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| Richard, Duke of York (Shelley Redlinger) & Edward, Prince of Wales (Katrina Case) |
One of the most despicable things Richard does (of many) in Shakespeare's play Richard III is to have his two young nephews, Edward and Richard, imprisoned in the Tower of London and subsequently killed. However, history is not so definitive on this matter as is our playwright.
The historical facts seem to be that after Richard, Duke of Gloucester (our bad guy, future King Richard III, and title character), had Queen Elizabeth's (Woodville—a commoner) marriage to his dead brother Edward IV declared illegitimate, Richard then seized the throne. He had the 12-year-old Edward (the heir apparent) sent to the tower where his brother joined him. The two princes disappeared just a month after Richard was crowned, and rumors of the day said that Richard had had the boys murdered.
Shakespeare's play leaves no doubt as to the boys' demise. In our streamlined adaptation, they are brutally killed by a character named Catesby, one of Richard's young thug-lords. Check this guy out:
KING RICHARD. Dar'st thou resolve to kill a friend of mine?
CATESBY. Please you;
But I had rather kill two enemies.
KING RICHARD. Why, then thou hast it. Two deep enemies,
Foes to my rest, and my sweet sleep's disturbers,
Are they that I would have thee deal upon.
Catesby, I mean those bastards in the Tower.
CATESBY. Let me have open means to come to them,
And soon I'll rid you from the fear of them.
KING RICHARD. Thou sing'st sweet music.
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| Siblings: Princess Elizabeth of York (Margaret Stegall) with Princes Edward & Richard |
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