RICHARD III
SYNOPSIS
ACT I, SCENE I
In the first lines of the play, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, reviews the current state of affairs in England. War is over and
the house of York is on the throne. Everyone has put aside the rigors of warfare for the pleasures of peacetime, except for
Richard. He says he is not interested in such playfulness. Because he is physically deformed, he cannot see himself playing
the role of courtier. Instead he commits to villainy. He plots to set King Edward against his brother George, Duke of
Clarence, using as provocation the prophecy that someone with the letter G in his name will murder Edward’s heirs.
Directly, George is led forth by soldiers on the way to the Tower to be imprisoned. Richard suggests that this is really the
doings of the king’s wife, Lady Grey, and that no one is safe from her treachery. Richard promises to intercede for
Clarence, but as soon as he is led away, Richard reveals his true motive is to kill Clarence and get him out of the way.
Lord Hastings, who is the Lord Chamberlain, brings news of the king’s sickness. This adds to Richard’s desire to get
George out of the way. Once the king is dead Richard believes he will be in a strategic position to take over the kingdom.
He also plans to marry Lady Anne, Warwick’s youngest daughter, even though he has killed her husband Edward and her
father-in-law, King Henry VI.
ACT I, SCENE II
Lady Anne follows the hearse carrying the body of her father-in-law Henry VI. She mourns the deaths of Henry and his
son Edward, her husband, and curses Richard who murdered them both. Richard demands that the procession stop, and
Anne calls him a devil, saying that while he could kill Henry, he has no control over his soul. The wounds of Henry begin
to bleed; this most unnatural act is caused by the presence of his murderer Richard.
Richard asks permission to tell his story. He claims that Anne’s husband was actually killed by his brother Edward. He
admits to killing Henry, but thinks he did him a service by sending him to heaven. Anne rails against Richard, saying he
should go to hell, but Richard insinuates that she was the cause of the two deaths, since her beauty haunted his mind,
and he was willing to do anything to win her. He says, that he, who never cries, has shed tears of longing for Anne.
Richard, who never speaks gentle words, now tries to move the heart of Anne. If he cannot convince her of his love, he
would rather be dead. He gives her his sword, telling her to kill him. He confesses his crimes, but says it is her beauty that
provoked him to do these deeds. Richard insists Anne must choose, either kill him or accept him. He will kill himself if
she commands it. Anne relents even as she wonders about Richard’s sincerity. However, she accepts his ring and leaves the
funeral procession to await Richard at Crosby House.
Richard is overjoyed at his success, wondering if anyone has been successful in wooing a woman in such circumstances.
How could Anne forget Edward, a royal prince with a wise and gracious nature, and choose Richard who killed him? He
considers himself a wondrous handsome man to turn a woman’s heart in such a way.
ACT I, SCENE III
At the palace Queen Elizabeth and two advisors, Rivers and Grey, discuss the health of the king. They are fearful Richard
will be entrusted with the protection of the young son of King Edward. Meanwhile the king tries to reconcile the factions.
Richard complains that he has been slandered by the Queen and those loyal to her. He blames them for the imprisonment
of Clarence who fought for Edward’s party.
Queen Margaret listens to their quarrel and condemns all of them. They turn on her, accusing her of crimes, scorning
Richard’s father and killing the baby Rutland. Margaret, hoping for justice, curses each person to suffer just as she has.
She launches into a lengthy curse of Richard, but he interrupts, saying her name—claiming she curses herself. The
company has no patience with her. She warns them they will remember this day when they feel Richard’s treachery.
Richard plots with two murderers to kill Clarence. He plans to blame this murder on the Queen and her allies, Rivers,
Dorset, and Grey. Derby, Hastings, and Buckingham will back Richard when he takes revenge. Meanwhile Richard will
put on a pious face to cover his evil.
A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of William Shakespeare’s Richard III 3
ACT I, SCENE IV
Clarence, imprisoned in the tower, has a fretful night, full of nightmares of death by drowning caused by his brother
Richard. He begs his Keeper to stay with him so he can get some rest.
When the murderers enter with Richard’s commission, they find Clarence sleeping and begin to consider the crime they
have been sent to do. They are torn between conscience and greed. Clarence awakes and realizes they have come to kill
him. He begs them to consider their own salvation and the reward that they can get from Richard. They tell him that
Richard is in fact the murderer. One falters, but the other stabs Clarence and drowns him in a barrel of wine.
ACT II, SCENE I
King Edward, who is very sick, rejoices that he has united enemies and made alliances that will keep the kingdom in order
after his death. Richard swears that he is committed to this peace. When Elizabeth asks the King to be reconciled to
Clarence, Richard strikes with news of Clarence’s death, killed by the order of the King, even though he had reversed it.
Edward is saddened that he had been so rash. He fears that this act of injustice will have serious repercussions. Richard
tries to create new enmity between the two factions, insinuating that the Queen’s allies actually killed Clarence.
ACT II, SCENE II
Richard’s mother, the Duchess of York, realizes that Richard has killed Clarence and fears what will happen when the king
is dead. Elizabeth enters to announce Edward’s death. Elizabeth, the duchess, and the children of Clarence all proclaim
sorrow, but the Duchess claims the greatest grief since she has lost the most with the death of her two sons. Elizabeth’s
advisors council to be moderate and to send for the young prince Edward so he may be crowned.
Richard enters to give his comfort and to confer with the others about the company to be sent to get the prince.
Buckingham urges Richard to join in the embassy so they can plan how to separate the prince from the Queen’s family.
ACT II, SCENE III
Several citizens discuss recent events—the death of Edward and promised reign of his son. They fear that this will be a
dangerous time for the state since the prince is too young to rule and there is a strong rivalry between his uncles on both sides.
ACT II, SCENE IV
Richard, the young Duke of York, Queen Elizabeth, and the Duchess of York await the arrival of the prince. A messenger
arrives to report that Lords Rivers and Grey and Sir Vaughan have been imprisoned on the orders of the Dukes Gloucester and
Buckingham. Fearful of the outcome of this power struggle, Elizabeth decides to place herself and her son in sanctuary.
ACT III, SCENE I
Prince Edward arrives in London with Gloucester and Buckingham. Richard assures the prince that he does not recognize
the treachery of his uncles and he is better off without them. Hastings arrives to report that the Queen will not allow the
Duke of York to join his brother, the prince, and he and the Cardinal are sent to argue with her.
While they wait, Edward hears that he will stay at the Tower, even though he does not like the place. His brother, the
Duke of York, arrives, escorted by the two ambassadors. It is clear that he feels insulted by Richard, and he mocks him as
they talk. Richard and Buckingham surmise that his feelings arise from his mother’s influence. Now they send an embassy
to Lord Hastings so he will approve of the installation of Richard as king. For his part in this plot, Buckingham will be
rewarded with land and goods.
A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of William Shakespeare’s Richard III 4
ACT III, SCENE II
Hastings is drawn into Richard’s net. Because he thinks he is safe as an ally of Richard and that his enemies will be
executed in the Tower, he does not fear that two separate councils are being held. When Catesby queries if he will support
Richard’s bid for the throne, he refuses, saying he will not overthrow the legal line of inheritance from his master, the late
king. Lord Stanley warns him not to be so confident—others were unsuspecting when disaster was about to strike.
ACT III, SCENE III
Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan are taken to their execution in Pomfret Castle. They remember the curse of Margaret that they
would suffer for standing by while Richard killed her son. Their only hope is that her curse on Richard, Buckingham, and
Hastings will also be heard.
ACT III, SCENE IV
The councilors meet in the Tower to discuss the date for the King’s coronation. Hastings feels secure in Richard’s loyalty.
He believes that he can read Richard’s heart through his appearance. Just then Richard returns and claims that his withered
arm is a sign he has been bewitched by the Queen. When Hastings is slow to agree, Richard pronounces him a traitor and
demands beheading immediately. Hastings also remembers the curse of Margaret.
ACT III, SCENE V
Hastings’s head is brought in and Richard and Buckingham convince the Lord Mayor he was a traitor. Richard urges
Buckingham to follow the Mayor to the City Hall, spread rumors that Edward’s children are illegitimate, and that Edward
is both a lecher, and illegitimate himself.
ACT III, SCENE VI
A scrivener, bearing the indictment for Hastings, says it took longer to write the document then it did for Hastings’s
fortunes to change. Bad things are happening in the world.
ACT III, SCENE VII
Buckingham returns from the City Hall, saying the citizens listened to his insinuations without a word. Finally, some of
his men shouted that Richard should be king, and he took that as the general will. The Mayor waits outside to speak to
Richard, and Buckingham counsels Richard to appear to be uninterested.
When the citizens enter, Richard pretends to be deep in prayer with two clergy and refuses to meet with them. Finally,
after they have sent several messages, he appears before the group to see what they want. Buckingham acts as spokesperson
for the group and offers Richard the throne as his lawful and legal due as a legitimate heir. Richard refuses several times,
until finally Buckingham says that if he will not accept, Edward’s son will never reign. A new family will be installed on
the throne. Richard pretends to give in to the wishes of the assembled group, and he is proclaimed king.
ACT IV, SCENE I
Anne meets Queen Elizabeth and the Duchess of York at the Tower. They have come to visit with the young princes, but
the guard refuses to let them enter. All visitors are barred by Richard’s orders. Meanwhile Stanley arrives to take Anne to
Westminster to be crowned queen. Anne remembers the curse she made that Richard’s wife would know no peace. This
has come true for her.
A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of William Shakespeare’s Richard III 5
ACT IV, SCENE II
Richard, newly crowned king, complains to Buckingham that he cannot truly be king as long as young Edward lives. He
wants Buckingham to consent to the execution of the princes, but Buckingham says he needs time to think.
Richard also decides that he wants to marry Edward’s daughter. Because he must eliminate his wife first, he orders Catesby to
spread a rumor that Anne is very sick. Richard believes things are out of control, but he has committed so many crimes he
cannot turn back. He instructs Tyrrel, an assassin, to murder the princes. When Buckingham comes in and demands the
land and possessions Richard had promised him for his loyalty, Richard refuses to hear him, saying, “I am not in the giving
vein today.” Buckingham thinks of what happened to Hastings and decides to leave the court while he still has his head.
ACT IV, SCENE III
Tyrrel reports that the bloody deed is accomplished and the two young princes are dead. Richard thinks he now has to
marry the daughter of Edward so no one will be able to overthrow him. Just then news comes that Buckingham is
mounting a challenge.
ACT IV, SCENE IV
Queen Margaret, lurking near the palace, learns of the destruction of her enemies. She thinks the deaths of Queen
Elizabeth’s sons repay the deaths of her husband and son, and she reminds Elizabeth how all things have come around so
that she is no longer queen, mother, or wife, and has no subjects to do her will. Now she prophesies the death of Richard
who has caused so many deaths. Elizabeth calls on Margaret to teach her how to curse Richard.
When Richard passes in procession, both Elizabeth and his mother, the Duchess of York, accuse him of committing many
crimes. He listens impatiently, and then tries to convince Elizabeth to counsel her daughter to accept his suit. He uses
devious arguments and Elizabeth relents.
Richmond is invading by sea, and Buckingham is joining with him in rebellion against Richard. Richard fears that Stanley
will prove false too and join the forces against him. Later messengers arrive to report that a great storm has destroyed
Buckingham’s army, and he has been taken prisoner.
ACT IV, SCENE V
Stanley speaks with an ally of Richmond, saying that he would join him, except that Richard has imprisoned his son and
he is powerless to do anything at the present time.
ACT V, SCENE I
As he is led to his execution, Buckingham remembers the day he cursed himself if he should prove false to King Edward
and his children. He accepts the justice of his fate; his wrong acts have brought him to this end.
ACT V, SCENE II
At a camp near Tamworth, Richmond gathers his troops to attack Richard. The nobles speculate that Richard’s allies only
stay with him out of fear and soon will desert him.
ACT V, SCENE III
At Bosworth Field, Richard arrives with his troops and surveys the field while his tent is set up for the night. In another
part of the field, Richmond gathers with his troops and sends a secret message to Stanley who plans to aid Richmond even
as he appears to fight for Richard. As both Richmond and Richard sleep in different parts of the field, ghosts appear,
cursing Richard and wishing Richmond good fortune. Richard wakes in a fearful mood, wanting to spy on his soldiers to
see if they are loyal. Richmond, on the other hand, is rested, full of great confidence in victory. Each leader makes a speech
to his soldiers, and then it is time for the battle. Richard learns that Stanley will not fight, but there is no time to kill his
son—that must wait until after the fighting.
A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of William Shakespeare’s Richard III 6
ACT V, SCENE IV
Richard is thrown from his horse but still refuses to leave the battlefield until he has met and killed Richmond.
ACT V, SCENE V
Richard and Richmond fight until Richard is killed. Stanley takes the crown from Richard’s head and places it on
Richmond, proclaiming him king. Richmond pledges to forge an alliance between the families of York and Lancaster by
marrying Elizabeth and so heal the wounds of division in England.
BEFORE READING
STUDYING SHAKESPEARE’S LANGUAGE
Syntax: Some of students’ difficulties with Shakespearean language stem from the complex syntax used to create poetic
effects. Choose some lines from the play. Rearrange the words in a more usual word order, then convert the embedded
phrases and clauses into simple sentences. Add, change, or omit some of the words.
For example:
Act I, ii, 188-192:
Richard: That was in thy rage. Speak it again, and even with the word
This hand, which for thy love did kill thy love,
Shall for thy love kill a far truer love.
Act I, ii, 242-245:
Richard: A sweeter and a lovelier gentleman,
Framed in the prodigality of nature,
Young, valiant, wise, and, no doubt, right royal,
The spacious world cannot again afford.
2. Rhymes: Look at the way in which Shakespeare plays with syntax in order to create rhymes. Find other examples
throughout the play.
Act I, ii, 263-264
Richard: Shine out, fair sun, till I have bought a glass
That I may see my shadow as I pass.
Act III, vii, 232-235
Richard: Your mere enforcement shall acquittance me
From all the impure blots and stains thereof;
For God doth know, and you may partly see,
How far I am from the desire of this.
Arrange some of the speeches in the play into rhyming couplets. Vary and omit words as necessary. Find others throughout
the play.
Act III, iii, 24-25
Rivers: Come, Grey, come Vaughan, let us here embrace.
Farewell, until we meet again in heaven.
Rearranged:
Come, Grey, come Vaughan, let us here embrace.
Farewell, until in heaven we find grace.
Act III, iv, 58-61
Richard: I pray you all, tell me what they deserve
That do conspire my death with devilish plots
Of damned witchcraft, and that have prevailed
Upon my body with their hellish charms.
Rearranged:
I pray you all, tell me what they deserve
That do conspire my death with devilish verve
By damned witchcraft, and that have prevailed
Upon my body and with their hellish charms against me railed.
. Dramatic Irony: Because of Richard’s propensity to say one thing while meaning something else, usually something
sinister, this play is full of dramatic irony. Formulate a definition of dramatic irony from your past experiences reading
and seeing plays. (The effect of dramatic irony is to create tension and anxiety. In some cases the audience knows more
about the situation than the unwitting character and, consequently, feels anxiety and pity for the character. At other times
the use of irony allows the character to mask their real intentions, which are evident to the audience.) Look at several
instances of irony in the play.
For example: Act I, ii, 26-28 Anne curses herself when she curses Richard’s wife. Act I, iv, 4 Clarence predicts his own
death when he says he won’t live another night with such terrible nightmares. Identify other examples of dramatic irony.
WHILE READING
READER RESPONSE
The following quotations may lead to rich responses:
ACT I
1. “And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover
To entertain these fair well-spoken days,
I am determined to prove a villain
And hate the idle pleasures of these days.” (I, i, 28-31)
2. “Why, this it is when men are ruled by women.” (I, i, 62)
3. “And I no friends to back my suit at all
But the plain devil and dissembling looks,
And yet to win her, all the world to nothing” (I, ii, 235-237)
4. “But then I sigh, and with a piece of Scripture
Tell them that God bids us do good for evil;
And thus I clothe my naked villainy
With odd old ends stol’n forth of holy writ,
And seem a saint when most I play the devil. (I, iii, 333-337)
5. “Methought that Gloucester stumbled, and in the falling
Struck me (that thought to stay him) overboard
Into the tumbling billows of the main.” (I, iv, 18-20)
ACT II
1. “Yet none of you would once beg for his life.
O god, I fear thy justice will take hold
On me and you, and mine and yours, for this!” (II, i, 132-134)
2. “This is the fruits of rashness. Marked you not
How that the guilty kindred of the Queen
Looked pale when they hear of Clarence’ death? (II, i, 136-138)
3. “Ah, that deceit should steal such gentle shape
And with a virtuous visor hide deep vice! (II, ii, 27-28)
4. “Better it were they [uncles] all came by his father,
Or by his father there were none at all;
For emulation who shall now be nearest
Will touch us all too near, if God prevent not.” (II, iii, 23-26)
5. “The tiger now hath seized the gentle hind;
Insulting tyranny begins to jut
Upon the innocent and aweless throne.
Welcome destruction, blood, and massacre!
I see, as in a map, the end of all.” (II, iv, 50-54)
A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of William Shakespeare’s Richard III 12
ACT III
1. “Sweet Prince, the untainted virtue of your years
Hath not yet dived into the world’s deceit;
Nor more can you distinguish of a man
Than of his outward show, which, God he knows,
Seldom or never jumpeth with the heart.” (III, i, 7-11)
2. “Now Margaret’s curse is fall’n upon our heads,
When she exclaimed on Hastings, you, and I,
For standing by when Richard stabbed her son”
(spoken by Grey to Rivers, III, iii, 17-19)
3. “I think there’s never a man in Christendom
Can lesser hide his love or hate than he,
For by his face straight shall you know his heart. (Spoken
by Hastings about Richard, III, iv, 51-53)
4. “Who builds his hope in air of your good looks
Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast,
Ready with every nod to tumble down
Into the fatal bowels of the deep. (III, iv, 97-100)
5. “Here’s a good world the while! Who is so gross
That cannot see this palpable device?
Yet who so bold but says he sees it not?
Bad is the world, and all will come to nought
When such ill dealing must be seen in thought. (III, vi, 10-14)
6. “Your brother’s son shall never reign our king,
But we will plant some other in the throne
To the disgrace and downfall of your house” (III, vii, 214-217)
ACT IV
1. “Lo, ere I can repeat this curse again,
Within so small a time, my woman’s heart
Grossly grew captive to his honey words
And proved the subject of mine own soul’s curse” (IV, i, 77-80)
2. “But I am in
So far in blood that sin will pluck on sin.” (IV, ii. 62-63)
3. “Oh thou well skilled in curses, stay awhile
And teach me how to curse mine enemies!” (IV, iv, 116-117)
4. “Bloody thou art, bloody will be thy end” (IV, iv, 195)
ACT V
1. “That high All-seer which I dallied with
Hath turned my feigned prayer on my head
And given in earnest what I begged in jest.” (V, i, 20-22)
2. “He hath no friends but what are friends for fear,
Which in his dearest need will fly from him” (V, ii, 20-21)
3. “There is no creature loves me;
And if I die, no soul will pity me.
Nay, wherefore should they, since that I myself
Find in myself no pity to myself?” (V, iii, 201-204)
4. “Let not our babbling dreams affright our souls;
Conscience is but a word that cowards use,
Devised at first to keep the strong in awe” (V, iii, 309-311)
5. “A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!” (V, iv, 13)
Reading for meaning: Student one reads several lines of a character. Student two explains what the character “really” means.
Ex. Lady MacBeth: “Out, out damn spot.”
Explanation: I’ve got to wash this blood off my hands or everybody will know that my husband killed the king.
Richard: “Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York;
And all the clouds that loured upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.
Explanation: Our bad times are over and we have time to enjoy more pleasant things.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Explore character, action, and symbolism more fully.
ACT I
1. What does Richard reveal about his character and motives in his opening speech?
2. What does Richard think of his brothers, King Edward and Clarence? What picture does Richard paint of Edward’s character?
3. Why does Richard insinuate to Clarence that he shouldn’t blame Edward for his imprisonment but the King’s wife, Elizabeth?
4. Why is Hastings willing to ally with Richard?
5. Explain Anne’s change of heart toward Richard. What does this scene between Anne and Richard show about Richard’s personality?
6. What do you learn about the political situation in Edward’s court?
What opportunities does this situation present to Richard? What could be Shakespeare’s purpose in painting this picture
of Edward’s reign?
7. What strategies does Richard use to set his plots in motion? Why are they so effective?
8. Why does Shakespeare bring Queen Margaret into Edward’s court?
What do the reactions of Richard, Queen Elizabeth, Hastings, Buckingham, Rivers, and Dorset reveal about their characters?
9. Why is Clarence having nightmares? What are his fears?
10. What is the purpose of the lengthy conversation, first between the two murderers and then the murderers and Clarence?
How do you feel when you are reading or viewing this scene?
ACT II
1. How does Richard use his information about Clarence’s death to further his plots?
2. Explain Edward’s reaction to the news of Clarence’s death. What sense of justice does Edward suspect is in control of the
lives of all his family and allies?
3. What could be Buckingham’s motive in suggesting that the young prince be brought to London with “some little train”?
4. What is the role of the women and children in this act?
5. Why does Shakespeare include a scene where the citizens discuss the political situation?
A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of William Shakespeare’s Richard III 15
ACT III
1. Compare Hastings’ speech in III, iv, 48-53 with his speech in III, iv, 95-100. What has Hastings realized by the end of
the scene?
2. List the people who die by Richard’s orders in Act III. What does each of them realize as they die? What does this suggest
about the idea of justice presented in the play?
3. How does Buckingham’s speech in III, vii, 24-41 support the Scrivener’s speech at the beginning of the scene? What other
characters in this scene act in ways that bear out the Scrivener’s speech?
4. How does Buckingham in III, vii live up to the boast he makes in III, v, 5-12?
ACT IV
1. What does Anne realize about her relationship with Richard?
2. Why is Richard still not satisfied even when he is crowned king?
3. Why is Buckingham reluctant to do Richard’s bidding when it comes to killing the young prince when he has been willing
to go along with all the other plots?
4. Do you agree or disagree with Margaret’s idea of retributive justice and why?
Must death be answered by death or is there another way justice can come about?
5. Do you think Richard’s arguments to get Elizabeth to woo her daughter in his name work? Why or why not?
ACT V
1. What differences do you see between the camps of Richard and Richmond? What do they suggest about the right order
of leadership?
2. What is the impact of the visits of the ghosts to Richard and Richmond?
3. Compare the speeches of Richmond and Richard to their troops before the battle. What do their choices of words and
arguments suggest about the personalities of the two men?
4. What is Richard’s reaction when the fighting seems to be going against him? What does his reaction show about his character?
Has Richard changed in the course of the action in his motivation or dedication?
5. In the end is Richard totally evil or does his portrayal suggest any admirable traits? Defend your point of view.
AFTER READING
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