Lord Stanley, Earl of Derby is the stepfather of Richmond and a close friend of Hastings. During Act 2 Scene 1, Stanley visits the king to beg him to spare the life of one of his servants. His plea comes at an extremely inconvenient time as Edward IV had just found out that Clarence was dead and Stanley’s request only exacerbated Edward’s sorrow. Nevertheless, this action indirectly characterises Stanley as a caring person who is politically aware enough to be respected by the king. After having an ominous dream about a boar (Richard’s symbol), Stanley warns Hastings to not attend the council meeting and flee instead, but Hastings dismisses his concerns. After Hastings is accused of treachery at such council meeting, Stanley is secretly upset but, fearing for his own life, decides to play it smart and follows Richard’s instructions, leaving the room without saying a word. This illustrates how tactful and strategic Stanley is, as he is able to fake loyalty in self-preservation despite knowing Richard’s true nature.
