Henry VI Part 3 Family Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)

Quote #10

RICHARD
I have no brother, I am like no brother;
And this word 'love,' which greybeards call divine,
Be resident in men like one another
And not in me. I am myself alone. (5.6.81-84)

At the end of the play, Richard fills us in on the deets of his plan. It's interesting that he begins this speech by deliberately distancing himself from his brothers. It's as if the crimes he is about to commit are too horrible if the family ties are intact, so Richard has to start distancing himself long before he actually commits the crimes. Shakespeare carefully weaves this speech together so that we start thinking about family at the exact moment when Richard is working to do undo his own.