The Cold, Fearful Soliloquy of a Condemned King The night before battle at Bosworth field, Richard’s sleep is disturbed by the ghosts of those he murdered in his scheme to acquire and retain the kingship. The ghosts haunt Richard with prophesies of the justice due him. Startled from sleep, Richard’s shaken soliloquy is delivered fearfully and honestly, testifying his gradation of sins and foreshadowing his inevitable demise. While dreaming, Richard is reminded of the …showed first 75 words of 762 total…

…showed last 75 words of 762 total… a suffering of his own creation that he truly will experience. Asleep at night Richard is tortured with guilty conscience. By day, the sky lours upon him as he prepares for battle with Richmond. The sun’s refusal to shine on this “Sun of York” (I.I.2) increases the darkness for Richard. Soon, there will be, “vengeance on the head of Richard.” (V.iii.206)