Richard III
Richard is the central character of the play. He is also referred to by his title, Duke of Gloucester, throughout the performance. Richard is highly manipulative and sadistic, plotting the murders of various noblemen and his own family members in order to eventually seize power for himself and become King Richard III. Richard is described ambiguously as deformed, his outward ugliness a reflection of his interior immorality. Richard is known for his ability to use rhetoric in order to seduce and control those around him, and his eloquent speeches often entrap the audience in this very act of rhetorical seduction.
King Edward IV
Edward IV is the elder brother of Richard and Clarence. He is King of England at the start of the play. Edward is blind to Richard’s ambition and desire for the throne. Despite his own involvement in the bloody overthrow of the Lancaster regime, Edward rules with a sense of reconciliation and peace, standing in stark contrast to Richard’s grasp for power and the machinations he uses to ascend the throne.
Duke of Buckingham
Buckingham is Richard’s closest ally throughout the play. He aids and abets Richard’s amoral behavior while maintaining his own sense of ambition and hunger for power. It is Buckingham’s idea to place the young princes under Richard’s “protection” by sending them to the tower. However, after the princes are executed, Buckingham criticizes Richard and flees to avoid execution himself.
Duke of Clarence
Clarence is the middle brother between Edward and Richard. He is innocent and gentle-minded, putting too much trust in Richard and falling victim to Richard’s manipulative tactics. Richard has Clarence murdered to eliminate him as competition for the throne.
Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth, also called Lady Gray, is the wife (and then widow) of King Henry IV. She is the mother of the two young princes (Edward IV’s sons), who both stand in the way of Richard’s claim to the throne. Despite her strong-willed personality and fierce opposition to Richard, as a woman Elizabeth can do little to prevent Richard from ascending the ranks. Elizabeth is a member of the Woodville family, and is surrounded by her trusted allies Dorset, Rivers, and Gray.
Young Elizabeth
Young Elizabeth, or Elizabeth of York, is the daughter of Queen Elizabeth and the sister of the two young princes. Virtually powerless, Elizabeth becomes a political pawn in Richard’s many schemes. She is eventually betrothed to Richmond, a Lancastrian rebel, in an effort to unite the houses of York and Lancaster permanently.
The Princes
When King Henry IV dies, he leaves behind two sons, Prince Edward (not to be confused with the son of Henry VI and first husband of Lady Anne, who is dead before the play begins) and the Duke of York. They are rarely referred to by their proper names and are instead spoken about collectively as the “two princes” or “the two princes in the tower.” Richard has the young boys – his nephews – murdered by henchmen after locking them in the Tower of London for their “protection,” thereby eliminating all competition for the throne.
Duchess of York
The Duchess of York is the mother of Richard, Clarence, and King Edward IV. She scorns Richard for his manipulative and murderous acts and remains protective of Queen Elizabeth (her daughter-in-law) and Elizabeth’s children, the young princes in the tower. She eventually curses Richard for his behavior.
Lady Anne
Anne is the widow of Prince Edward, who died at the Battle of Tewkesbury when Edward IV and the Yorkists won victory over the Lancastrian and ousted Edward’s father, King Henry VI. Lady Anne detests Richard for the role he played in her husband’s death. However, she incredulously agrees to marry him after he makes clear her precarious political position and need for protection at court.
Margaret of Anjou
Margaret is the widow of King Henry VI, the Lancastrian king who was deposed and murdered by Edward IV, Richard, and the Yorkists. Her children, including Prince Edward (Anne’s late husband), were also slain to prevent the Lancastrians from retaining control of the throne. Margaret is fiercely and vocally opposed to Richard and the rest of those at court, and is often portrayed as a witchy figure who hurls curses at Richard that eventually spur his demise.
Queen Elizabeth's Kinsmen
Elizabeth maintains allies at court in her kinsmen Rivers (her brother), Dorset, and Gray (her sons from a previous marriage). As allies to the queen, they become targets for Richard’s schemes and both Rivers and Gray are eventually executed. Dorset survives, escaping England and Richard’s murderous rage.
Richmond
Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond (later King Henry VII) is a royal member of the Lancastrian house. He leads a group of rebels against Richard and challenges him for the throne. Richmond is portrayed as kind, just, and fair, standing in stark contrast to Richard and his many self-serving schemes. Early modern audiences would recognize Richmond as the founder of the Tudor dynasty, which reigned in England during the time Shakespeare was writing under Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. Many agree that Richmond is portrayed with such a sterling reputation to compliment and flatter the Tudor family on the throne. Richmond marries Elizabeth of York (Edward IV’s only daughter), thereby uniting the York and Lancastrian houses.
Tyrrell
Tyrrell is a murderer whom Richard hires to kills his nephews, the princes in the tower.
Ratcliffe and Catesby
Two noblemen and Richard’s henchmen.
Hastings
Hastings is a lord and ally of King Edward IV. He maintains loyalty to Edward and his family but eventually dies after mistakenly trusting Richard’s lies.
Stanley
Lord Stanley, Earl of Derby, is Richmond’s stepfather, who secretly helps Richmond in his rebellion against Richard.
Lord Mayor of London
The Lord Mayor presumably occupies a position of power in London but is gullible and easily swayed. He swiftly becomes a political pawn for Richard and Buckingham as they use him to help make Richard king.
Vaughan
Another ally of Queen Elizabeth’s who is eventually executed along with Rivers and Gray.
