Figure 1.--Prince Hal's fictional drinking companion, Falstaff, in "Henry IV, Part II" has acquired a little page, a reward for his services in battle in the preceding play. Much of the comedy here is visual--a contrast of the obsesity and huge hulk of Falstaff with the small stature of the boy page.

King Henry IV (1367-1413) was the son of John of Gaunt He opposed Richard II and served as ine of the lords appellant that ruled England for a year (1387). He accused the Duke of Norfolk of treason against Richard and was banished for 6 years. Richard's rule had been unpopular. Henry returned from exile and claimed the throne and thus founded the Lascastrian dynasty (1399). He proceeded to put down rebellions by Richar's adherents, the Scotts, Welsh, and the Percies. Henry insisted on exerting the perogatives of the Crown over Parliament. Upon Henry's death (1413), however, he left the Crown with enormous debts. This complicated the reign of his son Henry V. As with many English monarchs, the popular image of Henry has in large meaure been influenced by The Shakespeare plays. The Bard in fact left two plays about Henry IV, "Henry IB Part I" and "Henry IV Part II". Both in large measure, however deal with Prince Hal, the future Henry V.

Shakespeare's Tetralogy

Shakespeare's "Henry IV: Part I" is his second in a series of four English history plays. Besides the literary merits, these plays were an important piece of Tudor propaganda. They also had a major influence on the popular image of these monarchs. The four history plays comprise Shakespeare's major tetralogy. The story of the Bolingbrook family and the Plantagenet dynasty begins with "Richard II". Henry's seizure of power described in "Richard II". The story continues with "Henry IV, Part I". Prince Hal is introduced in and comes of age. Henry IV, Part II" depicts a more mature Prince Hal. he family saga ends with "Henry V" when Prince Hal becomes England's famed warrior king and goes to war in France. The outline of English history in the plays is essentially correct. Shakespeare faced the same problem confronted by modern film makers. The actual events and partivcipants had to be manipulated for dramatic effect. The time line in the plays is compressed. All of the dialog is created. Shakespeare can perhaps be pardened for some of the inaccuracies because there werev no easily accessable histories available. This of course is not the case for modern film makers.

Part I

Henry becomes king at the turn of the 15th century. Opposition to Richard II developed into civil war and it is Henry who has seized the crown. Henry's victory over Sir Henry Percy (Hotspur) at the Battle of Shrewsbury (1403), defeated his major rival. There are, however, other rebels including the Archbishop of York, Lord Mowbray, and Lord Hastings. Shakespeare depicts Henry as aging prematurely because of the constant struggle against rebels and concern with his eldest son and heir--Prince Hal. While the outline of the play is the saga of the Plantagenet monarchy (Bolingbrook family), an inportant part of the play is the tavern segments where the entirely fifctional John Falstaff precides. The play shifts back and forth between Henry's saga and the raucous, vulgar tavern. This of course has nothing to do with the historical outline and was a device entirely created by Shakespeare. It gives him the opportunity to employ a variety of dramatic devives such as juxtaposition, inversion, and antithesis and to work on the development of Prince Hal's character. Shakespeare desined the taven scenes to provide a contrast between the artiocratic and common levels of English society. This was quite a novel device. It does not appear to be a social commentary, but rather essentially a dramatic device. This allowed him to insert comic elements at any point in the play. Such scenes were more difficult in the historical parts of the play, not to mention that making fun of the monarchy was not allowed. To relieve the tension of the historical story line, he would simply shift to the tavern and Falstaff. Shakespeare's "Henry IV: Part I" is in effect an early coming of age drama. We see Henry IV's son Prince Hal as a young role as a wastrel enjoying himself in meaningless diversions. He gradually matures as a prince and future king reflecting his heritage and own character.

Part II

Shakespeare's "Henry IV, Part II" picks up on the life of England's caraousing Prince Hal. Prince Hal is of course an actual historical figure. His drinking budy, Falstaff, is jovial, but little more than an aging criminal. The Battle of Shrewsbury have brought material rewards to those associated with Prince Hal, like the fictional Falstaff. The tavern scenes have Captain Falstaff attempting to recruit more men to the royal standard. An image portrays a humorous scene showing that Falstaff has acquired a little page, a reward for his services in battle in the preceding play. Much of the comedy here is visual-- a contrast of the obsesity and huge hulk of Falstaff with the smallness of the boy page. Falstaff addresses him ironically as "you giant" and compares himself in the presence of his boy attendant as "a sow that hath overwhelmed all her litter but one." The illustration is a drawing by J.M. Wright (1776- 1866) (figure 1). Note that the boy page carries Falstaff's shield (target) and sword. This detail, too, is ironic and part of the comedy because Falstaff is portrayed in both plays as a notorious coward in battle. King Henry IV is in declining health. Prince Hals becomes increasingly serious as he beginscto appreciate that he will soon be king. He spends less time in the tavern with Falstaff and his drinking companions. Rebels continue to plot. The rebels gather their forces at the Forest of Gaultree. Here the Earl of Northumberland refuses to contribute forcescto the insurrection. Prince John, King Henry's second son, commands the King's Army and meets with the rebels. He pretends to accept their demands. The Prince, however, when the rebels disperse their forces, arrests their leaders. He then has them executed for treason. The King's health continues to deteriorate and he continues to worry about what will become of England under his pleasure-loving eldest son. The King in a dramatic scene lectures Prince Hal. The Prince, visably moved, replies in an eloquent appeal. He swears to his father that he will take his duties seriously. Then in a climatic scene, Jing Henru forgives his son and then dies. The Prince now king turns to the Lord Chief Justice, the highest law officer in the kingdom that with the death of his father, he will now turn to him for counsel and advise. With the defeat of the rebels, Prince Hal is crowned. Falstaff and his friends come to London to salute the new king. Newly crowned Henry V turns Falstaff away in public. He tells him that he must never again come within 10 miles of the king and court. Falstaff is given a pension, but King Henry no longer wants to associate with Falstaff. The King leaves Falstaff and begins to plan his invasion of France.

Created: April 30, 1998
Last updated: May 20, 2004