payment page
Does Richard III die at the end of the play?
Yes. Richard is killed in battle by Richmond in the final act of the play. Richmond is heralded as the new king after he slays Richard at the start of 5.5, bringing an end to Richard’s tyrannical reign.
Is Richard III a comedy or a tragedy?
Neither. Richard III is considered one of Shakespeare’s history plays which are his collection of plays that cover the history of British monarchs from the 12th to the 16th centuries. Richard III is part of a tetralogy of history plays written in the early 1590s about the War of the Roses. The tetralogy is made up of four plays: Henry VI Parts I, II and III and Richard III.
Was Richard III really deformed?
Most contemporary historians think that the real Richard III was not actually deformed or a hunchback and likely just had scoliosis. However, Shakespeare’s Richard is deformed. Richard mentions early in the text that he was born prematurely, causing him to have several physical defects.
Did Richard III really murder the two princes?
While the theory that Richard III murdered the two princes in order to claim the throne is popular, historians do not know what actually happened to the two princes in the Tower. However, Shakespeare’s dramatized account of Richard’s rise to power includes a scene in which he arranges to have the two princes killed. The two princes are among the ghosts that plague Richard’s dreams the night before the final battle in Act 5, Scene 3.
What is the meaning of the quote “My Kingdom for a horse!” in the play?
Richard’s horse is slain during the battle in Act 5, Scene 4, forcing him to fight on foot. Richard’s famous last words, “My kingdom for a horse!”, indicate that in his final moments, Richard is willing to trade the crown that he fought so hard for if it meant that he could preserve his own life.
