Act 4, Scene 4

Page 66-67

Richard III’s mother, the Duchess of York wished that his son died when he was still inside her
womb because of how the crowned King turned out. When Richard said, “who intercepts my
expedition?” Meaning who is blocking his way, his mother responds “O, she that might have
intercepted thee, By strangling thee in her accursed womb, From all the slaughters, wretch, that
thou hast done” meaning that the person who is blocking his way is the person who might have
stopped him from committing murders by strangling him when he was still inside her womb. In
Page 67 of Act 4, Scene 4, The Duchess of York said that “Bloody thou art, bloody will be thy
end; Shame serves thy life and doth thy death attend.” The meaning of this is that his mother is
telling him that he is a violent person who killed so many people already and his end will be as
violent as what he has done.

This scene can be compared to the most hated Prince, Frederick, Prince of Wales who is the
eldest son of George II. Frederick never had a good relationship with his parents, that they were
separated for 14 years. After a while, the position of Prince of Wales is attracting anyone who
had grievances against the king. Frederick was interested but he didn’t want to show that he is
interested, but as they say there’s no secret that you can keep forever. So, George II was trying to
figure out a way to remove Frederick from the line of succession and dispatch him.

http://cultureandstuff.com/2010/01/14/frederick-the-hated-prince/