Act+III+summary+and+commentary

= = =Act Three: Summary and highlights with commentary By: Kristi Sasamori = 

__Scene 1__
The young Prince Edward (son of King Edward IV) has arrived in London with the sound of trumpets. His uncle Richard III and his close allies, lord Buckingham and lord Catesby are there to greet the young prince along with many noblemen. Upon arrival, the intelligent young prince immediately asks where his mother and brother York are, and why they haven't come to greet him. Hastings informs the prince that his mother have taken sancutuary in a nearby church. Buckingham argues that the young York may not have sancutuary because he's still a kid and that being a kid, he hasn't commited any crimes. Richard then asks the prince if he's up to spending a night in the Tower of London, but the prince is reluctant because he is scared of the tower which reminds him of a prison. However with his eloquent speech Richard cajoles the young prince into staying at the Tower of London saying it is "safer". Richard tells Catesby to see if Hastings and Stanley can be won over to his side from prince Edward's side. Richard indicates that if Hastings denies his request, he will chop off his head. Richard mentions that there'll be "divided councels" the next morning to discuss about when to crown Prince Edward. But in reality they are actually planning about how Richard can become King. Richard is great at manipulating and deceiving people, but some people he can't deceive. This fact is evident in this scene when the young prince says,"God keep me from false friends, but they were none." The Prince implies that he knows who his real friends are and that Richard isn't one of them.

__**Scene 2**__
Hastings is awakened by a messenger at 4 in the morning, receiving a message that Stanley is there to see him. Stanley had a bad dream in which he was beheaded by a boar (Richard's emblem is actually a boar)! Stanley is worried about Hastings and his own well-being and thinks they should immediately flee the country away from Richard. However Hastings thinks that everything will be fine and dissmisses the messenger. Catesby arrives at Hastings' door and brings up the idea that Richard should be crowned king, not Prince Edward. But Hastings is shocked when he hears this and seeing that he won't change his mind, Catesby drops the issue and tells him that his enemies (Queen Elizabeth's sons and her brother) are to be executed the next day. Hastings goes off to the council meeting with Buckingham. Hastings is completely unaware of Richard’s plan to decapitate him if he refuse to join Richard’s side. Clearly, Hastings makes so many wrong decisions in this scene which leads to his own death, and realization of previous omens in scene 4.

__Scene 3__
In this short scene, Gray and Rivers and their friend Sir Thomas Vaughan enters their prison at Pomfret Castle, while Ratcliffe watches over them. The two condemned men remark that it is Margaret's curse which has condemned them to die. Rivers says   "Then cursed she Richard, then cursed she Buckingham. Then cursed she Hastings." The men then embrace and agree to meet in heaven again.

** __Scene 4__ **
A council meets in the Tower to discuss when the coronation day for Edward should be held. Richard enters late and calls Buckingham aside. Buckingham tells Richard that Hastings will never support him, because he is still loyal to the princes. When Richard re-enters the council room his tone of voice is totally different, pretending to be angry. Richard shows his withered arm to everyone stating that   Queen Elizabeth, conspiring with Hastings’s mistress Shore, must have put a spell on him to cause it to deform. Hastings rejects this fact, and Richard   accuses Hastings of protecting Shore, and orders the council to behead Hastings. Richard then leaves, followed by most of the council. Finally Hastings realize how Stanley was right afterall, and that Richard really is a manipulative, truly evil traitor. Hastings cries out that Margaret's curse has come true and that it has struck him finally.

__Scene 5__
Now that Richard has successfully eliminated all of the threats to him, and the court is under his control, he knows he has to start  <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">manipulating the common people of England in order to ensure his crown. The first thing they figured would be to manipulate   <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the Lord Mayor of London   <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">into believing that Hastings was a traitor. Buckingham assures Richard that he is a good enough actor to pull this off. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They tell him that Hastings was plotting against them both, and that he confessed as much in the Tower. They ask the Lord Mayor to inform the people of what happened, since he is better placed to placate the masses then they are. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Richard then sends Buckingham to follow the Lord Mayor, to tell the people that the children of Edward are illegitimate, which would require that the eldest illegitimate child should take the throne. Richard then wants Buckingham to convince the people that he is also an illegitimate child of Edward, and so he should receive the throne.

__Scene 6__
=== <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A scrivener enters, with a paper that fully details the treachery of Lord Hastings soon to be read out to the whole of London. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The writer can see that the claim in the paper is a lie, invented by Richard to justify killing his rival and threat. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The scrivener asks who is so foolish that they cannot see the discrepancy in times, but he answers his own question by remarking, "Yet who so bold but says he sees it not?" This shows that the common people of London knew Richard was a villain and a evil monster not suitable for a king. ===

__Scene 7__
===<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Buckingham informs Richard that his speech to the crowd went very badly. Buckingham having told the crowd everything, asked them to shout out their support of Richard. No one responded and asking once again, only a few of his men shouted, "God save King Richard." In order to overcome this problem, Buckingham and Richard plans to stage a silent play. Richard grabs a prayer book and pretends to be praying. The Lord Mayor arrives with some aldermen and citizens. Buckingham tells them that Richard is currently meditating, and does not wish to speak with anyone, and Buckingham offers Richard the throne in front of all the assembled masses. Richard declines, saying it is better for Edward to be the king. Buckingham pleads him, and Richard again turns him down. Buckingham then finishing his part in the silent play exits. A citizen tells Richard that the land will fall into chaos if he does not accept his position. Richard then calls them back, saying, "Call them again. I am not made of stone". He accepts the throne and begs the Lord Mayor to tell everyone how reluctant he was to become the king. === === <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This scene and even throughout this whole act and play, Richard has a great ability to p <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">lay several roles with amazing dexterity and timing. ===

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">