Henry IV, Part II: Analysis of Setting
"Henry IV, Part II" is set against a backdrop that contrasts the chaotic streets of London with significant royal locations, reflecting the play's themes of power, rebellion, and the complexity of leadership. The streets of London serve as a vibrant yet morally ambiguous arena, dominated by the antics of characters like Falstaff, who embody the rough-and-tumble life of the lower classes. In stark contrast, Westminster Palace represents the solemnity of royal authority, where King Henry IV grapples with the mounting pressures of rebellion and his own failing health. The king's interactions with his son, Prince Henry, reveal a tension between political duty and personal legacy.
Locations such as Justice Shallow’s house in Gloucestershire and Warkworth Castle in Northumberland further illustrate the play's exploration of social hierarchy and the consequences of rebellion. The surrounding forests, like Gaultree Forest, serve as sites of conflict and deception, highlighting the strategic maneuvers of the royal family against rebel forces. These varied settings not only enrich the narrative but also offer insight into the characters' motivations and the broader social dynamics of the time. The interplay between these locations encapsulates the struggles between honor, duty, and the chaotic nature of life in both the court and common society.
Henry IV, Part II: Analysis of Setting
First published: 1600
First produced: 1597
Type of work: Drama
Type of plot: Historical
Time of work: 1405-1413
Asterisk denotes entries on real places.
Places Discussed
*London streets
*London streets. This location is usually the realm of the comic chaos of lower-class life that constitutes much of the background of the play. The tavern-haunting Falstaff and his villainous companions embody the vigor, confusion, and immorality of London street life.
*Westminster Palace
*Westminster Palace. Royal palace, adjacent to Westminster Abbey in London, where King Henry agonizes over the outcome of the rebellion of Northumberland and his accomplices. As his health wanes, his son Prince Henry arrives, and he advises the prince to keep his nobles busy by pursuing “foreign quarrels.”
King Henry had once been told that he would die in Jerusalem. After learning that a chamber in his palace is named “Jerusalem,” he orders that he be taken there to die, and his son becomes King Henry V.
Justice Shallow’s house
Justice Shallow’s house. Gloucestershire location of Falstaff’s ludicrous efforts to recruit soldiers for the royal army.
*Warkworth Castle
*Warkworth Castle. Northumberland headquarters of the earl of Northumberland, head of the Percy family and a leader of the rebellion against Henry IV.
*Gaultree Forest
*Gaultree Forest. Yorkshire location of the deception and capture of the rebel leaders Mowbray, Hastings, and the archbishop of York by Henry IV’s other son, Prince John. The distance between Yorkshire and London makes it possible for the king and Prince Henry to dissociate themselves from this rather dishonorable action.
Bibliography
Ornstein, Robert. A Kingdom for a Stage. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1972. In a critical study that includes all of Shakespeare’s history plays, Ornstein devotes a chapter to Henry IV, Part II. He describes Hal’s development and his rejection of Falstaff.
Pearlman, Elihu. William Shakespeare: The History Plays. Boston: Twayne, 1992. A valuable scholarly overview of the histories. The chapter on Henry IV, Part II is divided into numerous brief analyses of characters and themes.
Porter, Joseph A. The Drama of Speech Acts. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1979. Analyzes speech and oratory in the second tetralogy. A chapter on Henry IV, Part II explores the contrasts between Falstaff’s speech and Hal’s.
Tillyard, E. M. W. Shakespeare’s History Plays. London: Chatto & Windus, 1944. Strong on historical interpretation, Tillyard’s study explores the important themes of the second tetralogy. Traces the growth and development of Hal’s character.
Traversi, Derek Antona. Shakespeare: From “Richard II” to “Henry V.” Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press. A close reading of the second tetralogy includes a chapter on Henry IV, Part II that emphasizes character development and style.