The first three lines of Richard’s monologue in Act 1, Scene 2, of Shakespeare’s King Richard III emphasize Richard’s wicked character as well as his ability to captivate both the audience and his fellow aristocrats. The first two lines of the soliloquy employ anaphora as they begin their queries with “[w]as ever woman in this humor.” The dual use of the remark accents Richard’s surprise at his sudden victory, one which earlier seemed to be unattainable. Additionally, the repetition of the phrase stresses the feeling of accomplishment emanating from Richard as a result of his success. In addition to anaphora, the first couplet utilizes consonance, which allows the lines to flow when spoken. This fluidity grants the passage a sinister flare and aids in continuing to reiterate Richard’s devious nature. In stark contrast, the third line of the monologue produces an abrupt shift in language, and subsequently in the tone of the text. The deviation acts as a shock since it immediately follows the aforementioned fluidity, therefore giving the newly introduced sentiments an ominous impression. The third line stresses the reality of Richard’s dastardly motivations, especially as he states, “but I will not keep [Anne] long.” Shakespeare reminds the audience to be wary of Richard and exposes, once again, the truth behind Richard and his character, which had been momentarily disguised during his venture to woo Anne. While the first three lines of this speech give a mere glance into Richard’s innerworkings, they underline Richard’s ability to deceive those around him with his candied words.