Richard III Synopsis
Act I, Scene 1,
Brother vs. Brother, York vs. Lancaster
Richard, Duke of Gloucester, meditates on England’s
happy state under his brother, the Yorkist King Edward
IV, who has been victorious in battle. Richard is unhappy;
he does not like sitting around doing nothing and, being
born deformed, he may as well be the villain people think
he is. He schemes to cause trouble between his brothers
George, the Duke of Clarence, and the King. It has been
prophesied that someone by the letter ‘G’ will murder
Edward’s heirs, so Edward has ordered George’s arrest
and imprisonment. Richard tells George the fault lies
with their sister-in-law, Queen Elizabeth (Lady Grey),
promising to free him but secretly plotting his death.
Word comes that the king is gravely ill. Richard vows
to marry Anne, widow of Edward, Lancastrian Prince of
Wales, to make up for the fact he killed her husband and
her father.
Act I, Scene 2, Flirting at the Funeral
Lady Anne is mourning the death of her father-in-law,
King Henry VI. Richard seizes the opportunity to seduce
her. She is angry with him for killing the king and her
husband. Richard tries to convince her that he killed them
for love of her, and that it would be to her advantage to
marry him. Anne agrees. Richard congratulates himself
on his success.
Act I, Scene 3, Queen vs. Queen
Queen Elizabeth is worried about her fate and that of
her sons if Edward dies. Her eldest son, the heir, will be
placed under Richard’s protection. Her brother, Lord
Rivers, and Lord Grey (her son from a previous marriage)
try to reassure her. The Duke of Buckingham brings word
that the king wishes to make peace between Richard and
Elizabeth’s family. Richard and Elizabeth bicker over who
is more loyal. He blames her for George’s imprisonment,
and she threatens to tell Edward. King Henry VI’s widow,
Queen Margaret, enters, speaking to herself about how
she is the rightful queen and hoping God takes revenge
on Richard. She reveals herself to them, and Richard says
she killed his father so it is God’s wrath upon her. She
curses Elizabeth with the deaths of her children and the
loss of the throne, and Richard with paranoia. Richard
tries to turn the curse back on her. After everyone has
left, he prides himself on the fact that he has managed to
keep everyone on side, then prepares his hired hit men
for the killing of George.
Act I, Scene 4, Conscience Calls
George has an attack of conscience – he has nightmares
about being killed by Richard, being greeted in the
afterlife by his father-in-law, the Earl of Warwick,
and being tortured by demons. He prays to God for
forgiveness. Richard’s hit men come and demand that
George be handed over. The Second Murderer has an
attack of conscience. George refuses to believe Richard
hates him and is sad that the brothers’ bond has been
broken. The First Murderer stabs George, drowns him in
a barrel of wine then hides the body.
Act II, Scene 1,
King Edward Tries to Play Happy Families
on His Deathbed
Kind Edward is on his deathbed and seeks reconciliation
between his family and friends. Richard comes and asks
for forgiveness. He breaks the news to them that George
is dead, giving the appearance that Queen Elizabeth’s
relatives are to blame.
Act II, Scene 2, Time for Action
George’s son and daughter believe Edward is to blame
for George’s death and pray for vengeance. Their
grandmother, the Duchess of York, believes Richard (her
own son) is to blame. Queen Elizabeth mourns Edward’s
death. Rivers and Buckingham urge her to have her son,
the Prince of Wales, crowned immediately. They go to
get the boy.
Act II, Scene 3, The Citizens Live in Fear
The citizens are fearful of having a child king and suspect
Richard of being dangerous. They decide to leave the
result up to God.
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Act II, Scene 4,
The Queen Takes Sanctuary
The young Duke of York (Elizabeth and Edward’s
younger son), Queen Elizabeth and the Duchess of York
joke about the Prince of Wales growing up quickly to be
king. A messenger arrives, announcing that Lords Rivers
and Grey, and another friend, Sir Thomas Vaughan, have
been taken prisoner by Buckingham and Gloucester.
Queen Elizabeth and the Duchess of York decide to seek
sanctuary.
heirs, implying that Edward was the result of an affair
their mother had while their father the king was in France.
It is decided that George’s children will be removed and
all access to the princes in the tower is forbidden.
Act III, Scene 6, A Scribe’s Commentary
A scribe is preparing to read Hasting’s indictment, which
he has spent 11 hours preparing. He despairs that he had
advanced notice to prepare it – that there are people in
the world who consciously plan to kill others.
Act III, Scene 1,
The Princes are sent to the Tower
Act III, Scene 7,
Richard Becomes the Model Christian King
The Prince of Wales arrives in London and is
disappointed to find none of his family there to meet him.
Lord Hastings tells him they have taken sanctuary and
Queen Elizabeth forbade the Duke of York from coming
to meet him. The Cardinal and Hastings are sent to fetch
him. Richard sends the Prince of Wales and Duke of
York to stay in the Tower until the coronation, but he is
actually planning their downfall. Richard and Buckingham
also plot the demise of the uncles and Hastings. They
question the loyalty of Lord Stanley, who is likely to take
Hastings’ side, and whose stepson, the Earl of Richmond,
also has claims to the throne.
At Baynard’s Castle, Buckingham updates Richard on the
speech he made to the citizens, denouncing Edward and
his heirs as illegitimate and praising Richard. The speech
was met with silence. Buckingham plays spin doctor
and urges Richard to assume godliness, being seen in
the presence of priests and praying, to win the people’s
favour. He sets it up so that when the Lord Mayor and
citizens arrive, they feel they are interrupting Richard’s
prayer time. He tries to convince them that Richard
would make a better king than Edward was. Buckingham
and the Lords petition Richard to take the throne,
again listing all the arguments against Edward. Richard
pretends to refuse, saying he is unworthy, but then gives
in. The coronation is set for the next day.
Act III, Scene 2,
Hastings Learns of His Fate
Word is brought to Hastings of the impending deaths and
Richard’s plan to take the crown. Lord Stanley is uneasy.
Buckingham comes to get Hastings, knowing his fate.
Act II, Scene 3,
Rivers and Co. are Executed
Rivers, Grey and Vaughan are brought to Pomfret. Rivers
prays that Margaret’s curse will be fulfilled, and for
protection for Elizabeth and her sons. The three are taken
away for execution.
Act III, Scene 4, Hastings is Executed
The Council discusses the coronation. Buckingham tells
Richard that Hastings is siding with the young prince.
Richard accuses Hastings of treachery and orders his
execution. Hastings prophecies doom for England. He dies.
Act III, Scene 5,
Richard Tries to Disprove Edward’s Claim
to the Throne
Richard and Buckingham are outside the tower discussing
when Hasting’s head is brought out. Richard tells
Buckingham that Edward’s children are not legitimate
Act IV, Scene 1,
The Women Learn of Richard’s Ascension
Queen Elizabeth, Anne and the Duchess of York wish
to see the princes in the tower, but are denied. Stanley
arrives, announcing that Anne is to be taken and crowned
as Richard’s queen. The women are upset. Queen
Elizabeth sends her son Dorset to safety with Henry, Earl
of Richmond, and fears for her sons in the tower.
Act IV, Scene 2, The Coronation
Richard is king, but he cannot be happy while the Prince
of Wales lives. Buckingham is hesitant to support a plan
to murder them. Richard commissions Tyrrell to kill the
boys. Richard is also troubled because Anne is gravely
ill, so he resolves to marry Edward’s daughter, young
Elizabeth, after Anne dies. Buckingham wants to be
rewarded for his loyalty, but Richard is too busy plotting
the death of Richmond, because of a prophecy that a
king would come from Richmond. Buckingham leaves
disillusioned.
Act IV, Scene 3, Richard Makes His Move
Tyrrell reveals to the audience that he paid two men to
kill the princes. He tells Richard the deed is done and
© 2013 The Shakespeare Globe Trust. Permission granted to reproduce for personal and educational use only. Commercial copying, hiring, lending, is prohibited.
that they were buried in an unknown place. Anne is dead.
Richard prepares to woo young Elizabeth, in competition
with Richmond. He receives the news that Buckingham
has raised an army against him.
Act IV, Scene 4,
The Women Join Forces; Richard Makes
More Plans
Queen Elizabeth mourns the death of her sons. Queen
Margaret convinces Elizabeth and the Duchess of York
to form an alliance. Richard arrives, and they confront
him over the deaths of their family and friends. The
Duchess of York curses him with death on the battlefield.
Richard explains to Queen Elizabeth his plan to marry
her daughter and asks for her help. She is understandably
dubious as her daughter has lost brothers and an uncle
at Richard’s hands. They debate, and she eventually
agrees to help him. News comes that Richmond is on his
way with an army to join Buckingham, but further news
reveals that both armies have been dispersed by storms.
Buckingham has been captured. Richard takes Stanley’s
son hostage to force Stanley’s loyalty.
Act IV, Scene 5,
Stanley Musters His Troops
Stanley tells Lord Urswick his son is being held by
Richard. Lord Urswick says an army is gathering and
headed for London.
Act V, Scene 1, Buckingham’s Execution
Buckingham is executed and feels he got his just desserts
– the fulfilment of Margaret’s curse.
Act V, Scene 2, Onward march
Richmond’s army marches towards Leicester.
Act V, Scene 3, Preparing for Battle
Richard is feeling confident because his army is three
times larger than the traitors’. Richmond arrives and
rallies his troops. Richard sends a note commanding
Stanley to join him. Stanley tells Richmond he will
proceed with caution for the sake of his son. Richmond
prays for victory. The ghosts of Edward, Henry VI,
George, Rivers, Grey, Vaughn, Hastings, the two princes,
Anne and Buckingham appear and curse Richard, but
bless Richmond with victory. Richard wakes up troubled;
Richmond wakes up happy. Richard tries to bolster
his troops by rubbishing Richmond. Stanley refuses to
support Richard; fortunately, Richard doesn’t have time to
kill his son.
Act V, Scene 4,
The Battle of Bosworth Field
Richard’s horse is slain and he calls desperately for
another. He is defeated. Richmond proclaims the
unification of York and Lancaster through himself and
young Elizabeth. He asks for God’s blessing on the union.
© 2013 The Shakespeare Globe Trust. Permission granted to reproduce for personal and educational use only. Commercial copying, hiring, lending, is prohibited.