Ann-Kathrin Hagenah

05-02-2000

vindictive- rachsüchtig

conjunction- Verbindung

disloyal- treulos

frown’d (frown)- mißbilligen

ta‘en- taken

KING RICHARD III BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

SUMMARY
“Richard III” was written by Shakespeare as the 3. part of the York trilogy in 1592/93. The
play tells us something about Richard’s way to power.
Richard sends two murderers to Clarence (his brother) , who was arrested in the tower. Also
Edward and King Henry VI were killed by him. Richard loves Anna, who should have been
Edward’s wife. Queen Margaret, King Henry’s wife, curses him. Edward IV, his other
brother, died, because he stands in the way of Richard for getting more power. Richard
executes other important persons in England. After he received the crown of England, he kills
the two Princes for saving his rule. Richard fights against some lords who would not
acknowledges him being king. His former friend Buckingham deserts to the enemies and so
Richard kills him. Shakespeare shows us a great final in the last act, when Richard fights
against Richmond for the crown of England. All persons, who were killed by Richard, return
as ghosts and wish Richmond to win and say to Richard, that he will loose the battle. The play
ends with a monologue of Richmond, now King Henry VII. about the future of England and
how the past was.

Some facts about the war between the red and the white rose:
The House of the Plantagenet was divided in two lines, the red and the white rose. The war
between the red rose (House of Lancaster) an the white rose (House of York) started in 1455.
They fought all the time a war of succession, which was won in 1484 by Henry VII. King
Henry, a descended from the House of York married Elisabeth, who descended from
Clarence, and so he united the two houses again.

Who is who
House of Clarence

House of Lancaster

House of York

Henry VI. & Margaret

Edward IV Clarence Richard III& Anna

Henry VII

Elisabeth &
Henry VII

Characterisation:
Richard: cruel, loves power, does everything for winning the crown, disloyal
Clarence: naiv
Richmond: peaceful, helpful
Margaret: vindictive

Text example:

act V. scene V.

Richmond:

(...) And then, as we have ta’en the sacrament,

We will unite the white rose and the red.

Smile, heaven, upon this fair conjunction,

that longer have frown’d upon their enmity. (...)

Ann-Kathrin Hagenah

05-02-2000

vindictive- rachsüchtig

conjunction- Verbindung

disloyal- treulos

frown’d (frown)- mißbilligen

ta‘en- taken