Richard III – Act 3 “So wise, so young, they say, do never live long…”

Richard III – Act 3 “So wise, so young, they say, do never live long…”

“Sweet prince, the untainted virtue of your years

Hath not yet dived into the world's deceit…”

Unlike ‘Titus Andronicus’ the deaths and undermining of people’s morals and character, come slowly in ‘Richard III’. Prince Edward, heir to the thrown enters London but Richard is now in control after the king's death. Richard, never one for subtlety, invites Prince Edward and his brother to stay in the Tower of London. Although this may be central, it is accommodation, which comes with the tax of history. Honestly, Richard needs to find a decent website, because he sucks as when it comes to finding accommodation.

Coronation preparation scenes are juxtaposed to scenes of nobles like Rivers, Grey and Vaughan, being led to their deaths. Although unhappy, Prince Edward goes to stay in the Tower, along with his younger brother and Richard, with as much tact as Winston Churchill after a night on the booze, manipulates two political meetings, one which follows the party line and intends to put Edward on the throne and the other one, aided by Buckingham, advocates himself, Richard, as the contender for the thrown..

I would love to live in the blissful blind ignorance that shrouds Hastings, who is as unaware of Richard’s plan, as are Rivers and Gray. Everyone starts to realize that they should have listened to the old Queen Margaret and her curses.

“Now Margaret's curse is fall'n upon our heads,

For standing by when Richard stabb'd her son.”

Never a card-carrying member of MENSA, Hastings realizes that Richard is manipulative and desires only power. Hasting is not consoled by his own final rhyming couplet as he moves to his death:

 “Come lead me to the block; bear him [Richard III] my head. 

They smile at me, who shortly shall be dead…”

Then Richard, with the grace of a million dollar lawyer, contends that Prince Edward is illegitimate and a bastard. Meanwhile Buckingham has been trying to drum up support for Richard as king. He is relatively unsuccessful. The Lord Mayor of London, who turns and changes his perspective as much as the London Eye, fickle as ever, agrees with this and supports Richard. Richard, clothed in humility and disinclination, reluctantly accepts the kingship.