Sep 6, 2008

Richard III | Richard (Character Analysis)

Also: Gloucester; Richard, Duke of Gloucester; afterwards, King Richard III of England

Also known as Gloucester, Richard is the duke of Gloucester and later becomes King Richard III. He is the title character of the play and the scheming younger brother of King Edward IV and George, duke of Clarence.

The opening couplet in Richard III ("Now is the winter of our discontent / Made glorious summer by this son of York" [I.i.1-2]) and the final line of V.iv ("A horse, a horse! my kingdom for a horse!" [V.iv.13]) are probably the most famous lines in the play; appropriately,...