Shakespeare's Richard III - Act 4 by SC School of the Arts

At the beginning of the act, the Duchess of York, Lady Anne and Queen Elizabeth receive the news that Richard is usurping the throne. Elizabeth is denied access to the young princes and expresses her fears for them. Lord Stanley arrives and orders Lady Anne to Westminster Cathedral to be crowned Queen. As the story continues, Richard, now King Richard III, tests Buckingham to see if he will support his plan to have the young princes killed. Buckingham hesitates, which angers Richard, who then asks his henchman to find a murderer for hire.

Soon, we learn that there is a rebellion against Richard being led by Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, and that Queen Elizabeth’s son, Dorset, has joined his forces. Richard realizes that he must marry Queen Elizabeth’s daughter to secure his ties to the throne, so he puts out the word that Lady Anne is “sick” which means that he will have her killed. He also enlists a murderer named Tyrrel to dispose of the princes in the tower. Buckingham decides to ask Richard for the lands promised to him as a price for continuing to do his bidding, but the angry Richard ignores him. This makes Buckingham realize that he should join the opposing forces while he is still alive. Next, as the women of the palace grieve their losses, Richard interrupts them. Ironically, he asks for the hand of the young princess Elizabeth now that Lady Anne is dead. After scorning him. Queen Elizabeth seems to agree to the plan, although it is likely done out of a need for survival, and with a plan to mislead him. Finally, as the act comes to an end, Richard grows increasingly erratic as he learns of the opposing forces that are gathering to overthrow him