"In Richard III, Shakespeare demonstrates that women lack agency." By exploring the role and dramatic presentation of women in Richard III, evaluate this view.

Although the women in Richard III are seen as victims, their theatrical roles within the play supplies them with agency. As a play that derives partial inspiration from the tradition of morality plays, the women occupy a privileged space on the stage due to their mobility and their capacity to become both figments of historical fiction and a physical barrier between Richard and the audience depending on their position on the stage. By evaluating the depreciation of Richard's power, and how it correlates with the movement of the female characters, it is possible to see that the women restrict Richard's access to the audience and, thus, limit his ability to manipulate the audience's perception of him. Considering Richard's ability to use language to exploit others, it is also worth noting the linguistic authority of the female characters, especially in regards to their ability to curse. By viewing the curses made by Elizabeth, Margaret and Anne, their language is shown as predictive and a possible force against Richard's power of language. Whilst the threats and predictions made by the female characters are actualised, however, these curses ultimately end up harming the woman who made them. Therefore, although the women in Richard III do wield power and agency, it is ultimately something that damages them as well, since their use of their theatrical and linguistic authority against Richard similarly disadvantages them.