Summary
Act V, Scene 3 (cont.): The Ghosts & Richard's Conscience
Richard III by William Shakespeare
Richmond prays: 'O thou, whose captain I account myself... put in their hands thy bruising irons of wrath.' He sleeps peacefully. Then the ghosts come—all of Richard's victims. Prince Edward: 'Think how thou stabbed me in my prime of youth at Tewkesbury. Despair therefore, and die.' Henry VI: 'My anointed body by thee was punched full of holes. Think on the Tower, and me.' Clarence: 'I that was washed to death with fulsome wine... by thy guile betrayed.' Rivers, Grey, Vaughan—all curse Richard. Hastings: 'Bloody and guilty, guiltily awake.' The two young princes: 'Dream on thy cousins smothered in the Tower... let us be laid within thy bosom Richard, and weigh thee down to ruin, shame, and death.' Anne: 'That wretched Anne thy wife, that never slept a quiet hour with thee.' Finally, Buckingham: 'The first was I that helped thee to the crown, that last was I that felt thy tyranny... Dream on, dream on, of bloody deeds and death.' Each ghost curses Richard, then blesses Richmond. Richard wakes screaming: 'Give me another horse, bind up my wounds! Have mercy Jesu.' His famous soliloquy begins: 'O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me?' 'What? do I fear myself? There's none else by. Richard loves Richard, that is, I am I.' 'Is there a murderer here? No; yes, I am.' His conscience breaks him: 'My conscience hath a thousand several tongues, and every tongue brings in a several tale, and every tale condemns me for a villain.' The devastating realization: 'I shall despair, there is no creature loves me; and if I die, no soul shall pity me.' Even he recognizes: 'Nay, wherefore should they? Since that I myself, find in myself, no pity to myself.' To Ratcliffe: 'O Ratcliffe, I fear, I fear.' 'Shadows tonight have struck more terror to the soul of Richard than can the substance of ten thousand soldiers.' Meanwhile, Richmond wakes refreshed: 'The sweetest sleep, and fairest boding dreams that ever entered in a drowsy head.' 'Me thought their souls, whose bodies Richard murdered, came to my tent and cried on victory. I promise you my heart is very jocund.' Richmond's oration: 'God, and our good cause, fight upon our side... a bloody tyrant, and a homicide... one that slaughtered those that were the means to help him.' 'God, and Saint George, Richmond, and Victory!' The contrast is total: Richard haunted by guilt, Richmond blessed by justice.
Coming Up in Chapter 22
The final battle approaches as Richard and Richmond prepare to meet on the battlefield.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~496 words)
This is the day which in King Edward's time I wished might fall on me when I was found False to his children and his wife's allies. This is the day. This is the day. I am the subject of my own treason. I have been false to my own blood, And now I pay the price. RICHARD. Off with his head! So much for Buckingham. BUCKINGHAM. Come, sirs, convey me to the block of wrong. I have been false to my own blood, And now I pay the price of my own treason. Richmond prays: 'O thou, whose captain I account myself... put in their hands thy bruising irons of wrath.' He sleeps peacefully. Then the ghosts come—all of Richard's victims. Prince Edward: 'Think how thou stabbed me in my prime of youth at Tewkesbury. Despair therefore, and die.' Henry VI: 'My anointed body by thee was punched full of holes. Think on the Tower, and me.' Clarence: 'I that was washed to death with fulsome wine... by thy guile betrayed.' Rivers, Grey, Vaughan—all curse Richard. Hastings: 'Bloody and guilty, guiltily awake.' The two young princes: 'Dream on thy cousins smothered in the Tower... let us be laid within thy bosom Richard, and weigh thee down to ruin, shame, and death.' Anne: 'That wretched Anne thy wife, that never slept a quiet hour with thee.' Finally, Buckingham: 'The first was I that helped thee to the crown, that last was I that felt thy tyranny... Dream on, dream on, of bloody deeds and death.' Each ghost curses Richard, then blesses Richmond. Richard wakes screaming: 'Give me another horse, bind up my wounds! Have mercy Jesu.' His famous soliloquy begins: 'O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me?' 'What? do I fear myself? There's none else by. Richard loves Richard, that is, I am I.' 'Is there a murderer here? No; yes, I am.' His conscience breaks him: 'My conscience hath a thousand several tongues, and every tongue brings in a several tale, and every tale condemns me for a villain.' The devastating realization: 'I shall despair, there is no creature loves me; and if I die, no soul shall pity me.' Even he recognizes: 'Nay, wherefore should they? Since that I myself, find in myself, no pity to myself.' To Ratcliffe: 'O Ratcliffe, I fear, I fear.' 'Shadows tonight have struck more terror to the soul of Richard than can the substance of ten thousand soldiers.' Meanwhile, Richmond wakes refreshed: 'The sweetest sleep, and fairest boding dreams that ever entered in a drowsy head.' 'Me thought their souls, whose bodies Richard murdered, came to my tent and cried on victory. I promise you my heart is very jocund.' Richmond's oration: 'God, and our good cause, fight upon our side... a bloody tyrant, and a homicide... one that slaughtered those that were the means to help him.' 'God, and Saint George, Richmond, and Victory!' The contrast is total: Richard haunted by guilt, Richmond blessed by justice.
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Complicity
How those who help manipulators often become their victims, especially when they show hesitation or moral limits
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
Those who help manipulators often become their victims. This skill helps you recognize the cost of complicity.
Practice This Today
When someone asks you to help eliminate others, recognize that you may become the next target.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Complicity Trap
The pattern where those who help manipulators often become their victims
Modern Usage:
Like someone who helps a manipulator, thinking their alliance protects them, but eventually becomes a target
Alliance Betrayal
How manipulators turn on their allies when they show hesitation or moral limits
Modern Usage:
Like a manipulator who turns on an ally when they refuse to cross a moral line
Characters in This Chapter
Buckingham
Richard's former closest ally, now executed
Buckingham represents those who help manipulators but eventually become victims. He recognizes his complicity and accepts his fate.
Modern Equivalent:
Someone who helps a manipulator, thinking their alliance protects them, but eventually becomes a target
Key Quotes & Analysis
"This is the day which in King Edward's time I wished might fall on me when I was found False to his children and his wife's allies."
Context: Buckingham recognizing his own betrayal and accepting his fate
Buckingham acknowledges his complicity. He recognizes that he betrayed Edward's children and allies, and now he pays the price. Those who help manipulators often become their victims.
In Today's Words:
I betrayed them, and now I pay the price for my complicity
"I have been false to my own blood, And now I pay the price of my own treason."
Context: Buckingham accepting his execution
Buckingham recognizes that his betrayal of his own family and allies has led to his downfall. Complicity has consequences.
In Today's Words:
I betrayed my own family, and now I face the consequences
Thematic Threads
Consequences
In This Chapter
Complicity has costs
Development
Allies become victims
In Your Life:
Recognize that helping manipulators doesn't protect you - it makes you complicit
Complicity
In This Chapter
Buckingham recognizes his betrayal
Development
Those who help manipulators face consequences
In Your Life:
Those who help manipulators often face consequences for their complicity
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Buckingham accept his fate? What does this teach us about complicity?
reflection • medium
Critical Thinking Exercise
The Complicity Recognition
Think about the cost of helping manipulators.
Consider:
- •What happens to those who help manipulators?
- •How do you avoid complicity?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 22: Act V, Scene 3 (cont.): Conscience Is a Word Cowards Use
The coming pages reveal legitimate leaders inspire, and teach us vision matters. These discoveries help us navigate similar situations in our own lives.