56 pages • 1 hour read
William Shakespeare, John JowettRichard III
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 2000A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Act VChapter Summaries & Analyses
Act V, Scenes 1-2 Summary
Buckingham, captured and being led to his execution, laments that he has also succumbed to Queen Margaret’s curse. He remembers a vow that he once made jokingly that if he should betray the royal family, he would die on All Souls Day, and he is now about to be executed on All Souls Day. He regrets his role in helping Richard to the throne, seeing his imminent demise as a form of divine justice.
Elsewhere, Richmond and his allies prepare to march upon Richard’s forces and defeat him. Richmond assures the lords who follow him that he will end Richard’s tyranny. Stanley promises to help him by passing information about Richard’s army, but he cannot join the battle until he is certain that his hostage son is safe.
Act V, Scene 3 Summary
The night before battle, both Richard and Richmond prepare to sleep in their tents. Richmond prays before he goes to bed. That night, the ghosts of all of the people Richard has killed appear before him, commanding him to despair and die. The ghosts then visit Richmond’s dream and encourage him with messages of victory. Richard awakes in terror, realizing that he hates himself for having committed all of these sinful murders.
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