Shakespeare's Richard III - Act 3 by SC School of the Arts

Richard the Third. Act Three. At this point in the play, Richard moves forward aggressively with his plans to take the throne. Richard greets the young prince Edward as he arrives in London and reunites the prince with his brother, young York, playing the loving uncle despite the suspicions of the young boys. Richard arranges to house the princes in the Tower of London where he plans to dispose of them later. After they are led away, Buckingham and Richard ask their accomplice Catesby to determine where the loyalty of Lord Chamberlain William Hastings lies. Catesby goes on a mission to Hasting’s estate where he finds that Hastings would rather die than see Richard become King. Next, the scene changes to the Prison at Pomfret where we learn that Richard has arranged for Queen Elizabeth’s family members, Lord Rivers and Grey to be put to death.
The play continues in a conference room in the Tower of London where nobles are gathered to plan the coronation of the young Prince Edward. Richard uses the occasion to claim that Lord Hastings has treasonously allowed him to be bewitched, causing him to be deformed. When none of the nobles oppose him, Richard demands the Lord Chamberlain’s head. Now, with Hastings out of the picture, Richard must explain his absence to the rest of the government including the Lord Mayor of London. Accordingly, Richard, Lord Buckingham and their henchmen, Catesby and Ratcliffe act out a great scene on the Tower walls pretending that Lord Hastings is attacking them with an army in order to convince the Mayor of Lord Hastings’ treason. Finally, as the act ends, Richard must convince the people of London to crown him King. He encourages Buckingham to give a speech claiming that the young princes are illegitimate. When the people are unconvinced, he puts on a show of piety and refuses the crown until they demand that he agree to be King.