Richard III
The conclusion of Shakespeare's first historical tetralogy — and one of his most electrifying plays — Richard III dramatizes the rise and fall of Richard, Duke of Gloucester: manipulator, seducer, murderer, and ultimately king, until brought down by the forces of Henry Tudor at Bosworth.
At a Glance
- Genre: History (also classified as Tragedy)
- Approximate date: c. 1592–1593
- Setting: England
- Source: Holinshed's Chronicles; Sir Thomas More's History of Richard III
- Acts: 5
Dramatis Personæ
| Character | Description |
|---|---|
| RICHARD, DUKE OF GLOUCESTER | Afterwards King Richard III; hunchback; villain-hero |
| KING EDWARD THE FOURTH | Richard's brother; weakened by illness |
| GEORGE, DUKE OF CLARENCE | Richard's other brother; murdered on Richard's orders |
| QUEEN ELIZABETH | Edward IV's queen |
| EDWARD, PRINCE OF WALES | Eldest son; future Edward V; murdered in the Tower |
| RICHARD, DUKE OF YORK | Second son; murdered in the Tower |
| BOY (son to Clarence) | |
| GIRL (daughter to Clarence) | |
| DUCHESS OF YORK | Mother to Edward IV, Clarence, and Richard |
| QUEEN MARGARET | Widow of Henry VI; curses Richard prophetically |
| LADY ANNE | Widow of Prince Edward; seduced and married by Richard |
| DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM | Richard's chief ally; turns against him; executed |
| LORD HASTINGS | Lord Chamberlain; refuses to support Richard; executed |
| LORD STANLEY, EARL OF DERBY | Cautious; eventually supports Richmond |
| EARL RIVERS | Queen Elizabeth's brother; executed by Richard |
| LORD GREY | Queen's son; executed |
| MARQUESS OF DORSET | Queen's son; escapes |
| SIR THOMAS VAUGHAN | Executed |
| SIR WILLIAM CATESBY | Richard's servant |
| SIR RICHARD RATCLIFFE | Richard's instrument |
| LORD LOVELL | Richard's follower |
| SIR JAMES TYRREL | Arranges murder of the Princes in the Tower |
| SIR ROBERT BRAKENBURY | Lieutenant of the Tower |
| HENRY, EARL OF RICHMOND | Future Henry VII; defeats Richard at Bosworth |
| EARL OF OXFORD | Richmond's ally |
| SIR JAMES BLUNT, SIR WALTER HERBERT, SIR WILLIAM BRANDON | Richmond's allies |
| CHRISTOPHER URSWICK | A priest; Richmond's messenger |
| ARCHBISHOP OF YORK, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, BISHOP OF ELY | Churchmen |
| LORD MAYOR OF LONDON |
Plot Summary
Act I: Richard opens with one of theatre's most celebrated soliloquies, declaring his villainy to the audience. He plots the destruction of his brother Clarence (accusing him of plotting against Edward IV), while simultaneously wooing Lady Anne over the coffin of her father-in-law Henry VI — a scene of breathtaking audacity. Clarence is imprisoned. The dying Edward IV tries to make peace between court factions. Queen Margaret curses everyone.
Act II: Clarence is murdered in the Tower (drowned in a butt of malmsey wine). Edward IV dies. Richard and Buckingham outmaneuver the Queen's faction. The young princes are intercepted on their way to London; Lord Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan are arrested.
Act III: Richard and Buckingham orchestrate the removal of Lord Hastings (who won't support Richard's bid for the throne). Hastings is summarily executed. The Lord Mayor is manipulated into requesting Richard to accept the crown. The princes are lodged in the Tower.
Act IV: Richard is crowned. He orders Buckingham to arrange the murder of the princes; Buckingham hesitates and falls from favour. Sir James Tyrrel carries out the murders. Richard plans to marry his niece Elizabeth (daughter of Edward IV). Buckingham raises rebellion; he is captured and executed. Richmond (Henry Tudor) invades from France.
Act V: On the eve of Bosworth, the ghosts of Richard's victims appear to both Richard and Richmond — cursing Richard, blessing Richmond. Richard wakes in despair, the first time his self-composure cracks. At the Battle of Bosworth Field, Richard's horse is killed ("A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!"). Richard fights bravely but is killed by Richmond. Richmond is crowned Henry VII; the Tudor dynasty begins.
Key Themes
- The charismatic villain — Richard seduces the audience as he seduces his victims
- Providence and nemesis — the Tudor myth: God punishes England for usurpation, then restores order through Richmond
- Isolation — Richard's power comes from his separateness; his downfall comes from his total solitude
- The corrupting effect of power — each victim Richard creates adds to his haunting
Notable Quotations
"Now is the winter of our discontent / Made glorious summer by this sun of York." *(I.i)*
"I am determined to prove a villain / And hate the idle pleasures of these days." *(I.i)*
"A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!" *(V.iv)*
"Was ever woman in this humour wooed? / Was ever woman in this humour won?" *(I.ii)*
LibriVox Recording
Richard III audiobook on LibriVox — Free public domain recording.
Cross-references
- Histories — genre context
- Henry VI, Part 3 — Richard's scheming begins there
- Macbeth — both play the self-aware villain-king brought to ruin
- Tragedies — the play shares much with Shakespeare's tragedies