 Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
Table of Contents Act IV, SCENE 1 Back at the palace in London, Richard, George, Somerset and Montague enter. Richard asks his brother George whether the marriage of Edward to Lady Grey is worthy or not. George says that Edward could have waited for Warwick's return from France. The King enters with Lady Grey as Queen, plus Pembroke, Stafford and Hastings. Both George and Richard expresses their dissatisfaction over the marriage, revealing their different reasons, but Edward asserts that his authority as king allows him the freedom to do what he wishes. For every reason they give that it was a poor decision, Richard rejoins with a haughty declaration. The Queen is somewhat taken aback by this exchange and reveals that she is disturbed that her brothers-in-law do not support her as Queen. A postman comes to deliver news from King Lewis that reveals his anger over Edward's recent decision and notification of pending invasion by French troops. The postman also conveys Bona's sarcastic message as well as Queen Margaret's. To each of these rejoinders, King Edward replies flippantly. Warwick has also sent notice that Edward has done him wrong and he and Margaret are now closely allied. Hearing about the marriage between Warwick's daughter and the Prince, George says he is going to marry Warwick's other daughter. It is only Richard, who although displeased with the turn of events, refuses to show his disloyalty. With both Clarence and Somerset decamping, Edward realizes that he should prepare for war in haste and asks Pembroke and Stafford to go and make the preparations. He is happy to hear that Montague, Hastings and Richard will stand by him and becomes assured of victory. Notes Back in London, the house of York is in upheaval over Edward's marriage to Lady Grey. All fear that serious repercussions will occur because of his rash decision. Not only that, but Edward has been very indiscreet by marrying off an heiress to his new wife's son rather than George. This makes for tension between the brothers. Therefore, the tension is rife not only between countries but also family. Richard also speaks out his mind but not so openly as George. 'No God forfrend that I should wish them serv'd Whom God hath join'd them and were pity To sunder them that yoke so well together.' Richard is ironically citing the Scriptures for his purpose. He loves the crown more than Edward and will wait for the golden opportunity to come. But he also says that his brother has offended him by giving the heir and daughter of Lord Scales to the brother of his loving bride in marriage, when he was a bachelor. 'But in your bride you bury brotherhood,' By this he means that after marriage, Edward seems to have forgotten his loyalties to his brothers who were closely associated with him before. He seems to be interested only in the affairs of his bride's people. Rather than fighting between the Lancastrians and Yorkists, here the affiliations become more muddled as each man vies for power and will go to any means to get it. Clarence is angry enough to abandon his family and seek out Warwick while Richard brews over how to acquire the crown. A few supporters of Edward chime in to uphold what he has done, but even Edward is arrogant and self-congratulatory as he fends off this counterattack. He claims that he is in the right and that he can will his subjects to follow him.When the post man delivers the message from the French king, Lady Bona and Warwick and Queen Margaret, Edward is shocked and enraged. He calls Warwick a traitor when he himself has followed his morally debased principles rather than thinking of the good of all. Suddenly he becomes concerned about the threat of war. Table of Contents | |
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