King Edward Irreconciliation In William Shakespeare's King Richard III

This excerpt from Act 2 Scene 1, lines 1-31, of William Shakespeare’s King Richard III introduces an ailing King Edward orchestrating reconciliation between the Woodville family and the nobles who oppose them. The passage begins with Edward addressing his declining health. He then proceeds to effortlessly persuade Queen Elizabeth, Dorset and the nobles to forget their rivalled past and make him content in their unity. Although this is his first appearance in the play, King Edward was previously mentioned. We have just seen the Duke of Clarence being killed, and in the moments before his gruelling death, Clarence describes Edward to be responsible for his murder; he feels that King Edward is a deceiver. Clarence is proved to be incorrect in

Addressing them, King Edward says “Dissemble not your hatred; swear your love”. The use of antithesis here is to magnify how much King Edward is asking of the nobles; to completely change their relationship and go from being foes to being friends. In an accepting response to King Edwards’s plea, Rivers says “By heaven, my soul is purged from grudging hate, and with my hand I seal my true heart’s love.” Antithesis is also seen in these lines, but this time with a different purpose. The two opposing words “hate” and “love” are used here to define the prior and latter state of Rivers’ and Hastings’ relationship. The purpose of these contrasting words is to highlight the extent of King Edwards’s persuasive charm. He manages to change their “grudging hatred” into “true heart’s love” solely within the few previously spoken lines. After acceptance from Hastings as well, King Edward goes on to warn both nobles that they must mean what they say because God is almighty and he can uncover their lies. Edward starts by saying; “Take heed you not dally before your king, lest he that is supreme King of kings”. An epistrophe is used here with the repeating of “king” at the end of both phrases. This emphasizes Edward’s status, as well as the status of God in Edward’s perspective. Referring to himself as “king”, Edward institutes his authority, evoking the nobles

He says to Elizabeth that she “is not exempt” from the reconciliation and means the same for the others saying “Nor you, son Dorset, Buckingham, nor you;” Anadiplosis is shown here as we see the repetition of the words “nor, you” at the beginning and end of the line. This effectively portrays that what the King previously said to Hastings and Rivers about wanting his friends “to take each other’s hand” before he parts to “heaven” applies to everyone present. King Edward’s words then begin to show their effect on Queen Elizabeth as she reveals she will “never more remember” the “former hatred” she felt for Hastings. Here, Shakespeare uses the word “hatred”, which is the most intense form of dislike, to describe the former relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Hastings. Normally for such a bitter relationship to turn pleasant so quickly, much persuasion would be necessary. But we see here that the few words spoken by King Edward were enough to transform the nature of the relationship between Elizabeth and Hastings. King Edward then says “Dorset, embrace him. Hastings, love lord marquess.” His assertive tone further encourages this reconciliation. In a final “interchange of love”, Dorset and Hastings swear their friendship. The last line in this passage makes Edwards’s pious character clear as he says “and make me happy in your unity”.