The Legitimization of Evil: Schiller’s Franz Moor in relation to Shakespeare's Richard III

This thesis explores the representation of evil in Friedrich Schiller’s Die Räuber in relation to William Shakespeare’s Richard III. The first chapter examines Schiller’s early enthusiasm for Shakespeare at the Karlsschule and analyses the role of Richard III as a fundamental reference in Schiller’s aesthetic and moral reflections. The second chapter delves into the legitimization and justification of evil through the analysis of the opening scenes of both plays, examining the body image of Richard III and Franz Moor as a manifestation of monstrosity and their use of language as a tool of power.