Summary
Act I, Scene 2: The Seduction of Lady Anne
Richard III by William Shakespeare
Lady Anne mourns over King Henry VI's corpse, delivering elaborate curses against his murderer—wishing that his children be born deformed and his wife made miserable. Richard stops the funeral procession and begins literature's most audacious seduction: wooing the widow of a man he murdered, beside the very corpse. Anne calls him 'devil,' spits at him, and hurls insults, but Richard systematically dismantles her resistance. He freely admits killing both Henry and her husband Edward, but reframes the murders as crimes of passion: 'Your beauty... did haunt me in my sleep / To undertake the death of all the world.' He offers her his sword, baring his chest and begging her to kill him—a calculated gesture of false vulnerability that gives her the illusion of power while he controls the entire exchange. When she drops the sword, unable to strike, Richard has won. He gives her his ring; she accepts it and agrees to meet him at Crosby House. Alone, Richard reveals the truth in soliloquy: 'I'll have her, but I will not keep her long.' This was never about desire—it was an experiment in manipulation, a test of his powers. He seduced her not because he wanted her, but to prove he could.
Coming Up in Chapter 3
Richard's success with Anne emboldens him. He reveals in soliloquy that he doesn't even want her - this was just a test of his manipulative powers.
Share it with friends
An excerpt from the original text.(~454 words)
Set down, set down your honourable load— If honour may be shrouded in a hearse, Whilst I a while obsequiously lament The untimely fall of virtuous Lancaster. Poor key-cold figure of a holy king! Pale ashes of the house of Lancaster! Thou bloodless remnant of that royal blood! Be it lawful that I invocate thy ghost, To hear the lamentations of poor Anne, Wife to thy Edward, to thy slaughtered son, Stabbed by the selfsame hand that made these wounds! Lo, in these windows that let forth thy life, I pour the helpless balm of my poor eyes. Cursed be the hand that made these fatal holes! Cursed be the heart that had the heart to do it! Cursed be the blood that let this blood from hence! More direful hap betide that hated wretch That makes us wretched by the death of thee Than I can wish to adders, spiders, toads, Or any creeping venomed thing that lives! If ever he have child, abortive be it, Prodigious, and untimely brought to light, Whose ugly and unnatural aspect May fright the hopeful mother at the view, And that be heir to his unhappiness! If ever he have wife, let her be made More miserable by the death of him Than I am made by my young lord and thee! Come, now towards Chertsey with your holy load, Taken from Paul's to be interred there; And still, as you are weary of the weight, Rest you, whiles I lament King Henry's corse. Lady Anne mourns over King Henry VI's corpse, delivering elaborate curses against his murderer—wishing that his children be born deformed and his wife made miserable. Richard stops the funeral procession and begins literature's most audacious seduction: wooing the widow of a man he murdered, beside the very corpse. Anne calls him 'devil,' spits at him, and hurls insults, but Richard systematically dismantles her resistance. He freely admits killing both Henry and her husband Edward, but reframes the murders as crimes of passion: 'Your beauty... did haunt me in my sleep / To undertake the death of all the world.' He offers her his sword, baring his chest and begging her to kill him—a calculated gesture of false vulnerability that gives her the illusion of power while he controls the entire exchange. When she drops the sword, unable to strike, Richard has won. He gives her his ring; she accepts it and agrees to meet him at Crosby House. Alone, Richard reveals the truth in soliloquy: 'I'll have her, but I will not keep her long.' This was never about desire—it was an experiment in manipulation, a test of his powers. He seduced her not because he wanted her, but to prove he could.
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Charm as Weapon
Using partial honesty (admitting facts) to create false narratives (about motivation), making the victim feel powerful and special while remaining under control
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
Manipulators often use false vulnerability as a weapon. By appearing to give you power over them, they actually gain more control. This skill helps you recognize when someone is using 'honesty' and 'vulnerability' as manipulation tactics.
Practice This Today
When someone admits wrongdoing but immediately reframes it as something positive ('I did it because I care about you'), examine whether they're actually being vulnerable or just using a more sophisticated manipulation technique. Practice distinguishing between genuine vulnerability and strategic confession.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Obsequy
A funeral rite or ceremony; Anne is performing funeral rites for the dead king
Modern Usage:
Like a memorial service or funeral ceremony
Invocation
Calling upon a spirit or deity; Anne calls upon Henry's ghost
Modern Usage:
Like calling upon someone's memory or spirit for help or witness
Characters in This Chapter
Lady Anne
Widow of Edward, Prince of Wales (son of Henry VI), whom Richard killed
Anne represents Richard's most audacious manipulation - he seduces the widow of a man he murdered. Her eventual acceptance of his ring shows the power of psychological manipulation over logic and emotion.
Modern Equivalent:
Someone who falls for a manipulator despite knowing they're dangerous, seduced by charm and false vulnerability
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Was ever woman in this humour wooed? Was ever woman in this humour won?"
Context: Richard's soliloquy after successfully seducing Anne
Richard's amazement at his own success reveals this was an experiment in manipulation. He didn't want Anne - he wanted to prove he could win her despite having killed her husband and father-in-law.
In Today's Words:
Has anyone ever been seduced like this? I can't believe that worked!
"Your beauty was the cause of that effect— Your beauty, that did haunt me in my sleep To undertake the death of all the world So I might live one hour in your sweet bosom."
Context: Richard's seduction speech to Anne
Richard reframes murder as an act of love. This is masterful manipulation - he admits the crime but makes it about her, not him. He's testing whether charm can overcome logic.
In Today's Words:
I killed them because I was so in love with you - your beauty made me do it
Thematic Threads
Manipulation
In This Chapter
Richard successfully seduces Anne despite having killed her family, using charm, false vulnerability, and reframing murder as love
Development
This scene establishes Richard's manipulation as almost supernatural - he can overcome logic, emotion, and even hatred
In Your Life:
Watch for people who admit wrongdoing but reframe it as something positive ('I did it because I care about you'). This is often more dangerous than denial
Power
In This Chapter
Richard's seduction is about proving power, not gaining a wife. He doesn't want Anne - he wants to prove he can have her
Development
Power becomes an end in itself, not a means to an end
In Your Life:
People who manipulate for the pleasure of manipulation, not for actual gain, are the most dangerous. They have no limits because they have no real goals
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Anne accept Richard's ring? What psychological mechanisms does Richard use?
analysis • deep - 2
Is Richard's seduction of Anne more or less evil than his murders? Why?
reflection • medium - 3
Have you ever been manipulated by someone who admitted wrongdoing? How did they reframe it?
application • surface
Critical Thinking Exercise
The False Power Trap
Richard gives Anne the illusion of power by offering her his sword and telling her to kill him. Think of a time when someone made you feel powerful while actually maintaining control. How did they do it?
Consider:
- •What's the difference between real power and the illusion of power?
- •Why do people fall for false vulnerability?
- •How can you tell when someone is using 'honesty' as manipulation?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone admitted wrongdoing to you. Did they use it to manipulate you? How can you distinguish between genuine accountability and strategic confession?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 3: Act I, Scene 3: The Court Intrigue Begins
What lies ahead teaches us richard manipulates multiple people simultaneously, and shows us the art of playing different roles for different audiences. These patterns appear in literature and life alike.