Richard III Ch. 14: Act IV, Scene 1

William Shakespeare

Act IV, Scene 1: The Princes Imprisoned

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Summary

Elizabeth, Anne, and the Duchess of York meet at the Tower to visit the princes. The Lieutenant says the King has forbidden visitors. Elizabeth asks who is King; he means the Lord Protector, and she answers let the Lord protect him from that kingly title. Mother, grandmother, and aunt in law all demand entry. He refuses, bound by oath.

Stanley arrives: Anne must go straight to Westminster to be crowned Richard's queen. Elizabeth begs to have her lace cut so her pent heart can beat and tells Dorset to flee cross the seas to Richmond from this slaughterhouse. The Duchess curses the cockatrice she hatched to the world. Anne remembers wishing sorrow on Richard's future wife when he wooed her over Henry's corpse, and says she proved the subject of her own soul's curse, enjoying no hour's sleep in his bed, hated for her father Warwick, and sure he will soon be rid of her.

The women part: Dorset toward Richmond, Anne toward coronation and death, the Duchess toward her grave, Elizabeth toward sanctuary. Elizabeth stays to address the Tower stones, pitying the tender babes immured within the walls and begging the ancient stones to use her babies well.

She asks the rough stones to pity the princes, because no living guard will carry a mother's voice inside.

In this chapter:Terms Characters Key Quotes Modern Story

Why This Matters

Recognizing the Access Block

Isolation often precedes harm when power changes hands. Elizabeth is barred from the princes because the Lord Protector forbids visits, Anne is sent to be crowned, and Elizabeth ends by pleading with the Tower stones to use her babies well.

Treat forbidden family access under a new title as custody dressed as procedure, not safety.

This chapter

Inside the Mind: Anne

Anne is barred from the princes and sent to be crowned beside the man who stopped her at the coffin. The experiment has a second act she does not get to narrate. What was a ring and a meeting is now a title that makes the conquest look finished. She knows the place she is walking toward. The procession does not ask her to agree again.

Continue this thoughtGrief Rewritten as Her Move

Coming Up in Chapter 15

Richard, newly in pomp, takes Buckingham's hand and asks whether these glories will last a day or forever. Buckingham answers that they should live and last forever. He stands the court apart before he will take that hand.

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Original text

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Chapter 14

Act IV, Scene 1: The Princes Imprisoned

Actus Quartus. Scena Prima. Enter the Queene, Anne Duchesse of Gloucester, the Duchesse of Yorke, and Marquesse Dorset. Duch.Yorke. Who meetes vs heere? My Neece Plantagenet, Led in the hand of her kind Aunt of Gloster? Now, for my Life, shee's wandring to the Tower, On pure hearts loue, to greet the tender Prince. Daughter, well met Anne. God giue your Graces both, a happie And a ioyfull time of day Qu. As much to you, good Sister: whither away? Anne. No farther then the Tower, and as I guesse, Vpon the like deuotion as your selues, To gratulate the…

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Act IV, Scene 1: The Princes Imprisoned

Summary

Why This Matters