ABSTRACT
Various seeds planted earlier in the play are developed in this scene. The young Prince, whose coming is announced in II, iv, 1–8, actually arrives. We have already heard mention of his physical growth (II, iv, 5), and now we can examine him in person. From the common people we have heard both hopeful (II, iii, 10, 12) and troubled (II, iii, II, 18) comments about his future reign. Buckingham has cunningly suggested that he be fetched by only a small band of retainers (II, ii, 120 ff.), and in the same scene Rivers's lines ‘Let him be crown'd; in him your comfort lives' (98) as well as ‘And plant your joys in living Edward's throne’ (100) indicate for the first time the office which Edward is expected to fill. Finally, the Queen's decision in II, iv to seek sanctuary leads directly to the events of the present scene, and young York's first words to his uncle (102 ff.) refer to Richard's earlier pronouncements on growth (II, iv, 12).
