Shakespeare made liberal use of prediction in all his history plays, but never as much as in Richard III. This play is a web of stated intentions, curses, prophecies, and dreams, and practically all expectations are punctually fulfilled.
Richard, Duke of Gloucester, informs us that he is 'determined to prove a villain', and, he goes on,
Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous,
By drunken prophecies, libels, and
dreams,
To set my brother Clarence and the King
In deadly hate the one against the other;…
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