Henry IV, Part II by William Shakespeare
"Henry IV, Part II," a play by William Shakespeare, continues the story of Prince Hal and his father, King Henry IV, following the events of "Henry IV, Part I." Set during a time of political turmoil in England, the narrative unfolds after the battle of Shrewsbury, where the king faces rebellion led by the grieving Earl of Northumberland, who seeks vengeance for the death of his son, Hotspur. The play explores themes of leadership, honor, and the responsibilities that come with power, as King Henry IV grapples with his declining health and the legacy he will leave for his sons.
Prince Hal, embodying the tension between his youthful indulgence and his future as king, is drawn into the chaotic world of war and politics, alongside the comedic yet morally ambiguous character of Falstaff. As the story progresses, the king's struggles lead to a significant turning point with his death, prompting Hal to assume the throne as Henry V. The play culminates in Hal’s transformation, where he vows to rule justly and distance himself from Falstaff, symbolizing a shift from the carefree pursuits of youth to the burdens of kingship. This work not only reflects the personal conflicts within the royal family but also the broader societal issues of loyalty and rebellion, making it a rich exploration of human nature and governance.
Henry IV, Part II by William Shakespeare
First produced: 1598; first published, 1600
Type of work: Drama
Type of plot: Historical
Time of plot: 1405–13
Locale: England
Principal Characters
Henry IV , the king of EnglandHenry (Hal) , Prince of WalesJohn of Lancaster , another son of the kingEarl of Westmoreland , a member of the king’s partyEarl of Northumberland , the enemy of the kingSir John Falstaff , a riotous old knightShallow , a country justiceThe Lord Chief Justice , judge of the King’s BenchMistress Quickly , the host of the Boar’s Head Tavern in Eastcheap
The Story
After the battle of Shrewsbury, portrayed in Henry IV, Part I (1598), many false reports circulate among the peasants. The Earl of Northumberland believes for a time that the rebel forces have been victorious, but his retainers, fleeing from the stricken field, bring a true account of the battle. Hotspur, Northumberland’s valiant son, has been killed by Prince Henry, and King Henry has vowed to put down rebellion by crushing those forces still opposing him.
Northumberland, sorely grieved by news of his son’s death, prepares to avenge his loss. Hope for his side lies in the fact that the archbishop of York has mustered an army, because soldiers so organized, being responsible to the church rather than to a military leader, should prove better fighters than those who fled from Shrewsbury field. News that the king’s forces of twenty-five thousand men have been divided into three units encourages his enemies. In spite of Northumberland’s grief for his slain son and his impassioned threat against the king and Prince Henry, he is easily persuaded by his wife and Hotspur’s widow to flee to Scotland. There, he will await the success of his confederates before he consents to join them with his army.
Meanwhile, Falstaff delays in carrying out his orders to proceed north and recruit troops for the king. Deeply involved with Mistress Quickly, he uses his royal commission to avoid being imprisoned for debt. With Prince Henry, who has paid little heed to the conduct of the war, he continues his riotous feasting and jesting until both are summoned to join the army marching against the rebels. King Henry, aging and weary, has been ill for two weeks. Sleepless nights have taken their toll on him, and in his restlessness, he reviews his ascent to the throne and denies, to his lords, the accusation of unscrupulousness brought against him by the rebels. He is somewhat heartened by the news of the death of Owen Glendower, a relative of Hotspur and enemy of his.
In Gloucestershire, recruiting troops at the house of Justice Shallow, Falstaff flagrantly accepts bribes and lets able-bodied men buy themselves out of service. The soldiers he takes to the war form a ragtag lot. Prince John of Lancaster, taking the field against the rebels, sends word by the Earl of Westmoreland to the archbishop that the king’s forces are willing to make peace, and he asks that the rebel leaders make known their grievances so that they might be corrected.
When John and the archbishop meet for a conference, John questions and criticizes the archbishop’s dual role as churchman and warrior. The rebels announce their intention to fight until their wrongs are righted, so John promises redress for all. Then he suggests that the archbishop’s troops be disbanded after a formal review; he wishes to see the stalwart soldiers that his army would have fought had a truce not been declared.
His request is granted, but the men, excited by the prospect of their release, scatter so rapidly that inspection is impossible. Westmoreland, sent to disband John’s army, returns to report that the soldiers will take orders only from the prince. With his troops assembled and the enemy’s disbanded, John orders some of the opposing leaders arrested for high treason and others, including the archbishop, for capital treason. John explains that his action is in keeping with his promise to improve conditions: removing rebellious factions is the first step in this campaign. The enemy leaders are sentenced to death.
News of John’s success is brought to King Henry as he lies dying, but the victory cannot gladden the sad old king. His chief concern lies in providing advice and admonition to his younger sons, Gloucester and Clarence, regarding their future conduct, and he asks for unity among his sons. Spent by his long discourse, the king lapses into unconsciousness.
Prince Henry, summoned to his dying father’s bedside, finds the king in a stupor, with the crown beside him. The prince, remorseful and compassionate, expresses regret that the king has lived such a tempestuous existence because of the crown, and he promises, in his turn, to wear the crown graciously. As he speaks, he places the crown on his head and leaves the room. Awaking and learning that the prince has donned the crown, King Henry immediately assumes that his son wishes him dead in order to inherit the kingdom. Consoled by the returning prince’s strong denial of such wishful thinking, the king confesses his own unprincipled behavior in gaining the crown. Asking God’s forgiveness, he repeats his plan to journey to the Holy Land to divert his subjects from revolt, and he advises the prince, when he should become king, to involve his powerful lords in wars with foreign powers, thereby relieving the country of internal strife.
The king dies, causing great sorrow among those who loved him and to those who fear the prince, now King Henry V. A short time before, the chief justice, acting on the command of Henry IV, had alienated the prince by banishing Falstaff and his band. The newly crowned king accepts the chief justice’s explanation for his treatment of Falstaff and restores his judicial powers.
The king rebukes Falstaff for his behavior and tells the old man that he, Henry, is no longer the person Falstaff has known. Until the old knight learns to correct his ways, the king declares, he shall be banished, on pain of death, to a distance ten miles away from Henry’s person. Henry promises, however, that if Falstaff can make amends, he will return by degrees to the king’s good graces. Claiming to be undaunted by the reproof, Falstaff tells his cronies that he will yet make them great, that the king’s reprimand is only a front, and that the king will send for him and in the secrecy of the court chambers they will indulge in their old foolishness and plan the advancement of Falstaff’s followers. Prince John, expressing his admiration for Henry’s public display of his changed attitude, prophesies that England will be at war with France before a year has passed.
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