In Christian philosophy, love is a revered virtue built on understanding, trust, respect and compassion. The act of marriage is its ultimate expression: a promise of abundant happiness and fruitfulness. Many poets and authors of classical literature share this idea, depicting in their works righteous intentions and jubilant atmospheres through successful unions. One such playwright is William Shakespeare, who in the tragedy Richard III uses marriage to end the bloody rule of a tyrant and restore peace to England. Interestingly, in the same play Hastings “loses all right to compassion” and “the dowager Queen Margaret appears as the fury of the past” (Schlegel, 2). Additionally, numerous relationships among the nobility are loveless, dysfunctional, and unfortunate. Love is portrayed cynically to the extent that all male/female relationships inevitably lead to death, desolation, ruin and decay. The first victim of love is Lady Anne. His courtship and marriage are “perversions of the ritual of traditional courtship rights” (Carroll, 3). In a vulnerable state subject to “loss of title, position, and identity” (Miner, 6), his denial of Richard's feelings is so significant that he himself threatens death: “This hand, which for your love killed the your love, / I will kill for your love a much truer love” (1.2.194-195). Yet, after she accepts his proposal, he declares to the audience that he doesn't love her. He even congratulates himself on being able to manipulate her emotions, because earning her trust is simply part of his larger plan to become king. It is too late when he realizes his true intentions and complains to Queen Elizabeth and the Duchess of his unhappy marriage: "For never even an hour in his bed did I enjoy going... middle of paper.. ." .Bloom, Broomall, PA: Chelsea House, 2000. 32-34.Pearlman, E. "The Invention of Richard Gloucester." Shakespeare Stories (Bloom's Major Playwrights). Ed. Harold Bloom, Broomall, PA: Chelsea House, 2000. 28-30.Plasse, Marie A. “Corporeality and Openness of Richard III.” Shakespeare Stories (Bloom's Major Playwrights). Ed. Harold Bloom, Broomall, PA: Chelsea House, 2000. 30-32. Schlegel, August Wilhelm. “Lessons in dramatic art and literature”. Shakespeare Stories (Bloom's major playwrights). Ed. Harold Bloom, Broomall, Pennsylvania: Chelsea House, 2000. 19-21.Shakespeare, William. King Richard III. Eds. Pat Baldwin and Tom Baldwin.Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2005.Young, Bruce W. “Ritual as Grace: Parental Blessings in Richard III.” Shakespeare Stories (Bloom's major playwrights). Ed. Harold Bloom, Broomall, Pennsylvania: Chelsea House, 2000. 21-23.