Richard III by William Shakespeare
"Richard III" is a historical tragedy by William Shakespeare that explores the ruthless ambition and moral corruption of its titular character, Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Set in the aftermath of the Wars of the Roses, the play begins with Richard scheming to seize the English throne by eliminating his rivals, including his own brothers. His manipulative tactics include the betrayal and murder of his brother Clarence, as well as wooing Lady Anne, the widow of a prince he has killed, to solidify his power.
As Richard ascends to the throne, he continues his violent campaign against anyone who poses a threat, including the young heirs of King Edward IV. The play illustrates Richard's psychological decline as he becomes increasingly paranoid and guilt-ridden, haunted by the ghosts of his victims. Ultimately, his tyranny leads to resistance, and he faces Henry Tudor, who rallies forces against him. The play culminates in the decisive Battle of Bosworth Field, where Richard is defeated and killed, marking the end of his tyrannical rule and the unification of the warring houses of York and Lancaster through Tudor's marriage to Elizabeth of York.
"Richard III" delves into themes of ambition, betrayal, and the moral consequences of power, inviting reflections on the nature of evil and the complexities of human ambition.
Richard III by William Shakespeare
First produced: ca. 1592–1593; first published, 1597
Type of work: Drama
Type of plot: Historical
Time of plot: Fifteenth century
Locale: England
Principal Characters
Edward IV , the king of EnglandRichard , his brother, the duke of GloucesterGeorge , his brother, the duke of ClarenceQueen Elizabeth , wife of Edward IVLady Anne , the widow of the son of Henry VI and later the wife of Richard IIIQueen Margaret , the widow of Henry VIEdward , the prince of Wales and son of Edward IVRichard , the duke of York, another son of Edward IVThe Duke of Buckingham , an accomplice of the duke of GloucesterLord Hastings , a supporter of Prince EdwardLord Stanley , the earl of DerbySir William Catesby , a court toadyHenry Tudor , the earl of Richmond and later King Henry VII
The Story
After the conclusion of the wars between the houses of York and Lancaster, Edward IV is firmly restored to the throne. Before long, however, his treacherous brother Richard, the hunchbacked duke of Gloucester, resumes his plans for gaining the throne. Craftily he removes one obstacle in his path when he turns the king against the third brother, the duke of Clarence (whose given name is George) by telling the king of an ancient prophecy that his issue will be disinherited by one of the royal line whose name begins with the letter G. Clarence is immediately arrested and taken to the Tower. Richard goes to him, pretending sympathy, and advises him that the jealousy and hatred of Queen Elizabeth are responsible for his imprisonment. After promising to help his brother secure his freedom, Richard, as false in word as he is cruel in deed, gives orders that Clarence be stabbed in his cell and his body placed in a barrel of malmsey wine.
Hoping to make his position even stronger, Richard then makes plans to marry Lady Anne, the widow of Prince Edward, the former prince of Wales whose father was the murdered Henry VI. Edward was slain by Richard and his brothers after the battles ended, and Lady Anne and Henry’s widow, Queen Margaret, are the only remaining members of the once powerful House of Lancaster still living in England. Intercepting Lady Anne at the funeral procession of Henry VI, Richard attempts to woo her. Although she hates and fears her husband’s murderer, she is persuaded to accept an engagement ring when Richard insists that it is for love of her that he murdered her husband.
Richard goes to the court, where Edward IV lies ill. There, he affects great sorrow and indignation over the news of the death of Clarence, thereby endearing himself to Lord Hastings and the duke of Buckingham, who were friends of Clarence. He insinuates that Queen Elizabeth and her followers turned the wrath of the king against Clarence, which brought about his death. Richard manages to convince everyone except Queen Margaret, who knows well what really happened. Openly accusing him, she attempts to warn Buckingham and the others against Richard, but they ignore her.
Edward IV, ailing and depressed, tries to make peace among the factions in his realm, but he dies before he can accomplish this end. His son, Prince Edward, is sent for from Ludlow to take his father’s place. At the same time, Richard imprisons Lord Grey, Lord Rivers, and Lord Vaughan, who are followers and relatives of the queen, and has them executed.
Terrified, Queen Elizabeth seeks refuge for herself and her second son, the young duke of York, with the archbishop of Canterbury. When Richard hears of the queen’s action, he pretends much concern over the welfare of his brother’s children and sets himself up as their guardian. He manages to remove young York from the care of his mother and has him placed in the Tower along with Prince Edward. He announces that they are under his protection and that they will remain there only until Prince Edward is crowned.
Learning from Sir William Catesby, a court toady, that Lord Hastings is a loyal adherent of the young prince, Richard contrives to remove that influential nobleman from the court by summoning him to a meeting ostensibly called to discuss plans for the coronation of the new king. Although Lord Stanley warns Hastings that ill luck awaits him if he goes to the meeting, the trusting nobleman keeps his appointment with Richard in the Tower. There, on the basis of trumped-up evidence, Richard accuses Hastings of treason and orders his immediate execution. Richard and Buckingham then dress themselves in rusty old armor and pretend to the lord mayor that Hastings was plotting against them; the lord mayor is convinced by their false protestations that the execution is justified.
Richard plots to seize the throne for himself. Buckingham, supporting him, speaks in the Guildhall of the great immorality of the late King Edward and hints that both the king and his children are illegitimate. Shocked, a citizens’ committee headed by the lord mayor approaches Richard and begs him to accept the crown. They find him in the company of two priests, with a prayer book in his hand. So impressed are they with his seeming piety, that they repeat their offer after he hypocritically refuses it. Pretending great reluctance, Richard finally accepts, after being urged by Buckingham, the lord mayor, and Catesby. Plans for an immediate coronation are made.
Lady Anne is interrupted during a visit to the Tower with Queen Elizabeth and the old duchess of York and is ordered to Westminster to be crowned Richard’s queen. The three women hear with horror that Richard has ascended the throne; they are all the more suspicious of him because they are prevented from seeing the young princes. Fearing the worst, they sorrow among themselves and foresee doom for the nation.
Soon after his coronation, Richard suggests to Buckingham that the two princes must be killed. When Buckingham balks at the order, Richard refuses to consider his request to be elevated to the earldom of Hereford. Proceeding alone to secure the safety of his position, he hires Sir James Tyrrel, a discontented nobleman, to smother the children in their sleep. To make his position still more secure, Richard plans to marry Elizabeth of York, his own niece and daughter of the deceased Edward IV. Spreading the news that Queen Anne is mortally ill, he has her secretly murdered. He removes any threat from Clarence’s heirs by imprisoning his son and by arranging a marriage for the daughter that considerably lowers her social status.
None of these precautions, however, can stem the tide of threats that are beginning to endanger Richard. In Brittany, Henry Tudor, the earl of Richmond, gathers an army and invades the country. When news of Richmond’s landing at Milford reaches London, Buckingham flees from Richard, whose cruelty and guilt are becoming apparent to even his closest friends and associates. Buckingham joins Richmond’s forces, but shortly afterward Richard captures and executes him.
In a tremendous final battle, the armies of Richmond and Richard meet on Bosworth Field. There, on the night before the encounter, all the ghosts of Richard’s victims appear to him in his sleep and prophesy his defeat. They also foretell the earl of Richmond’s victory and success. The predictions hold true. The next day, Richard, fighting desperately, is slain in battle by Richmond, after crying out the offer of his ill-gotten kingdom for a horse, his own killed under him. The earl mounts the throne and marries Elizabeth of York, thus uniting the houses of York and Lancaster and ending the feud.
Bibliography
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