Scene V explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Deception and Manipulation

  Richard and Buckingham openly discuss their ability to counterfeit fear and grief, then use Hastings' head to deceive the Mayor and public.

• Ambition and Power

  Richard's orchestration of Hastings' death and his plan to slander Edward's children are steps toward seizing the throne.

• Tyranny and Legitimacy

  Richard's false claims about Edward's bastardy and his mother's adultery are designed to undermine the legitimacy of the royal line.

Characters to notice

• King Richard III

  Plots with Buckingham, feigns grief over Hastings' death, and instructs Buckingham to spread false claims about Edward's children.

• Duke of Buckingham

  Assists Richard in the plot, pretends to be terrified, and is sent to the Guildhall to slander Edward's lineage.

• Lord Hastings

  Executed offstage; his head is brought on stage as proof of his supposed treason.

• Sir William Catesby

  Sent to Friar Penker and later brings the Mayor to the Tower.

• Sir Thomas Lovel

  Sent to Doctor Shaw and later brings Hastings' head with Ratcliff.

• Sir Richard Ratcliff

  Brings Hastings' head with Lovel.

• Lord Mayor of London

  Witnesses the aftermath of Hastings' execution and is convinced of Richard and Buckingham's just proceedings.

Key passages

• “Come, cousin, canst thou quake, and change thy colour, Murder thy breath in the middle of a word, And then begin again, and stop again, As if thou wert distraught and mad with terror?”

  Richard asks Buckingham if he can fake being terrified, stuttering and stopping mid-sentence as if mad with fear.

  Richard instructs Buckingham on how to feign terror for their deception.

• “So dear I loved the man, that I must weep. I took him for the plainest harmless creature That breathed upon this earth a Christian;”

  Richard claims he loved Hastings and thought him innocent, weeping over his death.

  Richard hypocritically mourns Hastings to appear just and sorrowful.

• “Infer the bastardy of Edward’s children: Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen, Only for saying he would make his son Heir to the crown;”

  Richard tells Buckingham to suggest that Edward's children are illegitimate and to mention Edward's cruelty to a citizen.

  Richard outlines the slander campaign against Edward's lineage.