Original Text(~250 words)
O, I have passed a miserable night, So full of fearful dreams, of ugly sights, That, as I am a Christian faithful man, I would not spend another such a night Though 'twere to buy a world of happy days, So full of dismal terror was the time. Methought that I had broken from the Tower And was embarked to cross to Burgundy, And in my company my brother Gloucester, Who from my cabin tempted me to walk Upon the hatches. There we looked toward England And cited up a thousand heavy times During the wars of York and Lancaster That had befallen us. As we paced along Upon the giddy footing of the hatches, Methought that Gloucester stumbled, and in falling Struck me, that thought to stay him, overboard Into the tumbling billows of the main. O Lord, methought what pain it was to drown, What dreadful noise of waters in my ears, What sights of ugly death within my eyes! Methought I saw a thousand fearful wracks, A thousand men that fishes gnawed upon, Wedges of gold, great anchors, heaps of pearl, Inestimable stones, unvalued jewels, All scattered in the bottom of the sea. Some lay in dead men's skulls, and in the holes Where eyes did once inhabit, there were crept, As 'twere in scorn of eyes, reflecting gems That wooed the slimy bottom of the deep And mocked the dead bones that lay scattered by. Clarence, imprisoned in the Tower, has a prophetic dream about his...
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Summary
Clarence, imprisoned in the Tower, has a prophetic dream about his death - he dreams of drowning, of being pushed overboard by his brother Gloucester (Richard). The dream is vivid and terrifying, full of 'fearful dreams, of ugly sights.' Two murderers arrive, sent by Richard (though they believe the order came from the King). Clarence tries to reason with them, appealing to their conscience, offering them money, reminding them of their shared humanity. But they kill him anyway. This is Richard's first successful elimination of a family member blocking his path to the throne. The scene is powerful because it shows Richard's method: he doesn't kill directly - he uses intermediaries. By using others, Richard maintains plausible deniability and avoids direct blood on his hands. The murderers' hesitation shows that even hired killers have more conscience than Richard. This is the proxy strategy: use others to do your dirty work while staying clean.
That's what happens. To understand what the author is really doing—and to discuss this chapter with confidence—keep reading.
Terms to Know
Prophetic Dream
A dream that foretells future events; common in Shakespeare's tragedies
Modern Usage:
Premonitions, gut feelings, or intuitive warnings about future danger
Proxy Strategy
Using intermediaries to do your dirty work while maintaining plausible deniability and a clean reputation
Modern Usage:
Like getting someone fired through 'restructuring' or 'performance reviews' rather than directly eliminating them
Characters in This Chapter
Clarence
Richard's brother, murdered to clear Richard's path
Clarence's murder shows Richard's willingness to kill family. His prophetic dream shows that even the victim senses the danger, but foreknowledge doesn't save him.
Modern Equivalent:
A colleague eliminated through corporate restructuring or false accusations
The Murderers
Intermediaries hired by Richard to kill Clarence
The murderers' hesitation shows that even hired killers have more conscience than Richard. They represent the proxy strategy - using others to do dirty work.
Modern Equivalent:
People used to carry out harmful actions while the manipulator stays clean
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
Some people eliminate obstacles indirectly, using systems and others to do their dirty work while maintaining clean hands.
Practice This Today
Watch for patterns where someone consistently benefits from others' removals without directly causing them. Practice identifying when someone is using systems to eliminate obstacles.
You have the foundation. Now let's look closer.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"O, I have passed a miserable night, So full of fearful dreams, of ugly sights"
Context: Clarence describing his prophetic dream
Clarence's dream foreshadows his death, showing that even the victim senses the danger. But foreknowledge doesn't save him.
In Today's Words:
I had terrible nightmares last night, full of warnings
"Methought that Gloucester stumbled, and in falling Struck me, that thought to stay him, overboard"
Context: Clarence's dream of being pushed overboard by Richard
Clarence's dream accurately predicts his death - Richard (Gloucester) will cause his fall. The dream shows the truth that Clarence can't escape.
In Today's Words:
I dreamed my brother pushed me overboard
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Indirect Elimination
Using intermediaries to do your dirty work while maintaining plausible deniability and a clean reputation
Thematic Threads
Betrayal
In This Chapter
Richard betrays his own brother, having him murdered
Development
Family bonds mean nothing to Richard - he'll eliminate anyone
In Your Life:
When someone betrays family or close colleagues, they have no limits
Modern Adaptation
The Corporate Elimination
Following Vince's story...
Vince needs his colleague Marcus gone. Marcus stands between Vince and a promotion. But Vince can't fire him directly - that would look bad. So Vince goes to HR with 'concerns.' He talks to Marcus's manager about 'performance issues.' He spreads rumors about Marcus's 'unreliability.' Within weeks, Marcus is on a performance improvement plan. Within months, he's gone. Vince never directly eliminated Marcus. He just created the conditions where others did it for him.
The Road
Vince's road is paved with indirect actions. He never directly eliminates anyone - he creates systems where others do it.
The Map
The map shows Vince's strategy: identify obstacles, create conditions for their elimination, let others do the work, stay clean.
Amplification
Richard teaches us that the most effective eliminations happen through others. Watch for people who never directly attack but always seem to benefit from others' removals.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Richard use intermediaries to kill Clarence? What does this reveal about his character?
analysis • medium
Critical Thinking Exercise
The Proxy Pattern
Richard eliminates Clarence through others. Think of someone who consistently benefits from others' removals without directly causing them.
Consider:
- •How do you distinguish between coincidence and pattern?
- •What are the signs of indirect manipulation?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 5: Act II, Scene 1: King Edward's Death
In the next chapter, you'll discover richard manipulates even on deathbeds, and learn appearing to reconcile enemies. These insights reveal timeless patterns that resonate in our own lives and relationships.