Richard III (24 page)

Lines 101–153:
Richard arrives, offering comfort to the queen and asking his mother’s blessing, although his brief aside reminds us of the disparity between his words and true feelings/intentions. Buckingham smoothly suggests that Prince Edward be brought to London, accompanied “with some little train” in case “the new-healed wound of malice should break out.” Rivers and Hastings agree and
Richard asks his mother and Elizabeth to go and give their “censures in the business.” He remains behind with Buckingham and they plot to “part the queen’s proud kindred from the prince.”

In a contrast to the court-based action so far, and demonstrating the important link between king and kingdom, three citizens discuss the current circumstances. While one remains optimistic, the others express their fears about a “land that’s governed by a child.” They show distrust of Richard and worry what the struggles between Richard and the queen’s relatives will do to the kingdom.

The archbishop, the queen, the duchess, and young York wait for the prince’s arrival. The intimate and domestic discussion between mother and grandmother concerning the comparative heights of Edward and York contrasts with the political arguments that have dominated so far. York reports that his “uncle Gloucester” said that “Small herbs have grace, great weeds do grow apace,” an image that evokes the destructive nature of Richard’s speedy rise to power. The family exchange is gently humorous, although once again the duchess expresses doubt over Richard’s character, until a messenger brings the news that Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan have been imprisoned on the command of Richard and Buckingham. Elizabeth sees that Richard has begun the “ruin” of her family, comparing him to a hunting “tiger,” and foresees “as in a map, the end of all.” She decides to take York into sanctuary, and the duchess offers to go with them. The archbishop gives them the king’s seal of authority that he carries and takes them to safety.

Lines 1–94:
Prince Edward enters London, accompanied by Richard, Buckingham, and the Lord Cardinal. Edward asks why none of his “uncles” on his mother’s side are there to greet him and asks
where his mother and brother are. As he does so, Hastings arrives with the news that the queen and York have “taken sanctuary” and that Elizabeth prevented York from coming to greet his brother. Buckingham, annoyed, sends the Lord Cardinal to “persuade” Elizabeth to send York to Prince Edward, and orders Hastings that if she will not give in to “pluck him perforce” from his mother’s arms. When the Cardinal objects, Buckingham cleverly argues that York is too young to “have the wit” to claim sanctuary and therefore to take him is to “break no privilege nor charter.” It is interesting that here, as in the rest of this scene, it is Buckingham, not Richard, who is making decisions and giving orders, demonstrating his increasing power. The Cardinal and Hastings depart and the prince asks where he is to stay until his coronation. Richard suggests the royal residence at the Tower, but Edward is not keen. We see that Edward has a similar control over language to Richard’s and that he is not fooled by his uncle’s clever arguments.

Lines 95–201
: York is brought in and the brothers show that they are a match for Richard verbally, but they are still powerless to prevent him, as “Lord Protector,” from sending them to stay in the Tower. When the brothers have gone, Richard, Buckingham, and Catesby discuss their plans to place Richard on the throne. Buckingham argues that they will find it difficult to convince Hastings and sends Catesby to “summon him tomorrow to the Tower” under the pretext of discussing the coronation, so that they can test his loyalty. Richard adds that Catesby should tell Hastings that the queen’s relatives are to be executed the next day, as this will please him. Buckingham asks Richard what they will do if Hastings will not join their conspiracy and Richard answers simply “Chop off his head.” He promises Buckingham “the earldom of Hereford” once he is king.

Lines 1–34:
Hastings is woken in the early hours by a messenger from the Earl of Derby. He reports that Derby has had a prophetic dream in which a boar (Richard’s heraldic emblem) “razed off his helm.” Derby is worried about the “two councils” that Richard
intends to hold, a technique clearly intended to create political division. He asks if Hastings will join him in escaping north to “shun the danger that his soul divines.” Demonstrating his own lack of perception, Hastings replies that there is nothing to fear from the “separated council.”

Lines 35–123:
Catesby arrives and Hastings asks for news of the “tott’ring state,” evoking the country’s turmoil. Catesby comments that he thinks the world will not “stand upright” again until Richard is king. Shocked, Hastings asks if this is Richard’s intention and learns that it is, and that Richard hopes for his backing. Catesby adds that Hastings’ enemies, “the kindred of the queen,” “must die at Pomfret.” Apparently oblivious to the danger he is placing himself in, Hastings declares that he is glad of this, but that he will not help Richard to the throne. Derby arrives in person and Hastings jokingly asks where his “boar-spear” is. Derby insists that the “several councils” bode ill, but Hastings is unmoved. As Derby and Catesby head to the Tower, Hastings jokes with a Pursuivant and shows his pleasure that his enemies are to be executed. Buckingham arrives to escort Hastings to the Tower.

Ratcliffe escorts Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan to their executions. They proclaim their loyalty to the prince and remember Margaret’s earlier curses upon them. Rivers reminds them that she also cursed Richard and Buckingham.

Lines 1–57:
The council assembles. Hastings announces that they are there to “determine of the coronation,” asking, “when is the royal day?” The bishop suggests the next day, and Buckingham asks if anyone knows Richard’s mind on the subject. The bishop suggests that Buckingham should, but Buckingham’s response is ambiguous. He suggests that Hastings might know, and, although Hastings denies this, he offers to speak on Richard’s behalf. Richard arrives
and Buckingham informs him that Hastings was about to pronounce his “part” on the coronation, implying that Hastings aspires to Richard’s power, and creating an awareness of theater and performance, also emphasized by the word “cue.” Richard seems cheerful and asks the bishop to send for a bowl of strawberries. Richard draws Buckingham aside and reports that Catesby “hath sounded Hastings” and found that he “will lose his head” rather than help depose Prince Edward. They withdraw. Hastings comments on Richard’s good humor and ironically suggests that Richard can never “hide his love or hate.”

Lines 58–106:
Richard returns in a changed mood. He angrily claims that people are conspiring his death “with devilish plots / Of damned witchcraft” and have placed “hellish charms” on his body. Hastings suggests that the penalty for such an action must be death. Richard shows them the withered arm he has had since birth, claiming that he has been bewitched by Elizabeth, “that monstrous witch” and “that harlot, strumpet Shore.” Hastings is uncertain, and Richard immediately accuses him of treachery and conspiracy with Mrs. Shore and orders his execution. Too late, Hastings realizes his blindness and recounts the omens that he has ignored, including Margaret’s curses. He makes his own prophecy that England is about to enter “the fearful’st time,” before being led away.

Richard and Buckingham are dressed in damaged armor, a deliberate choice of “costume” for the events they are about to stage. This theatrical self-awareness is emphasized by Richard asking if Buckingham can pretend to be “distraught and mad with terror” and Buckingham’s assurance that he can “counterfeit the deep tragedian.” Catesby arrives as arranged, bringing the Mayor. Richard and Buckingham feign confusion and appear to be defending the Tower. Lovell and Ratcliffe bring in Hastings’ head and Richard sets about convincing the Mayor that Hastings was a traitor. Buckingham helps, reporting that Hastings, in league with “Mistress Shore,” had plotted to kill Richard. He expresses regret that Lovell and Ratcliffe
have already carried out the execution, as he would have liked the Mayor to hear Hastings’ confession so as to reassure the citizens that his execution was necessary. It becomes clear that this episode has been to further Richard’s cause with the English people and to prevent “the censures of the carping world.” After the Mayor has left, Richard sends Buckingham to talk to the citizens of London, slurring the reputation of the old king and suggesting that his children are illegitimate. Buckingham assures him that he will “play the orator.” Richard goes to make secret arrangements “To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight.”

The opinion of England’s subjects is represented by a scrivener, who comments that the execution of Hastings is a “palpable device” by Richard.

Lines 1–93:
Buckingham reports on his speech, in which he undermined the reputation of King Edward and his children and praised Richard, rallying the crowds to shout “God save Richard, England’s royal king!” In response to this, however, the people “spake not a word” and their silence provides a powerful contrast to the abundance of language so far. Richard is perplexed and angry. Buckingham tells him that the Mayor is coming, advising him to “get a prayer-book” and “stand between two churchmen.” Richard leaves and the Mayor arrives, as does Catesby. Catesby pretends that Richard refuses to see any of them as he is “Divinely bent to meditation” and Buckingham sends him back to ask again. He observes to the Mayor that Richard is “virtuous,” unlike “lewd” Edward, and pretends to be concerned that Richard will not accept the crown, commenting on how difficult it is to draw “holy and devout religious men” from their “zealous contemplation.”

Lines 94–245:
Richard appears with two clergymen. Buckingham apologizes for interrupting his devotion and begs that he will listen to
their requests. He urges Richard to accept the crown. Initially Richard refuses, allowing Buckingham to repeat all of the persuasive arguments for him and against Edward and his children. The Mayor tells Richard that his citizens “entreat” him to accept, but Richard still feigns reluctance. Finally, he piously accepts the “burden” of kingship.

Elizabeth, Dorset, and the duchess meet Anne, now Richard’s wife, with a little girl (probably Clarence’s daughter). They are all going to the Tower to visit “the gentle princes,” but Brackenbury refuses them entry on the orders of “the king.” Confused, they question him and he corrects his phrasing to “the Lord Protector.” Elizabeth asserts her right as a mother to see her children and Anne supports her, saying that she will “bear the blame,” but Brackenbury refuses. Derby arrives, bringing the news that Richard is to be crowned and that Anne is to become queen. She is dismayed at these “Despiteful tidings!” Elizabeth instructs her son Dorset to “cross the seas, / And live with Richmond” (the Lancastrian heir). The duchess curses her own womb for bringing forth Richard, a “cockatrice.” Derby urges Anne to go with him, but she would rather die than become queen. As Elizabeth sympathizes, Anne regrets her weakness in believing Richard’s “honey words” and expresses her belief that he means to kill her. As they part, Elizabeth encourages everyone to “look back” at the Tower, and asks that the “ancient stones” will pity her “tender babes.”

King Richard ascends his throne with the assistance of Buckingham, a visual metaphor of events so far. Establishing the scene’s quick shifts between public and private and demonstrating the increasingly thin margin between Richard’s personal and public personae, he and Buckingham speak aside from the rest of the court. Richard fears his kingship is not safe while Prince Edward lives. Announcing that he will “be plain,” in direct contrast to his usual
linguistic style, he asks Buckingham to kill the princes, but Buckingham asks for “some pause” to think. Buckingham leaves. Aside, Catesby observes that Richard is angry; Richard clearly feels that Buckingham is no longer trustworthy. He calls his page and asks quietly if he knows of anyone whom “corrupting gold / Will tempt unto a close exploit of death.” The page suggests a man called Tyrrell. Richard sends the page to fetch him and resolves to himself that Buckingham will “No more” be “neighbor to [his] counsels.” Derby brings the news that Dorset has fled to join Richmond. Drawing Catesby aside, Richard sends him to put about the rumor that Anne is ill “and like to die.” He contemplates his next plan: to marry Elizabeth’s daughter and secure his kingship, which “stands on brittle glass.” The page brings Tyrrell, who agrees to kill the princes. Buckingham returns and claims the “earldom of Hereford,” as promised, but Richard ignores him and continues discussing Richmond with Derby. This division between the two men marks a turning point in the play: Richard becomes increasingly isolated by his desire to retain power and has lost an ally through distrust, recalling Margaret’s curse of Act 1 Scene 3. Realizing that he is out of favor, and therefore in danger, Buckingham flees to Wales.

Tyrrell reveals that the “bloody act is done.” He is shaken, and describes the remorse of the men he hired to do the killing, “fleshed villains, bloody dogs,” who nonetheless “Melted with tenderness” and wept when they reported to him. He gives a moving description of the princes, “girdling one another / Within their alabaster innocent arms.” Richard arrives and questions Tyrrell: did Tyrrell see the princes’ bodies? Did he see them buried? Richard’s inhumanity is heightened by the contrast with Tyrrell and the hired men, who, despite their harsh natures, still felt remorse for their actions. Tyrrell leaves and Richard contemplates the latest developments in his plans: Clarence’s son is imprisoned, his daughter is “meanly matched” in marriage, and Anne is dead. He leaves to “woo” the young Princess Elizabeth. Ratcliffe brings news that “Morton is fled to Richmond” and that Buckingham is increasing his armies.
Richard resolves to act: in direct contrast to his earlier reliance on language, he declares that “fearful commenting / Is leaden servitor to dull delay” and prepares to do battle.