Act 4 of Richard III runs 879 lines across 5 scenes, carrying about 23.7% of the play’s total dialogue with 20 named speakers. It’s longer than the play’s average act (740 lines).
Act opens (Scene 1, Duchess Of York): “Who m eets us here? my niece Plantagenet”
Act closes (Scene 5, Derby): “These letters will resolve him of my mind. Farewell.”
The 5 scenes of Act 4
| Scene | Lines | Speakers | Share of act |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scene 1 | 106 | 6 | 12.1% |
| Scene 2 | 134 | 6 | 15.2% |
| Scene 3 | 60 | 3 | 6.8% |
| Scene 4 | 560 | 11 | 63.7% |
| Scene 5 | 19 | 2 | 2.2% |
Who speaks in Act 4
The leading voice is King Richard Iii with 35% of Act 4’s dialogue (312 lines).
| Character | Lines in act | Share |
|---|---|---|
| King Richard Iii ♂ | 312 | 35.5% |
| Queen Elizabeth ♀ | 182 | 20.7% |
| Queen Margaret ♀ | 94 | 10.7% |
| Duchess Of York ♂ | 72 | 8.2% |
| Lady Anne ♀ | 39 | 4.4% |
| Tyrrel ♂ | 38 | 4.3% |
| Buckingham ♂ | 29 | 3.3% |
How Act 4 of Richard III compares to other historys
| Play | Act 4 lines | Scenes |
|---|---|---|
| Henry V | 997 | 9 |
| Richard III (this act) | 879 | 5 |
| Henry IV, part 2 | 878 | 5 |
| Henry VI, part 2 | 762 | 10 |
| King John | 589 | 3 |
| Henry VI, part 3 | 563 | 8 |
| Henry VI, part 1 | 559 | 7 |
| Henry IV, part 1 | 387 | 4 |
| Henry VIII | 362 | 2 |
| Richard II | 340 | 1 |
About Act 4 of Richard III
How many lines are in Act 4 of Richard III?
879 lines spread across 5 scenes.
Who dominates Act 4?
King Richard Iii delivers 35% of the act’s dialogue (312 lines).