King Henry IV, Part II
Main Characters
King Henry IV — the ruling king of England
Prince Hal — also called Prince Henry, Harry, Prince Harry, Harry Monmouth, the Prince of Wales, and, after his father's death, King Henry V
Princes John, Duke of Lancaster; Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester; and Thomas, Duke of Clarence — Prince Hal's younger brothers
The Lord Chief Justice — the most powerful law official in England
Earl of Warwick, Earl of Surrey, Earl of Westmoreland, Gower, Harcourt, and Sir John Blunt — King Henry IV's allies and advisors
Sir John Falstaff — sometimes called Jack; Prince Hal's mentor and close friend
Page — a boy who serves Falstaff
Poins, Peto, and Bardolph — friends of Falstaff and Prince Hal
Ancient Pistol — a soldier (ancient meant “ensign” in Elizabethan English)
Mouldy, Shadow, Wart, Feeble, and Bullcalf — army recruits
Scroop — Archbishop of York; a powerful clergyman who leads the rebellion against King Henry IV
Mowbray and Hastings — two lords who conspire with the Archbishop of York
Henry Percy — Earl of Northumberland, brother of Worcester, and father to Hotspur who have recently been killed in battle against King Henry IV. Also called Harry
Travers — Northumberland's servant
Hotspur — Northumberland's son and a leader of the rebellion against the king
Lord Bardolph — an ally of Northumberland (not to be confused with Falstaff's friend Bardolph)
Owen Glendower — a Welsh rebel leader
Mistress Quickly (the Hostess) — proprietor of the seedy Boar's Head Tavern in Eastcheap, London
Doll Tearsheet — Falstaff's favorite prostitute and a good friend of Mistress Quickly
Fang and Snare — incompetent policemen
Justice Shallow and Justice Silence — justices of the peace (minor judges) Davy — Justice Shallow's servant
Introduction
King Henry IV, Part II is the third part of Shakespeare's four-part series dealing with the rise of the English royal house of Lancaster. (It is preceded by King Richard II and King Henry IV, Part I and followed by King Henry V.) The play was probably written around the year 1598.
The Play
The Earl of Northumberland (Henry Percy) learns that his son Hotspur has been killed in battle and that Richard Scroop, the archbishop of York, is continuing the rebellion against Henry IV.
Back in London, the Lord Chief Justice criticizes Falstaff for his wicked ways and tells the old knight that King Henry IV has decided to separate Falstaff from Prince Hal by sending Falstaff with Prince John of Lancaster (Hal's brother) to fight Scroop and Northumberland. Prince Hal returns from fighting the Welsh and meets with some of his friends to discuss his father's sickness and a pompous letter Falstaff has written to Hal complaining about being abandoned by his friend.
Northumberland's wife and his daughter-in-law convince him to flee to Scotland. The Earl of Warwick (with the Earl of Surrey and Sir Walter Blunt) assure the king that Northumberland will be defeated, though Henry repeats Richard II's prediction that Northumberland, who helped Henry IV to the throne, would eventually revolt and defeat Henry.
There are no good contemporary film versions of either of the Henry IV plays, but people who have read them might get a kick out of My Own Private Idaho, a 1992 film by Gus Van Sant based loosely on the Henry IV plays.
On his way to battle, Sir John Falstaff arrives at Justice Shallow's home seeking old friends to be soldiers. Falstaff conscripts Mouldy, Shadow, Wart, Feeble, and Bullcalf, though Bullcalf and Mouldy bribe Bardolph (Falstaff's friend) to avoid having to fight.
At the battlefield, Scroop, Mowbray, and Hastings learn that Northumberland will not help them. Prince John yields to Scroop's demands, granting protection to the rebelling nobles, who quickly tell their armies to disperse. Westmoreland and Prince John now betray Hastings, Scroop, and Mowbray, and arrest them for treason. Falstaff stumbles on Sir John Coleville of the Dale (a rebel) and captures him without a fight.
Hal arrives while Henry IV is asleep and tries on his father's crown. Henry wakes and rebukes Hal for wishing him dead and taking the crown. Hal claims he thought his father was dead and wanted to protect the crown.
Back in London, Henry IV vows to go on a crusade to the Holy Land if the rebellion is suppressed. When it is, he is distressed that Hal is still associating with criminals. Henry IV advises Hal when he is king to wage foreign wars to occupy Britain's time and to increase Hal's popularity. Henry IV then dies. Hal becomes King Henry V and swears to be kind to all, even the chief justice who once jailed Prince Hal.
Falstaff returns to London, hoping to receive favors from King Henry V, his alehouse friend. However, during a coronation march, Falstaff and his gang are banned from approaching Henry V within ten miles, after which Falstaff is arrested for his crimes.
Commentary
In contrast with the earlier King Henry IV, this sequel is concerned with justice, sickness, and betrayal. The play is sometimes described as the battle between vice and virtue for the soul of a king, and although Hal banishes Falstaff, Falstaff's philosophy offers an alternative view to the serious and the rational.
The play captures the entire English national life from the country to the town and from lowly drinking houses to the anguish and responsibilities of kings. It reflects Shakespeare's own experience — the country boy who came from Stratford, then lived in the taverns of London, then made a success of his life by writing plays that are presented to kings, queens, and nobility.
Famous Lines
“I do now remember the poor creature, small beer” (Act II, Scene II).
“Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown” (Act III, Scene I).
“We have heard the chimes at midnight” (Act III, Scene II).
“A man can die but once” (Act III, Scene II).
