Publisher's Synopsis
Richard has just had his brother Clarence arrested and placed in the Tower of London. Using an order signed by their brother, King Edward, Richard has two murderers enter the Tower and stab Clarence to death.Richard also goes to speak with Lady Anne, whose father and husband he has helped murder. She curses him, but eventually is overcome by his smooth words. At the end of the scene Richard manages to get her to marry him.Queen Margaret, an old lady who haunts the court, casts a curse upon the royal assembly. She predicts that the current Queen Elizabeth's brother and sons will be killed, as will Lord Hastings, Buckingham, and lastly Richard. Her curse becomes the underlying plot of the play.King Edward, who is sick, tries to force his Queen's family to become friends with his noblemen. Richard enters the room and immediately destroys this tranquil scene by telling them that Clarence is dead. King Edward dies soon thereafter, leaving his son Prince Edward to inherit the throne.Richard wastes no time after the king's death. He immediately arrests Queen Elizabeth's brother and son, Rivers and Gray, and locks them in one of his castles. He also travel to where Prince Edward is staying, and helps the boy come back to London.Prince Edward goes to stay in the Tower, along with his younger brother. Richard calls for two councils, one of which is public and meant to put Edward on the throne, and one of which is private and meant to put Richard on the throne. He is aided by Buckingham throughout these scenes.
