CliffsNotes on Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 2

Cliff Notes

• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
• eBook ISBN: 9780544182028
• Edition: 0
• Topic: Study Aids
• Subtopic: Study Guides

Act I: Scene 1

Synopsis

This scene first reveals how well Rumour has done its work. The setting is Warkworth Castle, seat of the House of Percy, the head of which is the Earl of Northumberland, who had remained “crafty sick” at home, rather than joining his son and brother at Shrewsbury. Lord Bardolph arrives and jubilantly tells Northumberland that the rebel forces commanded by the Earl’s son have triumphed. According to him King Henry was wounded and is near death; Henry Percy had slain Prince Hal and taken prisoner John of Lancaster; the Earl of Douglas had killed Sir Walter Blunt. Northumberland is assured that this information came from “a gentleman well bred and of good name,” who had just come from the site of the battle. At this moment Travers arrives with a far different story which he had learned from another who claimed to have been an eye-witness. His report is that the rebels suffered a crushing defeat and that Northumberland’s son had been killed. Although Lord Bardolph is willing to wager his barony on the truth of his report the Earl does not know which to believe. All doubts are settled when Morton arrives direct from Shrewsbury and gives his first-hand account. The King had indeed triumphed. Hotspur had been slain; the Earls of Worcester and Douglas are captives. Moreover, Morton states that even now John of Lancaster and the Earl of Westmoreland lead troops against Northumberland and his faction.

For a moment the Earl gives way to stormy passion. But Travers and Lord Bardolph urge caution and restraint. Morton in particular advises him to remember how many lives are at stake and how necessary it is to wait until a large force is mobilized. A telling point is his reminding Northumberland of the great risk Hotspur had taken with his father’s approval. But there is no question of flight. Lord Bardolph concedes that, in the first venture, the risk was great, but points out that the possibility of gain was no less great. In ringing words he voices the sentiments of all: “Come, we will all put forth, body and goods.” Morton is quick to concur, for now he has good news. The Archbishop of York has raised a force to oppose King Henry. Northumberland states that he was aware of the powerful Archbishop’s activities, and he directs his followers to waste no time in seeking the best counsel in order to insure safety and revenge.

Characters in Scene 1

THE EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND—Henry Percy the elder, father of Hotspur. As leader of the House of Percy, the most powerful baronial family in northern England, he had led the triumvirate which included his brother and his son in support of Henry Bolingbroke and was largely responsible for placing Henry on the throne. Later, he and his faction accused the King of failing to keep his promises to them and rose in revolt. Pleading illness, he had absented himself from the battlefield at Shrewsbury and had survived to threaten the King with rebellion once more.

 

LORD BARDOLPH—Thomas Bardolph, a noble mentioned by Holinshed, who is a leading member of the Percy faction.

 

TRAVERS AND MORTON—Two loyal retainers of the Earl of Northumberland who, like so many in the north parts of England, “knew no Prince but a Percy.”

Characters Not Present but Mentioned

KING HARRY—King Henry IV (also referred to as Bolingbroke, a place name), son of John of Gaunt and grandson of Edward III. In deposing and succeeding Richard II he founded the Lancastrian dynasty of English rulers.

 

PRINCE HARRY—Prince Hal (also referred to as Harry Monmouth), son and heir to Henry IV, who, after apparent disregard of his princely obligations, had emerged the hero of the Battle of Shrewsbury.

 

DOUGLAS—Archibald, fourth Earl of Douglas and first Duke of Touraine. A famous Scottish warrior, he was first an enemy and then an ally of Hotspur. Captured by the royal forces at Shrewsbury he lived to become a supporter of Henry V in the French wars.

 

WESTMORELAND—Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmoreland and brother-in-law to the King. He had opposed Richard II and had assisted at the coronation of Henry IV.

 

SIR JOHN—None other than Falstaff, who dominates the comic scenes in both parts of Henry IV. Interestingly enough, he is here identified as one of the most important leaders of the royalist forces.

 

WORCESTER—Thomas Percy, the wily Earl of Worcester, brother of Northumberland, who fought with his nephew, Hotspur, at Shrewsbury.

 

ARCHBISHOP OF YORK—Richard Scroop (Richard Le Scrope), who had attained his high office at the request of Richard II. Although he supported Henry IV for a time, early in that King’s reign he issued an indictment of the government and raised a body of supporters.

 

SIR WALTER BLUNT—A stalwart Lancastrian and friend of John of Gaunt, Henry IV’s father. He was a minor but useful character in Henry IV, Part 1, serving principally as the King’s emissary.

Purpose of the Scene

1. To establish the basic theme of the main plot.
2. To clarify the relationship between the first and second parts of Henry IV.
3. To introduce the leader of the rebellious Percy faction and to identify important adherents to their cause.
4. To provide the inciting incident which, in a technical sense, starts the action rising toward its climax.
5. To impress upon the audience the momentousness of the issues involved—the new dangers which now face Henry IV and all England.

Suggested Questions

1. In lines 20–23, exactly what does Lord Bardolph mean by reference to “Caesar’s fortunes”?
2. How may one paraphrase lines 60–61?

   Yea, this man’s brow, like to a title leaf,

   Foretells the nature of a tragic volume.

3. What is meant by the reference to the Archbishop of York as a man “with double surety”?

Act I: Scene 2

Synopsis

The opening dialogue between Falstaff and his newly acquired page deals successively with the latter’s report on three matters and with Falstaff’s reaction to each report. The first is the doctor’s diagnosis of the knight’s physical condition, which is hardly flattering. Falstaff, remarking that many take pride in gibing him, cites the latest prank played on him by Prince Hal—sending him the page whose diminutiveness offers such a comic contrast to the fat knight. But Falstaff, never at loss for words, expresses his views at length, concluding that the Prince is now almost out of grace with him. Next, the page says that the tailor from whom Falstaff had ordered twenty yards of satin has refused to honor the knight’s credit, particularly when Bardolph was his security. Finally, the page reports that Bardolph has gone to buy Falstaff a horse. And this bit of intelligence gives Sir John another chance to display his wit.

At this point the little page announces the arrival of the Lord Chief Justice of England, identifying him as the man who had sent the Prince to prison for attempting to circumvent justice on behalf of Bardolph after the Gadshill robbery (see Henry IV, Part 1, Act II). Falstaff pretends that his new appointment as a commander of troops moving against the northern rebels makes it impossible for him to concern himself with other matters. But the Chief Justice will not be put off. As he reproves the knight for ignoring his summons to appear before him, Falstaff attempts to avoid the issue by expressing concern for the Justice’s health and then, at greater length, for the King’s—even going so far as to offer a diagnosis. In so many words, Falstaff is denounced as a wastrel, as one who has misled the young Prince, and as one who defies convention and the principle of decorum befitting an elderly man. All this serves only to inspire audacious, witty replies. Falstaff concedes that Prince Hal should not have boxed the ears of the Lord Chief Justice, adds that he had “checked him for it,” and concludes that the Prince remains unconcerned, as obviously does Falstaff himself. Then he confirms the report that he has been asked to serve his King once more by joining the royal forces against the Archbishop of York and the Earl of Northumberland. And when the Chief Justice gives his blessings on the enterprise, Sir John brazenly asks him for the loan of a thousand pounds.

Alone with the page, Falstaff voices a complaint on his near-empty purse. In order to raise money, he sends the page with letters to John of Lancaster, to Prince Hal, and to “old Mistress Ursula,” whom he weakly had promised to marry. As he concludes, “A good wit will make use of anything.”

Characters in Scene 2

FALSTAFF—Sir John, the most famous comic character of Shakespearean drama who has won a place in the company of Prince Hal because of his matchless wit and incessant gaiety, his unfailing ability to incite laughter. Indeed, so gifted is he that generations of audiences have taken him to their hearts, often refusing to believe that he has any basic shortcomings and that his derelictions are all part of a game he plays for the sake of merriment. It may be argued that, in a sense, Falstaff embodies the rebel against seriousness and authority which is latent in many of the most respectable people. Grossly fat, white bearded, he appears as the very spirit of irresponsible youth. His final line in this scene very well sums up his philosophy of life.

 

LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE KING’S BENCH—England’s premier legal official, an elderly, sober, dedicated man intent on seeing to it that order and justice in civil life are maintained within the realm. In this scene he functions as a foil to Falstaff and helps to provide the link between the first and second parts of Henry IV.

 

THE PAGE—The witty little servant, a present to Falstaff from Prince Hal.

Characters Not Present but Mentioned

BARDOLPH—Falstaff’s serving man and one of the habitues of the Boar’s-Head Tavern. Memorable for his bright red nose, he was the source of good comedy of physical appearance in the earlier play.

 

JOHN OF LANCASTER—Prince John, Duke of Lancaster, third son of Henry IV and general of the royal forces sent against the northern insurgents.

 

ARCHBISHOP OF YORK—Richard Scroop, powerful leader of the malcontents in Yorkshire.

 

EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND—Henry Percy the elder, leader of the Percy faction opposed to Henry IV.

 

PRINCE HAL—Henry, heir apparent to the throne of England who, after the Battle of Shrewsbury, had joined his royal father in the Welsh wars.

Purpose of the Scene

1. To start the subplot and introduce the theme of order therein.
2. To present a full-length portrait of Falstaff.
3. To make clear the fact that, despite the King’s injunction, Falstaff and Prince Hal will soon appear together again.
4. To keep to the fore the major theme of rebellion and thus to link main plot and subplot, which is not to be considered as mere “comic relief.”

Suggested Questions

1. What facets of Falstaff’s character are clearly revealed in this scene?
2. What does the servant exactly mean when he says, “I pray you, sir, then set your knighthood and your soldiership aside and give me leave to tell you you lie in your throat . . .” (lines 95–97)?
3. In addition to trying to evade the Chief Justice’s reprimands, what is a probably explanation of Falstaff’s concern for the King’s health?

Act I: Scene 3

Synopsis

Present at the Palace of Richard Scroop, Archbishop of York, are the Archbishop himself, Lord Hastings, Mowbray (Earl Marshal of the North Parts), and Lord Bardolph. This is a council of war to determine the course of events. The Archbishop has explained the reason for the move against the King and indicated what forces are at his disposal. Mowbray, at one with Scroop as regards grievances, questions that the insurgents are strong enough to oppose the King. Lord Hastings reports t...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Contents
• Copyright
• Introduction
• Summary and Analysis
• Induction
• Act I: Scene 1
• Act I: Scene 2
• Act I: Scene 3
• Act II: Scene 1
• Act II: Scene 2
• Act II: Scene 3
• Act II: Scene 4
• Act III: Scene 1
• Act III: Scene 2
• Act IV: Scene 1
• Act IV: Scene 2
• Act IV: Scene 3
• Act IV: Scene 4
• Act IV: Scene 5
• Act V: Scene 1
• Act V: Scene 2
• Act V: Scene 3
• Act V: Scene 4
• Act V: Scene 5
• Summaries of Leading Characters
• Critical Essays
• Duration of the Action
• Medium: Verse and Prose
• Sixteenth-Century Political Theory
• Questions and Answers