King Richard III

Act 1 Scene 1

In his opening soliloquy, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, complains about the peace that the House of York’s victory in the War of the Roses has brought to England. His brother, Edward, is now King Edward IV. Richard explains that his deformity means that he is better suited to times of conflict and the kind of tension that exists during war than peace.

He continues to say that because of his ‘dissembling nature’ (his deformity), which he attributes his internal corruption to, he has resigned himself to evil, and has given up on trying to be virtuous (‘a lover.’) He decides to seek power for himself, knowing that he will have to rely on Machiavellian methods if he is to be successful. Specifically, he has plotted to cause tension between his brothers Edward and George (the Duke of Clarence). If things go to plan, the Duke of Clarence will be jailed for threatening the King’s safety.

Richard’s soliloquising is interrupted by the arrival of the Duke, who is accompanied by armed guards. The Duke states that a prophecy revealed to the king that he should beware of ‘G.’ Taking ‘G’ to mean George (the Duke), the king ordered his brother to be imprisoned in the Tower of London. The first part of Richard’s plan has worked: his brother is now out of the picture, and we see a classic example of Shakespearean dramatic irony when Richard expresses sympathy for his brother’s situation.

Hastings then arrives, bearing news of the king’s illness. Richard is quietly overjoyed by news of the king’s condition, as it means he is one step closer to assuming the throne himself – as long as Clarence is disposed of for good before the king dies. Richard then announces that he intends to marry Anne, before continuing to reveal that he actually killed her father (the Earl of Warwick) and husband (the former Prince Edward) in the wars. He believes that by marrying her, he will make his remorse for killing the men clear to her. His desire to make amends is not emotional in nature, rather, it is fuelled by a ‘secret close intent’: politics.

Act 1 Scene 2

Richard explains to Anne that it was his passion for her that drove him to kill her father and husband. He then attempts to propose to her, and at first she angrily rebuffs him. His plan is far from a failure, however – by the end of the scene she accepts his ring.

Act 1 Scene 3

With King Edward IV gravely ill, Queen Elizabeth and Richard begin arguing, much to the displeasure of Margaret, King Henry VI’s widow, who curses them all. Margaret believes that the family is responsible for her downfall and suffering.

Act 1 Scene 4

At the tower of London, Clarence dreams about drowning, falling into the underworld, and being forced to confront those whom he has killed. Richard’s assassins arrive shortly afterwards. They hesitate to kill Clarence as their conscience briefly arrests them, but ultimately go through with the plan, and Clarence is murdered.

Act 2 Scene 1

Even closer to death now, King Edward IV desperately urges his family and friends to make peace with each other. Richard makes a convincing apology (another example of dramatic irony – we know he’s just had his brother killed). When the Queen asks the king to pardon Clarence, Richard announces that he is already dead, and then insinuates that the Queen’s kindred are to blame.

Act 2 Scene 2

The Duchess of York comforts Clarence's children, and Queen Elizabeth announces King Edward’s death. An alliance is formed between Richard and Buckingham, and the two men decide to take Prince Edward to London to be crowned.

Act 2 Scene 3

A group of citizens express their worry that Prince Edward is too young to be king. They also worry about Richard’s obviously evil nature, and the looming power struggle between him and Elizabeth’s family, and what it will mean for the future of England and the monarchy.

Act 2 Scene 4

As Queen Elizabeth awaits the arrival of her son in London, she hears that her supporters are being rounded up and arrested. She escapes into hiding.

Act 3 Scene 1

Richard, Buckingham and Catesby discuss whether it is worth asking the Lords Hastings and Stanley for their assistance in making Richard king. They decide to meet the next day for more discussions, under the guise of crowning Prince Edward.

Act 3 Scene 2

After a dream about Richard’s evil nature, Lord Stanley tries to convince Lord Hastings to flee with him. Hastings is dismissive of his counterpart’s fears, but then expresses horror at Catesby’s suggestion that Richard should be king, and that Prince Edward should not be crowned. Hastings is unaware of Richard’s plan to have him decapitated should he not cooperate.

Act 3 Scene 3

Rivers, Gray and Vaughan express their torment as they enter Pomfret Castle to be executed. They arrive at the conclusion that Queen Margaret cursed them as punishment for standing by when her son, Prince Edward, was stabbed. They pray that God permits the curse against Richard, but that Queen Elizabeth escapes any harm that should come from it.

Act 3 Scene 4

Richard learns that Hastings will stay loyal to Prince Edward. After accusing Queen Elizabeth of conspiring with Hastings’ mistress to make him deformed, Richard sentences Hastings to death.

Act 3 Scene 5

Buckingham convinces the Lord Mayor of Hastings’ treasonous actions. He then plants the seeds of a rumour that the princes are not legitimate heirs, which would disqualify them from rising to the throne.

Act 3 Scene 6

While copying the letter that will be used to announce Hastings’ death sentence to the public, a scribe implies that everyone knows it is false, and is aware of Richard’s evil plot.

Act 3 Scene 7

Buckingham’s proposal that Richard becomes king does not receive public support. Richard and Buckingham rely on trickery to try to get the Lord Mayor to ask Richard to be king.

Act 4 Scene 1

Queen Elizabeth, the Duchess of York and Anne are refused entry to the Tower to visit the princes. Stanley arrives to summon Anne to be crowned as Richard’s queen, and Elizabeth urges her son Dorset to flee to Richmond in France.

Act 4 Scene 2

In arguably the play’s most explicit act of evil, Richard orders the princes killed by Buckingham. Again, conscience forces Buckingham to hesitate, and Richard gives the plan to Tyrell. Richard plots to have Anne murdered and to marry the young Elizabeth.

Act 4 Scene 3

Richard proudly recounts his successes in his journey to become king so far. But he is interrupted by Ratcliffe, who informs him that some noblemen have deserted to Richmond in France, and that Buckingham is now organising for an army to march against him.

Act 4 Scene 4

Margaret complains to the Duchess of York and Elizabeth for Richard’s obviously evil nature, disregard for morality and willingness to kill. The women curse him. Richard raises the idea with Elizabeth of marrying her daughter in order to avoid a civil war. News arrives of the size of Richmond’s army. Buckingham has been captured.

Act 4 Scene 5

Stanley meets with one of Richmond’s lords in secret and reveals that he wishes to desert Richard, but that Richard has taken one of his sons hostage as a way of discouraging such actions. He sends his best wishes to Richmond and informs the lord that Elizabeth has agreed to let Richmond marry her daughter.

Act 5 Scene 1

As he prepares to be executed, Buckingham reflects on his life, and comes to the conclusion that he deserves to die because of all the wrongs he committed.

Act 5 Scene 2

Stanley sends Richmond a letter informing him of the location of Richard’s army. Thinking that Richard’s men are bound to him only by the fear of what would happen if they were to desert him, Richmond and his men ride confidently into battle.

Act 5 Scene 3

Richard has a dream in which the victims of his schemes appear as bad omens. He comes to the dramatic realisation that he has completely corrupted himself in his pursuit of absolute power. The same ghosts appear in Richmond’s dream as good omens.

The next morning, as the battle approaches, Stanley mutinies and refuses to send his army to Richard, depriving him of a sizable force.

Act 5 Scene 4

Richard, driven crazy by guilt and fear, searches desperately for Richmond in the battle. He refuses Catesby’s help.

Act 5 Scene 5

Richmond kills Richard, winning the war. He is crowned and plans to marry Elizabeth. England is restored to peace.