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King Richard III Play
Richard the Third takes up the action from Henry
VI, Part Three. Edward IV has grown ill, and will not
live much longer.... Richard III (the Duke of Gloucester)
still has his eye on the throne even though his brother,
Edward IV occcupies it. The Duke of Gloucester plans
on setting Edward IV and his other brother George (Duke
of Clarence) against one another so he can eventually
seize the throne. Betraying his brother George, The
Duke of Gloucester casts doubt on his brother, resulting
in George being arrested on the charge of treason. Showing
his evil, the Duke of Gloucester even pursues Anne,
the widow of the slain Edward, Prince of Wales (Henry
VI's son). Scandalously, the Duke of Gloucester does
not even let a funeral procession (for Henry VI) get
in his way...The Duke of Gloucester successfully courts
Anne despite telling her he had her husband killed because
he loved her.
Edward IV dies, intensifying the Duke of Gloucester's
desire for the throne. Leaving nothing to chance, The
Duke of Gloucester has already made plans for brother
Clarence to die in the Tower of London, Clarence drowning
in a wine barrel. Naturally the Duke of Gloucester will
have to take the throne until Edward V, Edward's IV's
son and heir is of age to rule. Queen Elizabeth's sons
Grey and Dorset are sent by Buckingham and Richard III
to Pomfret Castle. Queen Elizabeth and son Richard (the
Duke of York) go into hiding. Under the guise of protection,
Richard has both Edward V (the Prince of Wales) and
his brother the Duke of York stay in the Tower of London,
a place where Gloucester, Henry VI and George have all
been killed... Now, Richard III imprisons Rivers, Vaughn
and Grey, all of whom are loyal to Edward and are killed
at Pomfret Castle. At the Tower of London, Richard III
has Hastings beheaded for "treason." Now without
Lords to defend them, Richard III has Buckingham spread
rumours that King Edward IV and his children are all
illegitimate. Richard arranges to be publicly offered
the crown which he pretends to be reluctant to take...
Needing to strengthen his claim as King, Richard III
decides to remove the threat of Edward IV's offspring.
Unfortunately even the ever loyal Buckingham can't conscionably
kill two children. Richard therefore has Tyrell kill
the boys, and now finds little use for Buckingham...
Anne mysteriously vanishes allowing Richard to pursue
Elizabeth, his niece and the daughter of the late King
Edward IV. However Elizabeth has arranged to marry the
Earl of Richmond instead. Richmond is leading an army
in France intent on fighting Richard. Buckingham, no
longer able to find favor with Richard, joins Richmond.
Unfortunately for Buckingham, floods cause chaos in
his army, resulting in his capture and execution by
Richard. Meanwhile Richmond crosses the Channel and
heads for London. Both armies gather near Bosworth Field.
The night before battle, all those Richard has killed,
come to see him as ghosts, foretelling his doom... These
same ghosts wish Richmond all the best. In battle, Richard
is thrown from his horse. Amid the slaughter and chaos,
Richmond meets Richard III, Richmond killing the tyrant.
On the battlefield, Richmond is crowned King Henry VII.
The York line of Kings is dead and with it the War of
the Roses when King Henry VII (Lancaster) marries Elizabeth
(Edward IV's daughter, a York).
Contents
Dramatis
Personæ
Act I
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV
Act II
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV
Act III
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV, Scene V, Scene
VI, Scene VII
Act IV
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV, Scene V
Act V
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV
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