Comments on: ‘My Kingdom For A Horse’, Meaning & Context

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 22:13:05 +0000

I always thought it meant, my kingdom could be lost for the sake of a horse. Not that he would give his kingdom away for a horse. That defeats the purpose of his entire character. Richard will hang onto the throne despite everything.

By: James

James — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 15:13:28 +0000

In reply to Sally.

Excellent! A new view, to me anyway, of The Bard’s meaning. After all these years of thinking Richard was whining for his life, a new possibility. Maybe was insane with hate and the need to kill Richmond blinded him to everything else. When Catesby offers to lead him away from the fight and find him a horse, he replies, “…I will stand the hazard of the die…” He’s not whining. He wants to stay and fight and kill. Though, I’d bet WS wouldn’t mind the double meaning. Your translation: ‘A horse? A horse? (Lose) my kingdom for (lack of) a horse?’ Would have just made Richard more angry and vicious; which is how he went out.

By: Michael J McFadden

Michael J McFadden — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 12:37:11 +0000

I was wandering in my home earlier this morning, desperation gnawing at my guts, when I found myself muttering, “Chocolate, chocolate, my kingdom for some chocolate…”

… and it occurred to me I had no idea where the original had come from or if my memory of it being for a horse was even accurate. Soooo… you fulfilled my mental need perfectly with this page! (Now, if you could just do SOMEthing about the CHOCOLATE!!!)

– MJM, who is currently working toward his third ton of chocolate in life…

By: Kay-Ann

Kay-Ann — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 04:09:59 +0000

Richard’s dramatic phrase, in my view, should not be trivialised as mere hyperbole. Obtaining a horse in battle was literally a matter of LIFE or death. Richard knew this.
In his desperate plea to his wingman, we could therefore substitute the words “a horse” with “my life”. The immortal iambic phrase should therefore be interpreted as follows: “[My life], [my life]! A kingdom for [my life]!

It’s definitely a logical barter. What good is having a kingdom if you’re dead? The horse was valuable beyond a superficial glance.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 10:54:21 +0000

In reply to Sally. Absolutely not. It's a metaphor.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sun, 13 Feb 2022 06:31:03 +0000

In reply to Sally. Ah yes of course that is the meaning! As if there should be a question mark of astonishment at the end of the line. It seems obvious now. Thank you.

By: Mark Reece

Mark Reece — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 17:07:32 +0000

I always confused this with the poem ‘my kingdom for a nail’. And having never read R3, I assumed he was bemoaning the fact that he would soon lose his kingdom for want of a horse. But I now see it’s different to the nail poem and that WS created a meme

By: Sally

Sally — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 13:39:57 +0000

Surely the phase means that if he does not have a horse he will be unable to ride in the battle field and if unable to ride he will lose his kingdom. He is not offering his kingdom for a swap

By: Summer

Summer — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 14:32:23 +0000

Never knew where this phrase came from until now. Thanks for taking the time to write such a great summary ????????

By: Thomas Knowles

Thomas Knowles — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 20:24:06 +0000

Thanx again