Richard III: The Power of Seduction The word "seduce" according to Webster's Dictionary means "to tempt and lead away from proper conduct." This is exactly what Richard, Duke of Gloucester/King Richard III accomplishes in Richard III. In Riccardo's life he not only goes from a deformed "hedgehog" to a husband, but from a "beast" to a king. One might ask how such acts were carried out. However, a second look might make things seem simple. Richard demonstrated a strong power of seduction throughout the play which not only seduced Lady Anne but many others. Richard's first conquest through seduction was Lady Anne. In the passage in which Anne accuses Gloucter of being the cause of her husband's death (I.ii.120-21), Gloucter responds by not denying that he was the agent who caused the death. However, he goes on to tell Anne, “Your beauty was the cause of that effect” (I.ii.121). She keeps using the excuse that her beauty caused everything. In the end, he actually admits to killing Anne's husband, but at the same time says that she caused it. “I killed King Henry ---/[b]ut it was your beauty that provoked me” (I.ii.179-80). This seemingly sick and twisted style of persuasion works in seducing the spitting Lady Anne into becoming his wife. Obviously, from Anne taking the same hand in marriage that killed her ex-husband; we see that she was "distracted from good conduct." The citizens were also seduced by Richard. However, in Act III.vii. his ingenuity alone was not enough to convince him. He had help from the bishops, props and Buchingham. The Mayor exclaims to the citizens: "Look where His Grace stands, between two clergymen!" (III.vii.95). This is all part of Richard's good deed. He wants to win over the people by being a noble and good man. He wants us to believe that he is not only a moral man, but also a modest one. Buchingham continues to support Richard in this endeavor. Buchingham observes Richard and declares to the people: Two supports of virtue for a Christian prince, to keep him from the fall of vanity; and look, a prayer book in his hands: true ornaments to know a holy man. (III.vii.96-99).Richard influences the townspeople very differently than he persuaded Anne. He convinced Anne by reminding her that her guilt was caused by her beauty. You could say he was playing with his emotions.