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| Character | Gloucester | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Male | |
| Age Range(s) | Young Adult (20-35), Adult (36-50) | |
| Type of monologue / Character is | Descriptive, Rejoicing/Excited | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Period | Renaissance | |
| Genre | Historical, Drama | |
| Description | Gloucester (future King Richard III) rejoices on his conquest of Lady Anne | |
| Location | ACT I, Scene 2 | |
Summary
The play begins at the end of a long civil war between the house of Lancaster, that ruled with King Henry VI, and the house of York. The house of York has prevailed and Edward IV is now king of England. His younger brothers are Clarence and Richard, the Duke of Gloucester.
Richard plots against noblemen and even his own family to become the future king. He plans to have his brother Clarence killed by spreading rumors about him. He also plans to marry Lady Anne, the young widowed wife of Prince Edward, that is the son of the late King Henry VI. In this scene Gloucester courts Lady Anne while she is still mourning the death of her husband and King Henry. Even if she knows he is responsible for their death, Gloucester manages to charm her. He even admits that he killed them and argues that he did it because of her beauty, to get to her. He slips a ring onto her finger and asks her to marry him. She accepts the ring and agrees to meet him later.
When she leaves Gloucester celebrates his conquest with this monologue. She still had tears in her eyes, he says, and a hatred for him but he still managed to seduce her and make her forget her diseased husband.
Richard plots against noblemen and even his own family to become the future king. He plans to have his brother Clarence killed by spreading rumors about him. He also plans to marry Lady Anne, the young widowed wife of Prince Edward, that is the son of the late King Henry VI. In this scene Gloucester courts Lady Anne while she is still mourning the death of her husband and King Henry. Even if she knows he is responsible for their death, Gloucester manages to charm her. He even admits that he killed them and argues that he did it because of her beauty, to get to her. He slips a ring onto her finger and asks her to marry him. She accepts the ring and agrees to meet him later.
When she leaves Gloucester celebrates his conquest with this monologue. She still had tears in her eyes, he says, and a hatred for him but he still managed to seduce her and make her forget her diseased husband.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
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| GLOUCESTER No, to White-Friars; there attend my coining. [Exeunt all but GLOUCESTER] Was ever woman in this humour woo'd? Was ever woman in this humour won? I'll have her; but I will not keep her long. What! I, that kill'd her husband and his father, To take her in her heart's extremest hate, With curses in her mouth, tears in her eyes, The bleeding witness of her hatred by; Having God, her conscience, and these bars against me, And I nothing to back my suit at all, But the plain devil and dissembling looks, And yet to win her, all the world to nothing! Ha! Hath she forgot already that brave prince, Edward, her lord, whom I, some three months since, Stabb'd in my angry mood at Tewksbury? A sweeter and a lovelier gentleman, Framed in the prodigality of nature, Young, valiant, wise, and, no doubt, right royal, The spacious world cannot again afford And will she yet debase her eyes on me, That cropp'd the golden prime of this sweet prince, And made her widow to a woful bed? On me, whose all not equals Edward's moiety? On me, that halt and am unshapen thus? My dukedom to a beggarly denier, I do mistake my person all this while: Upon my life, she finds, although I cannot, Myself to be a marvellous proper man. I'll be at charges for a looking-glass, And entertain some score or two of tailors, To study fashions to adorn my body: Since I am crept in favour with myself, Will maintain it with some little cost. But first I'll turn yon fellow in his grave; And then return lamenting to my love. Shine out, fair sun, till I have bought a glass, That I may see my shadow as I pass. |
