In this form, characters use repetition and/or antithesis to get the upper hand on their 'opponent'. For instance, in Richard's argument with Elizabeth, he says, "Say I will love her everlastingly," and is countered with Elizabeth's reply of, "But how long shall that title ever last?" Within these two phrases, the characters take the others' words and slightly and subtly alter them so as to get the upper hand and change the meaning of the sentence. This quick exchange of similar yet contrasting lines serves to set the scene as fast paced and almost urgent, but also serves to highlight Richard's cunning to the audience when he succeeds in wooing Anne using such tricky wordplay against her and outsmarting her in a battle of wits.
In this form, characters use repetition and/or antithesis to get the upper hand on their 'opponent'. For instance, in Richard's argument with Elizabeth, he says, "Say I will love her everlastingly," and is countered with Elizabeth's reply of, "But how long shall that title ever last?" Within these two phrases, the characters take the others' words and slightly and subtly alter them so as to get the upper hand and change the meaning of the sentence. This quick exchange of similar yet contrasting lines serves to set the scene as fast paced and almost urgent, but also serves to highlight Richard's cunning to the audience when he succeeds in wooing Anne using such tricky wordplay against her and outsmarting her in a battle of wits.