Act+V+Summary,+Highlights,+and+Commentary

__Scene I.__ Act V opens with a sheriff and guards leading Duke of Buckingham to his execution. It is All-Soul's Day, and Buckingham repents for all his wicked deeds he had done with Richard; betraying King Edward's family, his wife's allies, and murdering many of them. Richard, who he trusted has also betrayed him. Buckingham recalls about Margaret's curse: //“Remember this another day...When Richard shall split thy very heart with sorrow”// (V. i. 26-27), and reconciles his fate to suffer death.

{Highlight}: Buckingham is the last major character to be murdered by Richard. He comes out in his dreams later on in Scene III. It is ironic that he was killed by Richard (who he actually trusted) while Richard never trusted his right-hand man.

__Scene II.__ The Earl of Richmond, Earl of Oxford, Sir Blunt, and Sir Herbert are marching there way near Leicester, where Richard and his army are advancing. They expect Richard's allies to come and join them.

__Scene III.__ There are around six to seven thousand in Richmond's army, but compared to Richard's three times larger army, it won't be a worry. Soon, both armies arrive and lodge at Bosworth Field. Meanwhile, in his lodging, Richmond sends off a note to Lord Stanley. This note is an invitation for Stanley to come to his tent secretly. Because his son George is taken as a hostage, Stanley is forced to be on Richard's side. He agrees to help Richmond as much as possible. Before the last battle, both Richard and Richmond are in their sleep. Ghosts of who Richard had killed earlier haunt Richard to //"Despair, and die!"// (V. iii.), as well as they cheer Richmond up. The nightmare prophecizes Richard's death. He wakes up getting paranoid and begs for mercy: //"Have mercy, Jesu!"// (V. iii. 182) after all he had done.

{Highlight}: In this scene, Richard realizes that he is alone and he hates himself. No one will pity him, no one will save him, and everything is too late; what's done cannot be done.

__Scene IV.__ Richard gives his last line: //"A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!"// (V. iv. 13). This ironically represents the lack of service he once had taken for granted has fleed from him. There is no way Richard could escape or save himself from the reaper.

__Scene V.__ Richmond and Richard confront each other, and Richard gets killed. Stanley brings Richmond the crown, making him the king of England. His marriage between Elizabeth from the Yorks finally ends the War of Roses.

{Highlight}: The death of Richard is not described at all, even though he is the protagonist of the story. He is both a protagonist and an antagonist, glimpsing the rise of a new royal House.

- Marina Suzuki