Directions: Write an informal response to the prompt below. The
response should be a minimum of 350 words and no more than 500 words. Because this is an informal response, I will not be grading for grammar and mechanics. This does not mean you should not turn in your best work. Remember, this is academic writing. This writing will count as a homework grade. Prompt: Megan Abbott tells us that she wanted to set Shakespeares Richard III within high school cheerleading culture. By now, you should have looked over the synopsis of Richard III via Sparknotes. (You might even take the liberty of watching one of the filmed versions.) One of the things you will notice about Richard is that he is without a doubt the plays protagonist despite the fact the he is undeniably evil. Richard functions as what we would call an anti-hero because the audience spends a great deal of time finding out about his mind, thoughts, and desires. Shakespeare even asks the audience to sympathize with Richards envy and anguish, even though he is a murderer and a sadist. Throughout the novel Dare Me, in what ways does Abbott ask readers to sympathize with Beth as Shakespeare asks his audience to sympathize with Richard III? Do you, as a reader, believe Beth is the anti-hero and thus a protagonist of the novel? Provide specific examples from the novel to support your claims.