Summary
Act IV, Scene 3 (cont.): The Mother's Curse & Monstrous Proposal
Richard III by William Shakespeare
The Duchess delivers her final, devastating curse on her own son. Richard dismissively says he's in haste. 'Art thou so hasty? I have stayed for thee (God knows) in torment and in agony.' Richard: 'And came I not at last to comfort you?' The Duchess: 'No by the holy Rood, thou knowest it well, thou camest on earth to make the earth my hell.' She catalogs his entire monstrous life: 'A grievous burden was thy birth to me, tetchy and wayward was thy infancy. Thy school-days frightful, desperate, wild, and furious, thy prime of manhood daring, bold, and venturous: thy age confirmed, proud, subtle, sly, and bloody.' She asks what comfortable hour he ever brought her. Richard flippantly replies: 'Faith none, but Humphrey Hour that called your Grace to breakfast.' The Duchess delivers her final curse: 'Either thou wilt die, by God's just ordinance... or I with grief and extreme age shall perish, and never more behold thy face again. Therefore take with thee my most grievous curse... My prayers on the adverse party fight, and there the little souls of Edward's children whisper the spirits of thine enemies. Bloody thou art, bloody will be thy end: Shame serves thy life, and doth thy death attend.' She exits. Elizabeth adds: 'I say Amen to her.' Richard stops Elizabeth—he wants to marry her daughter. Elizabeth: 'I have no more sons of the royal blood for thee to slaughter.' Richard reveals his plan. Elizabeth offers to destroy her daughter's reputation to save her. Their exchange becomes devastating wordplay. Elizabeth: 'Cousins indeed, and by their uncle cozened.' She describes how her grief would make her tear out Richard's eyes. Richard proposes making young Elizabeth queen. Elizabeth's bitter mockery: 'Send to her by the man that slew her brothers. A pair of bleeding hearts... Tell her thou madest away her Uncle Clarence, her Uncle Rivers... madest quick conveyance with her good Aunt Anne.' Richard's monstrous justification: 'If I have killed the issue of your womb, to quicken your increase, I will beget mine issue of your blood upon your daughter.' He proposes to replace her murdered sons with new children. The conversation is Richard's most monstrous moment—proposing to marry his niece whose brothers he just murdered.
Coming Up in Chapter 18
Richard orders the murder of the young princes, committing his most evil act.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
Stand all apart. Cousin of Buckingham. BUCKINGHAM. My gracious sovereign? RICHARD. Give me thy hand. [He ascends the throne] Thus high, by thy advice And thy assistance, is King Richard seated. But shall we wear these glories for a day? Or shall they last, and we rejoice in them? BUCKINGHAM. Still live they, and for ever let them last! RICHARD. Ah, Buckingham, now do I play the touch, To try if thou be current gold indeed. Young Edward lives: think now what I would speak. BUCKINGHAM. Say on, my loving lord. RICHARD. Why, Buckingham, I say I would be king. BUCKINGHAM. Why, so you are, my thrice-renowned liege. RICHARD. Ha! am I king? 'Tis so: but Edward lives. BUCKINGHAM. True, noble prince. RICHARD. O bitter consequence, That Edward still should live 'true noble prince'! Cousin, thou wast not wont to be so dull: Shall I be plain? I wish the bastards dead. The Duchess delivers her final, devastating curse on her own son. Richard dismissively says he's in haste. 'Art thou so hasty? I have stayed for thee (God knows) in torment and in agony.' Richard: 'And came I not at last to comfort you?' The Duchess: 'No by the holy Rood, thou knowest it well, thou camest on earth to make the earth my hell.' She catalogs his entire monstrous life: 'A grievous burden was thy birth to me, tetchy and wayward was thy infancy. Thy school-days frightful, desperate, wild, and furious, thy prime of manhood daring, bold, and venturous: thy age confirmed, proud, subtle, sly, and bloody.' She asks what comfortable hour he ever brought her. Richard flippantly replies: 'Faith none, but Humphrey Hour that called your Grace to breakfast.' The Duchess delivers her final curse: 'Either thou wilt die, by God's just ordinance... or I with grief and extreme age shall perish, and never more behold thy face again. Therefore take with thee my most grievous curse... My prayers on the adverse party fight, and there the little souls of Edward's children whisper the spirits of thine enemies. Bloody thou art, bloody will be thy end: Shame serves thy life, and doth thy death attend.' She exits. Elizabeth adds: 'I say Amen to her.' Richard stops Elizabeth—he wants to marry her daughter. Elizabeth: 'I have no more sons of the royal blood for thee to slaughter.' Richard reveals his plan. Elizabeth offers to destroy her daughter's reputation to save her. Their exchange becomes devastating wordplay. Elizabeth: 'Cousins indeed, and by their uncle cozened.' She describes how her grief would make her tear out Richard's eyes. Richard proposes making young Elizabeth queen. Elizabeth's bitter mockery: 'Send to her by the man that slew her brothers. A pair of bleeding hearts... Tell her thou madest away her Uncle Clarence, her Uncle Rivers... madest quick conveyance with her good Aunt Anne.' Richard's monstrous justification: 'If I have killed the issue of your womb, to quicken your increase, I will beget mine issue of your blood upon your daughter.' He proposes...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Paranoia
How manipulators become paranoid because they know how manipulation works - they expect it from others, leading to isolation and self-destruction
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
Manipulators become paranoid because they know how manipulation works. This skill helps you recognize when paranoia is projection.
Practice This Today
When someone becomes paranoid after gaining power, consider whether they're projecting their own methods onto others. Manipulators suspect manipulation because they've used it themselves.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Paranoia
Irrational suspicion and mistrust of others, often based on projection of one's own methods
Modern Usage:
Like a manipulator who suspects everyone of manipulation because they know how it works
Isolation of Tyranny
How absolute power isolates the ruler, creating a cycle of suspicion and mistrust
Modern Usage:
Like a leader who becomes so suspicious they trust no one, isolating themselves
Characters in This Chapter
Buckingham
Richard's closest ally and supporter
Even Richard's ally becomes a target, showing that manipulators trust no one. Buckingham's hesitation to kill the princes marks the end of their alliance.
Modern Equivalent:
Someone who helped a manipulator but becomes a target themselves when they show hesitation or moral limits
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Ah, Buckingham, now do I play the touch, To try if thou be current gold indeed."
Context: Richard testing Buckingham's loyalty
Richard tests Buckingham, revealing his paranoia. He's testing whether his ally is 'true gold' - completely loyal. This shows how manipulators can never fully trust, even their closest allies.
In Today's Words:
I'm testing you to see if you're really loyal
"Shall I be plain? I wish the bastards dead."
Context: Richard directly asking Buckingham to kill the princes
Richard's directness is revealing - he's testing Buckingham's willingness to commit murder. When Buckingham hesitates, Richard knows he can't fully trust him.
In Today's Words:
Let me be direct: I want them dead
Thematic Threads
Isolation
In This Chapter
Power isolates Richard
Development
Tyrants trust no one
In Your Life:
When someone becomes paranoid after gaining power, consider whether they're projecting their own methods onto others
Paranoia
In This Chapter
Richard's paranoia emerges immediately
Development
Manipulators expect manipulation from others
In Your Life:
Manipulators become paranoid because they know how manipulation works - they project their methods onto others
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Richard become paranoid immediately after gaining power? What does this reveal about manipulators?
analysis • deep - 2
How does Richard's paranoia contribute to his isolation and downfall? What is the paranoia trap?
reflection • medium - 3
Have you witnessed paranoia in someone who gained power? How did they project their methods onto others?
application • surface
Critical Thinking Exercise
The Paranoia Analysis
Richard becomes paranoid because he knows how manipulation works. Think about why manipulators become paranoid.
Consider:
- •Why do manipulators expect manipulation from others?
- •How does paranoia isolate?
- •What is the paranoia trap?
- •How can you recognize when paranoia is projection?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you saw paranoia in someone who gained power. How did they project their methods onto others? How did the paranoia isolate them?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 18: Act IV, Scene 4 (cont.): The Verbal Duel
What lies ahead teaches us the ultimate act of evil, and shows us innocence is no protection. These patterns appear in literature and life alike.