Summary of the play
The historical background shows the play in reference to the reigning of King Edward IV before it represented the events of the reigning of King Richard III during the war of the roses. The years during which Richard gained power and was able to rise to the throne of England, are presented to the audience in five acts. Richard is secretly aspiring the throne, during which process he decides to kill anyone who stands as an obstacle in his way. For the aim of ascending to the throne he tricks Lady Anne in the second act, into marrying him, even though she knows he murdered her first husband and her father in law.
The reigning king Edward dies and leaves the throne waiting for the elder of his two sons, Edward and Richard. The third act sees Richard left in charge until Edward will come of age. Richard has Queen Elizabeth arrested and executed, which leaves the two young princes unprotected.in the fourth act, Richard has lord Buckingham his right hand man campaign to have himself crowned king. He then imprisons the young princes and hires murderers to kill both children. Richard then has his wife Anne murdered, so that he could marry young Elizabeth, the daughter of the former queen Elizabeth and the dead king Edward. The night before the fight, Richard is haunted by ghosts of all the people he has killed. In conclusion, the fifth act, Richard is killed on the battle field and Richmond is crowned king henry VII. The villain finally reaches his fate.