Richard III

At 4 AM, a messenger from Stanley pounds on Hastings's door with an urgent warning: Stanley dreamed 'the Boar had rased off his helmet' (Richard's heraldic symbol is a boar). Stanley warns of 'two councils kept' and begs Hastings to flee north immediately. Hastings dismisses it completely, calling Stanley's fears 'shallow' and his dreams 'the mockery of unquiet slumbers.' He's confident because his 'good friend Catesby' is at the other council—not knowing Catesby is Richard's spy. Catesby arrives and tests Hastings's loyalty, suggesting Richard should wear the crown. Hastings declares he'd rather have his head cut from his shoulders than see Richard take the throne—unknowingly signing his death warrant with this answer. Catesby responds ominously: ''Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord, when men are unprepared and look not for it.' Hastings doesn't hear the warning. He boasts that 'some men think themselves as safe as thou and I, who are dear to princely Richard.' Catesby mutters an aside the audience hears: 'The princes both make high account of you, for they account his head upon the bridge.' Stanley arrives in person, warning again. Hastings jokes about Stanley's 'boar-spear.' He reaches peak confidence: 'My lord, I hold my life as dear as yours, and never in my days was it so precious to me as 'tis now.' Stanley delivers his prophetic warning: 'The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from London, were jocund and supposed their states were sure... but yet you see how soon the day o'ercast.' Hastings celebrates that his enemies—the Queen's allies—are being executed today, feeling vindicated and secure. He meets Buckingham, who asks if he's going to the Tower. 'I stay dinner there,' Hastings says cheerfully. Buckingham's aside, which the audience hears: 'And supper too, although thou knowest it not.' Hastings has been warned five times—by prophetic dream, by loyal friend, by the pattern of executions, by Catesby's test, by ominous asides—and dismissed every warning. His confidence, based on past friendship with Richard, blinds him completely to present danger.