Quotes

• Richard A1S1

  Themes of gender

  gentlewomen are mighty gossips
• Anne A1S2

  Links to the divine right of kings


  poor key-cold figure of a holy king
• Anne A1S2

  Themes of death and violence

  Though I wish thy death, I will not be thy executioner
• Richard A1S1


  deformed, unfinished, sent before my time
• Richard A1S1


  subtle, false and treacherous
• Richard A1S2

  Themes of gloating and power, links to the Machiavel

  was ever a woman in this humour wooed? was ever a woman in this humour won?
• Margaret A1S3

  Links to the supernatural

  poor Margaret was a prophetess
• Margaret A1S3

  Links to the past and the supernatural, as well as guilt and conscience

  hear me, you wrangling pirates
• Richard A1S3

  Themes of deceit


  I cannot flatter and look fair
• Murderers A1S4

  Themes of guilt and conscience


  "some dregs of conscience are yet within me"

  and

  conscience "makes a man a coward"
• Elizabeth A1S3


  "I fear our happiness is at its height"
• Richard A2S1

  Themes of deception


  "but he (poor man) by your first order died"
• Duchess of York A2S2

  Themes of lying and grief

  "two mirrors of his princely semblance" and "one false glass"
• Richard (on Buckingham) A2S2


  "my oracle, my prophet, my dear cousin"
• Richard (on Edward) A2S2


  "our shining star"
• Citizens A2S3


  "full of danger is the duke of Gloucester"
• Elizabeth A2S4


  "the tiger hath seized the gentle hind"
• Prince Edward A3S1


  "and if I live until I be a man"
• Young York A3S1


  "I shall not sleep quiet in the tower"
• Richard A3S1

  theme of deception and lying, innocence and youth


  "so wise, so young, they say do never live long"
• Richard A3S1

  Themes of violence and death

  "chop off his head"
• Hastings A3S2


  "I'll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders before I see the crown so fouly misplaced"
• Hastings A3S2

  Themes of naivety and uncertainty


  "some men else that think they are as safe as you and I"
• Hastings A3S4


  "never a man...can lesser hide his love or hate than he"
• Stanley A3S2


  "Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward"
• Buckingham (on Hastings) A3S5


  "after he once fell in with Mistress Shore"
• Richard A3S5

  Corruption of power and lying

  "infer the bastardy of Edward's children"
• Scrivener A3S6

  Corruption of power and villainy

  "bad is the world and all will come to naught, when such ill dealing must be seen in thought"
• Richard A3S7

  lying and two-faced nature

  "I am unfit for state and majesty"
• Richard (on Edward) A1S1

  "he capers nimbly in a lady's chamber"
• Edward A2S1

  themes of kingship


  "who spoke of brotherhood? who spoke of love? who told me how the poor soul did forsake?"
• Catesby A3S2


  "it is a reeling world indeed my lord"
• Buckingham A3S7

  Theme of religion (and corruption thereof) as well as power


  "get a prayer book in your hand and stand between two churchmen my good lord"
• Buckingham A3S7

  Theme of power

  "the citizens are mum, not say a word"
• Duchess of York A4S1

  Theme of gender and power and grief

  "O my accursed womb"
• Anne A4S1

  Theme of deceit and power, relationships and grief

  "grossly grew captive to his honey words"
• Stanley (on Duchess of York) A4S1

  "full of wise care is your counsel madam"
• Elizabeth A4S1

  themes of kingship and power


  "The Lord protect himself from that Kingly title"
• Elizabeth A4S1

  Themes of gender, despair

  "nor mother, wife, nor England's counted queen"
• Richard A4S2

  Theme of violence

  "Shall I be plain? I want the bastards dead"