Clarence's Demise
In the very first monologue of the play, Richard explains to the audience how he plans to destroy his brother George, the Duke of Clarence (known simply as "Clarence"). Following his speech, Richard has a conversation with Clarence in which he asks a series of questions, innocently playing along as Clarence tells him he has been sent to the Tower. The conversation serves as a moment of dramatic irony, as the audience is aware that Richard is behind the plot to send Clarence away and eventually murder him.
The Young Princes
When Prince Edward expresses suspicion over Richard's instruction for him and his brother, Prince Richard, to stay in the Tower until Edward's coronation, Richard says, "So wise so young, they say, do never live long" (3.1). This aside is an example of verbal irony, as the audience knows that Richard's remark is not about Prince Edward's wisdom but instead about Richard's plan to have the two boys murdered.
Hastings' Fate
When Catesby is trying to convince Hastings to join Richard, he tells him, "The princes both make high account of you," but follows this remark with the aside, "For they account his head upon the bridge" (3.2). Here, Catesby is attempting to flatter Hastings but uses verbal irony in the aside to suggest that he is a traitor who will be executed (at the time, heads of traitors were displayed on London Bridge for all to see).
Prince Edward
In Act Three, Richard tells the young Prince Edward to beware of those family members who would deceive him, saying, "God keep you from them, and from all such false friends" (3.1). This is an example of verbal and dramatic irony, as the audience knows that one of those false friends is Richard himself, who plans to have the prince and his brother murdered.
