Richard III Act 2 Scene 3

Some citizens discuss the fact that King Edward is dead. They are afraid of a fight to seize the thrown, with one of them commenting, "Woe to the land that's governed by a child" (2.3.11). Their fear is that Richard or the sons and brother of the Queen will attempt to overthrow the young monarch. One of the themes which emerges in Shakespeare is that the state of the throne is reflected in the state of the country. Thus, with a sickly Edward on the throne, the overall health of the country is also sick. This is reflected by the citizens who are worried about having a child king, which implies that the country will now degenerate into turmoil.