The Shakespeare Book

40

I CAN SMILE

AND MURDER

WHILES I SMILE

HENRY VI PART 3 (1591)

A

fter the Yorkists’ victory

at St. Albans, Henry VI is

forced to make a pledge:

he will remain king, but Richard

of York will become king after

his death. York agrees to this,

but his son Richard Plantagenet

persuades him to break the oath.

War breaks out and Clifford

murders York’s son Rutland. After

the Battle of Wakefield, York is

cornered and Queen Margaret and

Clifford taunt him with Rutland’s

blood before killing him.

York’s sons Edward, Richard,

and George plan their revenge and

are joined, crucially, by Warwick.

Margaret and Clifford, confronted

by the rampant York brothers, try

DRAMATIS

PERSONAE

THE KING’S PARTY

King Henry VI

Queen Margaret

Prince Edward

Lord Clifford

HOUSE OF NEVILLE

Earl of Warwick

DUKE OF YORK’S PARTY

Richard, Duke of York

Edward Later King Edward IV.

Lady Gray

George Plantagenet Later

Duke of Clarence.

Richard Plantagenet Later

Duke of Gloucester, York’s son.

Earl of Rutland York ’s s on.

THE FRENCH

King Louis

Lady Bona