RICHARD III Act 4 The Gathering Storm

TODAY’S QUIZ What was Queen Elizabeth’s primary motivation in this portion of the reading?

ACT 4, SCENE 1: THE SPACE OF WOMEN All the of the Yorkist women gather before the Tower of London, hoping to see Edward V and Richard, Duke of York All the of the Yorkist women gather before the Tower of London, hoping to see Edward V and Richard, Duke of York There is a sense of female solidarity, as Elizabeth tells Anne “We’ll enter all together” There is a sense of female solidarity, as Elizabeth tells Anne “We’ll enter all together” All are denied access to the princes and they learn of Richard’s upcoming crowning All are denied access to the princes and they learn of Richard’s upcoming crowning

Anne’s speech is the longest in this scene and her last appearance in the play Like other characters who make their final appearance, Anne looks both backwards and forwards, contemplating her fate How does Anne respond to becoming queen? What is her wish at this point? Anne also reveals new details about Richard in this scene, telling Queen Elizabeth of his “timorous dream” (4.1.84); What does this mean?

ACT 4, SCENE 2 Why do you think that Buckingham is reluctant to go along with Richard’s plan to murder the young princes when he has gone along with all of Richard’s other plots? Why do you think that Buckingham is reluctant to go along with Richard’s plan to murder the young princes when he has gone along with all of Richard’s other plots? Notice that Richard has changed his tactics; while before he used clever manipulation to obtain his desires, he is now resorting more and more to overt action and these actions are focused on women and children Notice that Richard has changed his tactics; while before he used clever manipulation to obtain his desires, he is now resorting more and more to overt action and these actions are focused on women and children Richard tells the audience “But I am in so far in blood that sin will pluck on sin” (4.2.63); What does this mean? Richard tells the audience “But I am in so far in blood that sin will pluck on sin” (4.2.63); What does this mean? Why has becoming king changed Richard? Why has becoming king changed Richard?

RICHARD’S INSECURITY Richard cannot forget those who could rightfully claim the throne (Prince Edward and Prince Richard, Clarence’s son and daughter) Richard cannot forget those who could rightfully claim the throne (Prince Edward and Prince Richard, Clarence’s son and daughter) Richard also plans to have his new wife murdered so that he can marry his own niece Richard also plans to have his new wife murdered so that he can marry his own niece Notice that while Stanley tells Richard of Dorset’s flight and the threat of Richmond, the king ignores Buckingham, who requests payment Notice that while Stanley tells Richard of Dorset’s flight and the threat of Richmond, the king ignores Buckingham, who requests payment Buckingham’s response to Richard’s failure to repay his debt is very different from that of Hastings Buckingham’s response to Richard’s failure to repay his debt is very different from that of Hastings Jim Broadbent and Ian McKellen in the 1995 film

ACT 4, SCENE 3: THE MURDER OF THE PRINCES Spend a few minutes reading over Tyrrell’s narration about the murder of the two princes in the Tower. Spend a few minutes reading over Tyrrell’s narration about the murder of the two princes in the Tower. How would you describe Tyrrell’s account of the death of the princes? How would you describe Tyrrell’s account of the death of the princes? Why do you think Shakespeare chose to have the murders take place off-stage? Why do you think Shakespeare chose to have the murders take place off-stage? Following Tyrrell’s account of the murder, Richard further discusses his plans to marry Elizabeth of York (Edward IV’s eldest daughter) and Ratcliffe tells him that Morton also has joined Richmond Following Tyrrell’s account of the murder, Richard further discusses his plans to marry Elizabeth of York (Edward IV’s eldest daughter) and Ratcliffe tells him that Morton also has joined Richmond

HENRY, EARL OF RICHMOND, LATER HENRY VII After the deaths of Henry VI and his son, Edward, Henry was the leading Lancastrian claimant to the throne His claim was not especially strong He spent his early years in exile in Brittany; his family was often poor His character isn’t fully developed in Shakespeare’s play; we won’t see him until the final act

ACT 4, SCENE 4 This scene showcases the female characters of the play, their sufferings, and the pattern of crimes over the course of the War of the Roses This scene showcases the female characters of the play, their sufferings, and the pattern of crimes over the course of the War of the Roses The characters: The characters: Queen Margaret: her husband Henry VI and son Edward were both killed by Richard Queen Margaret: her husband Henry VI and son Edward were both killed by Richard The Duchess of York (Richard’s mother): Richard killed her second son, Clarence, Margaret’s husband and son killed her husband (Richard of York) and other son (Rutland) The Duchess of York (Richard’s mother): Richard killed her second son, Clarence, Margaret’s husband and son killed her husband (Richard of York) and other son (Rutland) Queen Elizabeth—Richard killed her brother, her sons from her first marriage, and her sons by Edward IV (the princes in the Tower) Queen Elizabeth—Richard killed her brother, her sons from her first marriage, and her sons by Edward IV (the princes in the Tower)

MOURNING AND CONSOLATION The women list all of Richard’s crimes; do they console each other? Or are they competing in some way? The women list all of Richard’s crimes; do they console each other? Or are they competing in some way? Notice the suggestion that the scales are balanced by all of these deaths Notice the suggestion that the scales are balanced by all of these deaths “Plantagenet doth quit Plantagenet / Edward for Edward pays a dying debt” ( ) “Plantagenet doth quit Plantagenet / Edward for Edward pays a dying debt” ( ) “I had an Edward, till a Richard killed him; / I had a husband, till a Richard killed him: / Thou hadst an Edward, till a Richard killed him; / Thou hadst a Richard, till a Richard killed him” ( ) “I had an Edward, till a Richard killed him; / I had a husband, till a Richard killed him: / Thou hadst an Edward, till a Richard killed him; / Thou hadst a Richard, till a Richard killed him” ( ) Richard III, Utah Shakespeare Festival 2003

JUSTICE What is Margaret’s idea of justice? What is Margaret’s idea of justice? Richard is presented in different ways by his female judges: Richard is presented in different ways by his female judges: Elizabeth calls him “that bottled spider, that foul bunch-backed toad,” suggesting that he has become a beast Elizabeth calls him “that bottled spider, that foul bunch-backed toad,” suggesting that he has become a beast Margaret notes that he is “the foul defacer of God’s handiwork,” meaning that he is interfering in the divine order Margaret notes that he is “the foul defacer of God’s handiwork,” meaning that he is interfering in the divine order Margaret also calls him “hell’s black intelligencer,” which suggest that he is controlled by a higher authority (Satan) Margaret also calls him “hell’s black intelligencer,” which suggest that he is controlled by a higher authority (Satan) Which of these ideas resonates the most with your understanding of Richard? Why? Which of these ideas resonates the most with your understanding of Richard? Why?

APPEARANCE AND REALITY Margaret suggests that Elizabeth was a victim of self-deception: “A sign of dignity, a breath, a bubble, / A queen in jest, only to fill the scene” ( ) Margaret suggests that Elizabeth was a victim of self-deception: “A sign of dignity, a breath, a bubble, / A queen in jest, only to fill the scene” ( ) Is this simply metatheater or is Margaret suggesting something deeper? Is this simply metatheater or is Margaret suggesting something deeper? Gwen Richardson as Queen Elizabeth, 1921

THE DUCHESS OF YORK’S CURSE Margaret’s curses permeate the play; in this scene, she teaches the Yorkist women to curse Richard (something she earlier prophesized) Margaret’s curses permeate the play; in this scene, she teaches the Yorkist women to curse Richard (something she earlier prophesized) The Duchess of York curses her son, noting that throughout his life he has been a cause of grief The Duchess of York curses her son, noting that throughout his life he has been a cause of grief What is his response to her curses? What is his response to her curses?

DANGEROUS INCEST Richard attempts to get Elizabeth to act on his behalf and convince her daughter (his niece) to marry him Richard attempts to get Elizabeth to act on his behalf and convince her daughter (his niece) to marry him At first Elizabeth states the moral and legal objections to his suit, but later seems to agree to his demands At first Elizabeth states the moral and legal objections to his suit, but later seems to agree to his demands Do you think Richard’s arguments to get Elizabeth to woo her daughter in his name work? Why or why not? Do you think Richard’s arguments to get Elizabeth to woo her daughter in his name work? Why or why not?

ACT 4, SCENE 5 We learn at the end of this act that the country is once again at war: We learn at the end of this act that the country is once again at war: Richmond is invading by sea Richmond is invading by sea Buckingham has joined forces with Richmond Buckingham has joined forces with Richmond Buckingham is taken prisoner Buckingham is taken prisoner Stanley is unable to assist his step-son, Richmond, as Richard has imprisoned his son and he fears the young man’s death at the new king’s hand Stanley is unable to assist his step-son, Richmond, as Richard has imprisoned his son and he fears the young man’s death at the new king’s hand