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Scenes
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Contents
Scenes
Scenes at a glance
Richard III has 25 scenes.
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Act I4 items
Act I, Scene 1
Richard opens the play alone, telling the audience exactly who he is and what he wants. England is at peace after the Yorkist victory, but Richard has no interest in peacetime ple…
Act I, Scene 2
Richard intercepts the funeral procession of Henry VI, whose body is being escorted by Lady Anne, the widow of Henry's son Edward (whom Richard also killed).
Act I, Scene 3
At court, Queen Elizabeth and her allies worry about what will happen to her young son, the Prince of Wales, if the king dies.
Act I, Scene 4
Clarence is in the Tower, where he tells his keeper about a nightmare he had: he dreamed he escaped with Richard, fell overboard at sea, and drowned, then descended into hell wher…
Act II4 items
Act II, Scene 1
King Edward, visibly ill, has gathered his quarreling nobles and forced them to reconcile with one another. Everyone shakes hands and makes peace.
Act II, Scene 2
The Duchess of York and the young princes learn that Clarence is dead. Queen Elizabeth enters in grief, and the news hits the family hard.
Act II, Scene 3
Three ordinary citizens talk in the street about King Edward IV's death and what it might mean for England. They're anxious.
Act II, Scene 4
Queen Elizabeth, the Duchess of York, and young Richard Duke of York wait in London for Prince Edward to arrive. A messenger brings news that Richard and Buckingham have arrested…
Act III7 items
Act III, Scene 1
Prince Edward arrives in London and meets Richard and Buckingham. The young prince asks pointed questions about the Tower of London and makes comments that show he's sharper than…
Act III, Scene 2
Hastings receives a warning from Lord Stanley that something dangerous is coming and that they should flee. Hastings dismisses it.
Act III, Scene 3
The men arrested on Richard's orders, Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan, are led to execution at Pomfret Castle. Before they die, they recall Queen Margaret's curses and recognize that he…
Act III, Scene 4
The royal council meets at the Tower, ostensibly to plan Edward V's coronation. Richard arrives late, leaves briefly, then returns accusing Hastings of treason by witchcraft, clai…
Act III, Scene 5
Richard and Buckingham put on a show of panic for the Lord Mayor of London, pretending they just barely survived a treasonous attack by Hastings.
Act III, Scene 6
A scrivener appears alone onstage with the document he was ordered to write: the formal indictment of Hastings. He points out that the indictment was prepared hours before Hasting…
Act III, Scene 7
Buckingham reports back that the London crowd refused to cheer for Richard when prompted. Undeterred, Richard and Buckingham stage an elaborate scene in which Richard appears relu…
Act IV5 items
Act IV, Scene 1
The women of the court — Queen Elizabeth, the Duchess of York, and Anne — meet outside the Tower and are denied entry to see the young princes.
Act IV, Scene 2
Richard is now king, but he is already paranoid. He asks Buckingham to arrange the murder of the young princes in the Tower.
Act IV, Scene 3
Tyrrel reports back that the princes are dead. He describes the killers' own guilt and distress after the act.
Act IV, Scene 4
This is the longest scene in the play. Margaret returns to gloat over the suffering of Elizabeth and the Duchess of York, then joins them in a shared lament for everyone they have…
Act IV, Scene 5
A brief scene. Stanley secretly sends a message to Richmond through a messenger, confirming his loyalty to Richmond's cause even though his son is being held hostage by Richard to…
Act V5 items
Act V, Scene 1
Buckingham is led to execution on All Souls' Day. He reflects on how he betrayed those who trusted him and how Richard then turned on him.
Act V, Scene 2
Richmond marches toward Richard with his army and delivers a speech to his soldiers. He frames the campaign as a moral mission to free England from a tyrant.
Act V, Scene 3
The night before the Battle of Bosworth Field, both Richard and Richmond set up camp on opposite sides. Richard tries to project confidence but is visited in his sleep by the ghos…
Act V, Scene 4
The battle is underway and going badly for Richard. His horse has been killed and he is fighting on foot.
Act V, Scene 5
Richmond kills Richard in combat and the battle ends. Richmond is proclaimed King Henry VII.
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