# Scene IV explained — Richard III

> Chapter companion for Richard III by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

Queen Elizabeth, the Duchess of York, and the young Duke of York await news of Prince Edward's arrival. The young York makes witty remarks about his uncle Richard's growth. A messenger arrives with news that Lord Rivers, Lord Grey, and Sir Thomas Vaughan have been imprisoned by Gloucester and Buckingham. Queen Elizabeth laments the downfall of her house and decides to take sanctuary with her son.

## Themes in this chapter

### Tyranny and Legitimacy

Queen Elizabeth decries 'insulting tyranny' as Richard and Buckingham imprison her kin, signaling the collapse of legitimate rule.

### Deception and Manipulation

Richard's earlier jest about 'small herbs' is revealed as a veiled insult, and his actions now show the manipulative seizure of power.

### Ambition and Power

The imprisonment of Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan demonstrates Richard's ruthless ambition to remove obstacles to the throne.

## Character check-ins

### Queen Elizabeth

Anxiously awaits news of Prince Edward, laments the imprisonment of her brother and son, and resolves to flee to sanctuary.

### Duchess of York

Longs to see Prince Edward, engages in banter with young York, and reflects on the family's turbulent history.

### Richard, Duke of York

The young Duke of York makes clever, biting remarks about his uncle Richard's growth and is described as a 'parlous boy.'

### Earl Rivers

Reported to have been taken prisoner by Gloucester and Buckingham and sent to Pomfret.

### Lord Grey

Reported to have been taken prisoner by Gloucester and Buckingham and sent to Pomfret.

### Sir Thomas Vaughan

Reported to have been taken prisoner by Gloucester and Buckingham and sent to Pomfret.

### King Richard III

Referenced as 'uncle Gloucester' and 'the tiger' who has seized the gentle hind; implicated in the imprisonment of Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan.

### Duke of Buckingham

Referenced as one of the 'mighty dukes' who committed Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan to prison.

## Key lines

> Small herbs have grace, great weeds do grow apace

Small plants are graceful, but large weeds grow quickly.

_Richard's remark about the young York's growth, interpreted as a sly insult._

> The tiger now hath seized the gentle hind

The tiger has now captured the gentle deer.

_Queen Elizabeth's metaphor for Richard's predatory seizure of her family._

> Insulting tyranny begins to jet Upon the innocent and aweless throne

Arrogant tyranny begins to strut upon the innocent and fearless throne.

_Queen Elizabeth's lament that tyranny is taking over the monarchy._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/chapters