The Best Insults from 'Richard III'

Daniel Hautzinger

December 21, 2016

Henry VI and Queen Margaret in The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses.

Henry VI (Tom Sturridge) and Margaret of Anjou (Sophie Okonedo). (Photo: Robert Viglasky © 2015 Carnival Film & Television Ltd)

The noble schemers in Shakespeare’s Richard III, an adaptation of which aired in December as part of The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses, have many reasons to curse each other. By the end of the play, it seems as though everyone has murdered someone else’s loved one in order to gain power. So it makes sense that the play contains some of Shakespeare’s most vicious invective. Keep this list handy for the next time you need to call somebody a “wrangling pirate,” or worse.

Judi Dench as Cecily, Duchess of York. (Photo: Robert Viglasky © 2015 Carnival Film & Television Ltd)

Richard III (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Henry VII (Luke Treadaway). (Photo: Robert Viglasky © 2015 Carnival Film & Television Ltd)

Queen Margaret (Sophie Okonedo) leads an army. (Photo: Robert Viglasky © 2015 Carnival Film & Television Ltd)

Richard III rules all. (Photo: Robert Viglasky © 2015 Carnival Film & Television Ltd)

The Duchess of Gloucester (Sally Hawkins) and Queen Margaret. (Photo: Robert Viglasky © 2015 Carnival Film & Television Ltd)

Richard III rides into battle. (Photo: Robert Viglasky © 2015 Carnival Film & Television Ltd)

Queen Margaret slyly gains power at Henry VI's court. (Photo: Robert Viglasky © 2015 Carnival Film & Television Ltd)

The Duchess of York is disappointed. (Photo: Robert Viglasky © 2015 Carnival Film & Television Ltd)

Phoebe Fox as Anne Neville. (Photo: Robert Viglasky © 2015 Carnival Film & Television Ltd)

The Hollow Crown

The Wars of the Roses

Great Performances