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| Character | Queen Margaret (former Queen) | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Female | |
| Age Range(s) | Adult (36-50), Senior (>50) | |
| Type of monologue / Character is | Angry, Scolding, Lamenting | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Period | Renaissance | |
| Genre | Historical, Drama | |
| Description | Queen Margaret curses Elizabeth and Richard | |
| Location | ACT I, Scene 3 | |
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 spreads false rumors about his brother Clarence, plans to marry Lady Anne, the young widow of Henry VI's son, Prince Edward, and eliminate the Queen Elizabeth and her sons.
In this scene Richard is arguing with Queen Elizabeth. She accuses him of being hostile to her and her sons and he accuses her of hoping for King Edward IV's death and of spreading false rumors about him. Queen Margaret (that is the former queen, wife of the late Henry VI), enters the scene and curses everybody, she hopes that Elizabeth will outlive her glory and see her husband and sons die, he curses Richard for being responsible for her husband and son's death and noblemen Dorset, Rivers and Hastings for letting Richard kill her son.
Richard plots against noblemen and even his own family to become the future king. He spreads false rumors about his brother Clarence, plans to marry Lady Anne, the young widow of Henry VI's son, Prince Edward, and eliminate the Queen Elizabeth and her sons.
In this scene Richard is arguing with Queen Elizabeth. She accuses him of being hostile to her and her sons and he accuses her of hoping for King Edward IV's death and of spreading false rumors about him. Queen Margaret (that is the former queen, wife of the late Henry VI), enters the scene and curses everybody, she hopes that Elizabeth will outlive her glory and see her husband and sons die, he curses Richard for being responsible for her husband and son's death and noblemen Dorset, Rivers and Hastings for letting Richard kill her son.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
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| QUEEN MARGARET What were you snarling all before I came, Ready to catch each other by the throat, And turn you all your hatred now on me? Did York's dread curse prevail so much with heaven? That Henry's death, my lovely Edward's death, Their kingdom's loss, my woful banishment, Could all but answer for that peevish brat? Can curses pierce the clouds and enter heaven? Why, then, give way, dull clouds, to my quick curses! If not by war, by surfeit die your king, As ours by murder, to make him a king! Edward thy son, which now is Prince of Wales, For Edward my son, which was Prince of Wales, Die in his youth by like untimely violence! Thyself a queen, for me that was a queen, Outlive thy glory, like my wretched self! Long mayst thou live to wail thy children's loss; And see another, as I see thee now, Deck'd in thy rights, as thou art stall'd in mine! Long die thy happy days before thy death; And, after many lengthen'd hours of grief, Die neither mother, wife, nor England's queen! Rivers and Dorset, you were standers by, And so wast thou, Lord Hastings, when my son Was stabb'd with bloody daggers: God, I pray him, That none of you may live your natural age, But by some unlook'd accident cut off! [GLOUCESTER Have done thy charm, thou hateful wither'd hag!] QUEEN MARGARET And leave out thee? stay, dog, for thou shalt hear me. If heaven have any grievous plague in store Exceeding those that I can wish upon thee, O, let them keep it till thy sins be ripe, And then hurl down their indignation On thee, the troubler of the poor world's peace! The worm of conscience still begnaw thy soul! Thy friends suspect for traitors while thou livest, And take deep traitors for thy dearest friends! No sleep close up that deadly eye of thine, Unless it be whilst some tormenting dream Affrights thee with a hell of ugly devils! Thou elvish-mark'd, abortive, rooting hog! Thou that wast seal'd in thy nativity The slave of nature and the son of hell! Thou slander of thy mother's heavy womb! Thou loathed issue of thy father's loins! Thou rag of honour! thou detested-- |
