

Richard and Buckingham make plans to escort King Edward’s heir, Prince Edward, to London. Act 2, scene 2 As the Duchess of York mourns Clarence’s death, Queen Elizabeth enters grieving for the death of King Edward IV.Rejoicing about this “united league” is interrupted by news of Clarence’s murder, which King Edward blames on himself and Richard blames on the Queen’s kindred. Queen Elizabeth and her kindred, on the one side, and Hastings, Buckingham, and Richard, on the other, vow to make and keep peace among themselves. Act 2, scene 1 The dying King Edward IV attempts to reconcile the quarreling factions in his royal court.Act 1, scene 4 Richard’s agents murder the imprisoned Clarence.After the others have departed, Richard dispatches his agents to kill Clarence. Queen Margaret, King Henry VI’s widow, curses them all. Act 1, scene 3 Queen Elizabeth bemoans her situation in the face of her husband’s serious illness Richard quarrels with Queen Elizabeth, her brother, and Grey, her son by her first marriage.Act 1, scene 2 Richard woos Lady Anne over the corpse of King Henry VI, Anne’s father-in-law, whom Richard murdered.Richard, once again alone onstage, outlines his plan to have Clarence killed and to marry Lady Anne.

After Clarence is led off toward prison, Richard greets Hastings, who tells him that King Edward is very ill.

He then pretends to console Clarence, the first victim of this villainy. Act 1, scene 1 Richard, alone onstage, reveals his intention to play the villain.His marriage to Elizabeth of York ends the Wars of the Roses and starts the Tudor dynasty. When their armies meet, Richard is defeated and killed. Rebellious nobles rally to Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond. He also disposes of Anne, his wife, in order to court his niece, Elizabeth of York. Richard then stages events that yield him the crown.After Richard’s coronation, he has the boys secretly killed. Richard houses the Prince and his younger brother in the Tower. Meanwhile, Richard succeeds in marrying Lady Anne, even though he killed her father-in-law, Henry VI, and her husband.When the ailing King Edward dies, Prince Edward, the older of his two young sons, is next in line for the throne. He manipulates Edward into imprisoning their brother, Clarence, and then has Clarence murdered in the Tower. Richard is eager to clear his way to the crown. Entire Play As Richard III opens, Richard is Duke of Gloucester and his brother, Edward IV, is king.
