# George, Duke of Clarence — Richard III character guide

> George, Duke of Clarence in Richard III by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Clarence, George, poor Clarence, the noble Duke of Clarence

**First appearance:** 0002-act-i-scene-i

## Snapshot

Richard's elder brother, a trusting duke whose name begins with G and whose imprisonment opens the play's machinery of murder.

## Who they are

Clarence is taken to the Tower on the king's order, baffled that a wizard's prophecy about the letter G has made him a suspect. He greets Richard as a brother and confides his danger, never suspecting that the same brother planted the prophecy and the slander. His credulity and his blood tie to the throne make him the first proof of how cheaply Richard spends family.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_iii_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i)

Led to the Tower under guard; Richard feigns sympathy and promises to help him, but secretly plans his murder.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_iii_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iv)

Imprisoned in the Tower, Clarence recounts a prophetic dream of drowning and faces his murderers, pleading for his life.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_iii_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii)

Mentioned as deceased; his children mourn him.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/clarence
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_iii_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/richard_iii_se/characters