Henry IV, Part 1: What's Inside in Context

Henry IV, Part 1
Study Guide by Course Hero
What's Inside d In Context

Written around 1596–97, Henry IV, Part 1 is one of
j Book Basics ................................................................................................. 1 Shakespeare's history plays. This means that rather than
taking its dramatic shape and meaning from its structure and
d In Context ..................................................................................................... 1
tone, as tragedies and comedies do, it follows known historical
a Author Biography ..................................................................................... 2 action—although Shakespeare sometimes includes legend as
well as fact in his plays. Henry IV, Part 1 is the second of four
h Characters ................................................................................................... 2 plays by Shakespeare that recount the founding and
development of a specific royal family. Shakespeare scholars
k Plot Summary ............................................................................................. 6
call this tetralogy (four-part series) the "Henriad." It starts with
c Scene Summaries .................................................................................. 10 Richard II, continues in this play and in Henry IV, Part 2, and
concludes in Henry V. However, Henry IV, Part 1 is unique
g Quotes ........................................................................................................ 20 because it is not a sequel to Richard II and does not require the
audience to know that work.
l Symbols ..................................................................................................... 24
Scholars believe Shakespeare relied on three main sources for
m Themes ....................................................................................................... 25 the story told in this play. The first was The Third Volume of the
Chronicles (1587) by Raphael Holinshed, a history of England,
e Suggested Reading .............................................................................. 27
Scotland, and Ireland. The second source was The First Fowre
[Four] Bookes of the Ciuile [Civil] Warres between the Two
Houses of Lancaster and Yorke (1595) by Samuel Daniel. The
j Book Basics final source was The Famous Victories of Henry the Fifth, an
anonymously written play that may have been performed in the
1580s but was not published until 1598.
AUTHOR
William Shakespeare The political context for many of Shakespeare's history plays
was the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars between the
YEARS WRITTEN
royal houses of Lancaster and York waged in England from
c. 1596–97
1455 to 1485. The war ended with the defeat of King Richard III
GENRE at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Afterward, the feuding houses
Historical Fiction were united when the Lancastrian Henry Tudor married
Elizabeth of York and ascended the throne as King Henry VII.
ABOUT THE TITLE In the person of Queen Elizabeth I (who ruled from 1558 to
This is the first of two plays that focus on the kingship of Henry 1603), the Tudor dynasty still ruled England when Shakespeare
Bolingbroke, who was king of England from 1399 to 1413. wrote most of his history plays. Although Henry IV, Part 1 takes
place much earlier than the Wars of the Roses, it tells the story
of the founder of the Lancastrian line and therefore helps
establish the royal lineage of the Tudors. Pleasing the reigning
Henry IV, Part 1 Study Guide Author Biography 2
monarch was essential for any troupe of performers in alderman and bailiff, a high city office. Shakespeare attended
Elizabethan London. the local grammar school, where he learned rhetoric and ethics
and studied the classics, including Latin. He did not attend
There are no clear records about the first performance of university.
Henry IV, Part 1. Because Shakespeare's theater company was
experiencing some financial troubles at the time, it is not even Many readers have wondered how a man from such a
clear in which theater it was performed first. background could have written as insightfully about nobles and
monarchs as Shakespeare does in Henry IV, Part 1 and other
The play was, however, popular from its early performances. It plays. Some commentators have suggested that a nobleman
is not considered one of Shakespeare's greatest plays (like actually wrote Shakespeare's works under an assumed name.
Hamlet, King Lear, or the other great tragedies), but it is still Most scholars, however, accept that Shakespeare was the
performed regularly. Its continued popularity may be due to author, pointing out that during his lifetime, he was widely and
two intertwined factors: the timeless themes of honor, father- publicly acknowledged as such.
son relationships, and political order, and the great characters
of Prince Hal, Hotspur, and Falstaff. Originally from Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare married
Anne Hathaway in 1582. They had a daughter named Susanna
People from all walks of society attended Shakespeare's plays. and twins named Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet died when he
The upper classes paid two or three pennies to sit in the was only 11, which may be one reason father-son relationships
galleries (covered seating that surrounded the stage). A higher play so large a role in Shakespeare's work, including Henry IV,
price secured seats that were at a higher level. People from Part 1.
the lower-middle or working classes paid a penny to stand on
the ground in front of the stage, which was at eye level. These In the 1580s Shakespeare moved to London to work in the
spectators were called groundlings. theater. By about 1595 Shakespeare was a shareholder in a
troupe of actors called the Lord Chamberlain's Men. Queen
The play's most famous character, Sir John Falstaff, ignited Elizabeth I loved plays and was a patron of the theater, which
some controversy. Shakespeare originally named him Sir John may partially explain why Shakespeare wrote so many history
Oldcastle, after an actual historical figure, but the man's plays about English kings during the 1590s. Henry IV, Part 1
descendants protested. This protest carried serious weight was a popular example of a history play, largely because of the
because one family member was Sir William Brooke, otherwise comic character of Falstaff.
known as Lord Chamberlain, who was responsible for licensing
plays for performance. Shakespeare changed the character's Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616, in Stratford-upon-Avon.
name to Falstaff before the play was printed in 1598. Falstaff
became so popular that the play was performed in 1625 under
the title The First Part of Sir John Falstaff.
h Characters
a Author Biography King Henry IV

Only limited records about William Shakespeare's life
Henry is the king of England. He used to be Henry Bolingbroke,
(1564–1616) exist. Shakespeare was a commoner, and only
a nobleman, but rose to the throne when the prior king was
members of noble families had their lives recorded in detail
dethroned. When the play opens, he expresses his wish to lead
during the period in which he lived. Thus, any biography of
a contingent of warriors to the Crusades, but he can't because
Shakespeare contains gaps. Scholars know the highlights of
he is facing an armed rebellion. He is under tremendous stress
his life: his baptism, his marriage, his children's births, and his
from this clash of duties and the threat of civil war, but also
death. There are also records of when many of his works were
because he is tremendously disappointed in his elder son; in
performed and published.
fact, the king wishes Hotspur were his son. Despite this
Shakespeare's family was in business, and his father was an difficult situation, King Henry shows himself throughout the
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Henry IV, Part 1 Study Guide Characters 3
play to be royal in manner and a fine tactician. He expresses a he is driven mainly by emotion and his sense of honor.
strong religious intention in his opening speech, but he never
returns to the topic at any length. His chief concerns seem to
be his country, his throne, his desire for peace and order, and Sir Walter Blunt
his family.
Sir Walter Blunt is characterized by his steadfast loyalty. As his
name suggests, Blunt says what he thinks, and his word can be
Prince Hal trusted. The king trusts him to carry messages to and from the
rebel leaders and to negotiate on the crown's behalf. In the
Prince Hal is also called Prince Henry, Harry, or Harry play's climactic battle, Blunt fights disguised as the king, and
Monmouth. He is the Prince of Wales and his father's heir. He Douglas kills him.
should be king someday. However, in the beginning of the play,
he neglects his duties as a prince and warrior. Instead of
helping restore order to the kingdom, he carouses with a Douglas
bunch of drunken thieves. He even goes so far as to rob them
himself. Despite this apparent neglect of duty, Prince Hal has a Douglas is more straightforward than other rebel leaders. He
plan: to act the part of an idle partier and then astonish will not engage in devious behavior. He is brave, and late in the
everyone by revealing himself to be a true prince and warrior. play he kills a disguised Sir Walter Blunt, thinking he is the king.
Prince Hal drinks and wastes time during the early acts and
then, roughly midway through the play, reforms and becomes
both a loyal son and a heroic warrior. He kills Hotspur in Act V. Glendower
Glendower sees himself as a hero in the classical tradition. He
Falstaff claims that portents of his greatness appeared on the day he
was born and that he has supernatural powers (control over
Falstaff drives the play's comic subplot. He is like a second demons and spirits). He is a fierce warrior, but he gives no
father to Prince Hal, but except for being older and male, he is proof of his supernatural abilities. He is father to Lady
exactly the opposite of King Henry IV. Whereas the king is Mortimer and clearly loves her.
sober, businesslike, responsible, and a strong warrior, Falstaff
is a fat, lazy, dishonest drunk. He sleeps with prostitutes and
robs travelers who are on a religious pilgrimage. He is
completely self-interested. But he serves as a significant point
of comic relief in an otherwise very serious play.
Hotspur
Hotspur is also called Harry, Sir Henry, and Harry Percy. He is
Prince Hal's counterpoint; when the play starts, he is the young
warrior King Henry IV wishes were really his son, and he is on
the king's side against the rebels Douglas and Glendower. But
after the king insults his honor, Hotspur joins the rebellion and
becomes one of its leaders. As his name suggests, Hotspur is
passionate and rash. He reacts quickly, moving rapidly from
position to position, talking himself into and out of a decision in
a matter of minutes. He thinks of himself as realistic; this is
seen most clearly in his arguments with Glendower. However,

Character Map
Prince Hal
Prince and heir
Son/Father
Friends
Falstaff King Henry IV

Enemies/Rivals
Drunken friend of Hal King of England
Hotspur
Passionate young
rebel warrior
Allies
Allies/
Rivals
Glendower Worcester
Passionate leader Allies Rebel leader and
of Welsh rebels schemer
Douglas
Brave leader of
Scottish rebels
Main Character
Other Major Character
Minor Character

Full Character List Hotspur's wife, Lady Percy (Kate)

is concerned about her husband
Lady Percy because the rebellion has upset
him so much, but she is soon
Character Description
reconciled to his warrior ways.
Formerly Henry Bolingbroke, now

Lord John of Lancaster is King
king of England. First of his line, he
King Henry IV Henry IV's younger son and Prince
is concerned about his family and
Hal's little brother. Largely absent
country. Lord John
until the end of the play, he then
shows himself to be an able
Henry (Harry, Hal), Prince of Wales, warrior.
heir to the throne. Prince Hal is
depicted throughout the play as a
Prince Hal Sir Michael is a nobleman
slovenly drunkard and thief before
Michael associated with the Archbishop of
he fights alongside his father
York.
against the rebel armies.
Mistress Quickly is hostess of the

A fat, drunken thief, Falstaff is an
Mistress Quickly tavern where Prince Hal and the
Falstaff older friend and a father figure to
thieves drink.
Prince Hal.
The Earl of March, Edmund

Henry (Harry, Hotspur) Percy is a
Mortimer is the brother-in-law of
Hotspur passionate young warrior and one Mortimer
Hotspur and Henry IV's chief rival
leader of the rebel forces.
for the English crown.
One of the king's noblemen, Blunt

Sir Walter Blunt Henry Percy, Earl of
is direct and trustworthy.
Northumberland, is Hotspur's
Northumberland
father and one of the leaders of
Archibald, Earl of Douglas. Douglas the rebel forces.
Douglas is a brave warrior and leader of the
Scottish rebel forces.
Peto is a thief and a friend to
Peto
Prince Hal and Falstaff.
Owen Glendower is a passionate
Glendower warrior, leader of the Welsh forces,
Poins is a thief and a friend to
and one of the main rebels. Poins
Archbishop of Richard Scroop, Archbishop of

The Sheriff is an officer of the law
York York, sympathizes with the rebels.
Sheriff who tries to arrest Falstaff for
robbery.
Bardolph is a thief and a friend of
Bardolph
Sir Richard Vernon is Hotspur's
Vernon cousin and one of the nobles
Francis is a drawer (server) at the fighting with the rebels.
Francis
tavern.
The Earl of Westmoreland is one of
Gadshill is a thief and a friend of Westmoreland the king's loyal noblemen and
Gadshill counselors.
Daughter of Owen Glendower and Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester,

wife of Edmund Mortimer, Lady is Northumberland's brother and
Lady Mortimer Worcester
Mortimer is also called the Welsh Hotspur's uncle. He is one of the
lady. rebel leaders.

Henry IV, Part 1 Study Guide Plot Summary 6
In the political plot, Hotspur, Mortimer, Glendower, and

k Plot Summary Worcester (Hotspur's uncle) meet to plan the rebellion.
Hotspur's attitude is on display as he argues with Glendower
Welsh and Scottish forces are rebelling against King Henry IV and complains about the portion of England that will go to him
of England. Douglas leads the Scottish rebels, and Owen once it is conquered.
Glendower leads the Welsh. In a recent battle, Hotspur (the
At court, King Henry tells Prince Hal that he is disappointed in
nickname of Henry Percy) captured some rebel leaders while
him, and Prince Hal promises to reform. Just then, a
fighting on the side of the king. However, Hotspur refuses to
messenger arrives to announce that the Scottish and English
send the prisoners to the king as required, so the king
rebels have joined forces.
summons him to explain.
Back at the tavern, Falstaff is drinking and complaining to the

In a comic subplot, Prince Hal (short for Harry), elder son of the
innkeeper. Fresh from his fatherly harangue, Prince Hal enters
king and heir to the throne, is at a tavern drinking with Sir John
and tells Falstaff he's obtained a commission for Falstaff to
Falstaff and other thieves. Falstaff invites Prince Hal to join him
gather a group of soldiers. From this point on, the two distinct
in robbing a group of religious pilgrims. Prince Hal refuses, but
plots join up.
then another thief, Poins, suggests that they disguise
themselves and rob Falstaff as a joke. The prince agrees, but in
Act 4 opens with the rebels. A messenger brings the news that
a soliloquy (a speech by one actor), he tells the audience he
Northumberland (Hotspur's father) is too sick to fight, but the
intends to take his political place soon and so will have to give
rebels decide to fight anyway. Then they learn more bad news:
up playing such pranks.
Glendower will be delayed from the fight for two weeks.
When Hotspur arrives at King Henry's court, he explains that

Falstaff, on behalf of the king, marches to war with a ragtag
he refused to send the prisoners to the king because he took
band of men—the better men having bought their way out of
offense at the way a courtier addressed him after the battle.
fighting.
Hotspur then asks the king to pay the ransom to release his
brother-in-law, Edmund Mortimer, from the Welsh rebels, but The action shifts back to the rebels arguing over what to do.
King Henry refuses, believing Mortimer to be a traitor. This Sir Walter Blunt arrives, bringing an offer of forgiveness from
offends Hotspur's honor, so he joins the rebels. the king in return for an end to the rebellion. The rebels have to
decide by morning whether they will accept the king's offer.
In Act 2, when the thieves go to rob the pilgrims, Prince Hal and
Poins sneak away and disguise themselves. Falstaff and Act 5 starts on the battlefield, where leaders from both sides
Gadshill, a friend and highwayman, rob the pilgrims, but then meet. King Henry criticizes Worcester and Vernon (a relative of
Prince Hal and Poins rob their friends. Worcester's) for rebelling, but he again offers forgiveness if
they'll stop. Worcester says the king caused the rebellion by
In Act 2, Scene 3, Hotspur gets a letter from someone he
rebelling himself against the previous king and taking his
asked to join the rebellion; the nobleman turns him down. This
throne. The king counters that the rebels are exaggerating. To
refusal prompts Hotspur to move the start of the action up to
try to decide the issue, Prince Hal challenges Hotspur to single
that very night.
combat. Instead, the rebels decide to fight en masse.
In the comic subplot, Falstaff enters a tavern and tells Prince

As the battle begins, Douglas slays Blunt, who is pretending to
Hal and Poins a story about the robbery, casting himself as a
be King Henry. Douglas thinks he has killed the king until
hero who fought many men. Prince Hal reveals that it was he
Hotspur enters and explains that many people are fighting
and Poins in disguise who robbed Falstaff. A messenger from
disguised as the king.
the king arrives and orders Prince Hal to court. To prepare for
meeting with his father, Prince Hal holds practice interviews The scene shifts to King Henry, Prince Hal, Lord John (the
with Falstaff. The scene ends with a sheriff coming for Falstaff, king's younger son), and Westmoreland (a military leader loyal
who hides while Prince Hal promises the sheriff he'll deal with to the king). Prince Hal is injured, but he refuses to leave the
Falstaff. field. After most of the loyalists leave, Douglas enters and

attacks the king. In an effort to prove himself, Prince Hal

returns and drives Douglas away. Impressed, the king tells his
elder son that this act has redeemed him for all his previous
laziness and disorder.
But Prince Hal is not done fighting. After the king leaves,
Hotspur enters, and Prince Hal kills him. Meanwhile, Falstaff
has been cheering on Prince Hal, but he pretends to be dead
during a skirmish with Douglas. The prince mourns his friend,
then leaves the field. Falstaff gets up and plans to claim that he
is the one who killed Hotspur. A trumpet sounds, signaling that
the king's forces have won.
In the final scene, King Henry sentences the captured

Worcester and Vernon to death. Douglas has also been taken
prisoner but is released because of his valor. The king swears
to defeat the rebels who still lurk in the kingdom.

Plot Diagram
Climax
7
10 Falling Action
Rising Action
6
11
5
4 12
3 Resolution
2
1
Introduction
Introduction Climax
1. King Henry IV gives a speech about rebellion in England. 9. Hal kills Hotspur.
Rising Action Falling Action
2. Falstaff plans to rob pilgrims. 10. Falstaff claims he killed Hotspur.
3. The Percys rebel after the king refuses to ransom Mortimer. 11. The king's forces defeat the rebels.
4. Falstaff robs pilgrims; Prince Hal and Poins rob Falstaff.
5. Several nobles meet to plan rebellion.

Resolution
6. Henry lectures Hal on his behavior; Hal decides to reform.
12. King Henry IV sentences Worcester and Vernon to death.
7. The rebels refuse the king's offer of forgiveness.
8. Douglas kills Blunt, thinking he is the king.

Timeline of Events
Early 15th century
Scottish and Welsh forces rebel against King Henry IV of

England.
A few days later
King Henry publicly declares disappointment in his son

Prince Hal.
A few days later
King Henry refuses to ransom Mortimer, offending

Hotspur, who joins the rebels.
The next day
Falstaff robs a group of pilgrims, and a disguised Prince

Hal robs him in turn.
Two days later
King Henry denounces Prince Hal; Hal promises to

reform.
Some time later
King Henry offers to forgive the rebels if they disband.
The next day
Worcester turns down the king's offer and lies to

Hotspur about it.
A few hours later
Battle begins, Douglas kills Sir Walter Blunt, who was

dressed as the king.
A few minutes later
Prince Hal defeats Hotspur in single combat.
A few hours later
King Henry defeats the rebels and sentences Worcester

and Vernon to death.

Henry IV, Part 1 Study Guide Scene Summaries 10
asserting his own authority over his monarch. When King Henry
c Scene Summaries openly says he would prefer Hotspur as a son instead of
Prince Hal, the central theme of father-son relationships is
introduced. That the king wishes his own son were a
Act 1, Scene 1 changeling, swapped at birth with the seemingly more gallant
Hotspur, also hints at a central conflict between appearance
and reality.
Summary
The setting is early 1400s Britain. King Henry IV of England
Act 1, Scene 2
talks with his counselors. Now that a recent civil war is over, he
wants to lead an expedition to the Holy Land to help recapture
it. As soon as he announces this, however, his counselors Summary
inform him that the country is not completely calm. Owen
Prince Hal and Sir John Falstaff launch into a series of jokes,
Glendower has just led a group of Welsh rebels against the
puns, and insults. Prince Hal teases Falstaff for being a fat
king's forces, killing a thousand men and capturing Mortimer, a
drunk. Falstaff defends his dishonesty, calling robbery his
noble warrior on the king's side. Young Harry Percy (Hotspur)
profession. Their friend Poins, who is also a highwayman, or
has led another group of the king's forces against Scottish
robber, enters and tells them he and a third thief (Gadshill) are
rebels. Hotspur has captured the Earl of Douglas, leader of the
planning a robbery for early the next morning. They invite
Scottish rebels, as well as Douglas's son.
Prince Hal to come with them to rob a group of wealthy
Hotspur's bravery is so great that the king publicly compares pilgrims, but he refuses.
Hotspur to Prince Hal, wishing Hotspur were really his son.
Poins then tells Falstaff to leave him alone with Prince Hal.
However, Hotspur has begun acting strangely; he sent word to
Once Falstaff leaves, Poins suggests to Prince Hal that the two
the king that he would be sending only one prisoner to court,
of them play a practical joke on Falstaff and the others. They
rather than all of them, which is required by feudal custom. The
will ride separately, arrive wearing masks and disguises, and
king decides to postpone the expedition to the Holy Land and
rob Falstaff after he robs the pilgrims. Prince Hal thinks it will
sends for Hotspur so he can explain his actions.
be funny and agrees.
Once Poins leaves, Prince Hal delivers a soliloquy (a speech

Analysis that represents his inner thoughts) about how he chooses to
hang around with lowlifes so that everyone will think less of
This first scene acts as a prologue and introduction. It provides
him. The prince believes that when he assumes his rightful
contextual information on action the audience doesn't see, and
place in court and takes up his duties, people will appreciate
it sketches in core relationships, both political and
him that much more.
interpersonal. As a result, the first scene introduces the play's
core plot and its themes. On the plot level, the play's greatest
action is introduced: rebellions are occurring against the king
on two fronts, in Wales to the southwest and Scotland to the
Analysis
north.
The second scene has several purposes. First and most
simply, it provides comic relief. Whereas the first scene opens
These rebellions are connected to the theme of order, acting
grimly with talk of rebellion, war, and slaughter, this scene
as both the cause and result of the serious disorders that
opens with drinking and laughter.
threaten the kingdom. Hotspur's actions are also related to the
theme of honor, as he is not acting as a noble warrior should.
However, in the midst of the kidding around, the second scene
The king is Hotspur's feudal lord, whom he is required to obey.
introduces important content. Prince Hal is the heir to the
By refusing to yield all of his prisoners to the king, Hotspur is
throne of England; his drinking and association with thieves

clash with his duty as a prince. His behavior helps the audience to ransom Mortimer because the prior king, Richard II, named
understand why the king prefers Hotspur, "a son who is the Mortimer as his heir—thus implying that Mortimer has a strong
theme of Honor's tongue, / Amongst a grove the very claim to the throne. It takes some time for Worcester and
straightest plant." The scene also introduces Falstaff, who is a Northumberland to calm Hotspur down. They manage it only
slob but a much easier father figure for Prince Hal to deal with when Worcester shares a plan for revenge: the Percy family
than is his true father, King Henry. will join the Scottish and Welsh rebels.
In many ways, this scene points out the clash between

appearance and reality. Not only is Prince Hal going to wear a Analysis
disguise and pretend to rob his friends, he also shares his
plans to play at being a slovenly drunk until it suits him, at Honor and order define this scene. Hotspur believes his honor
which point his newly honorable behavior will "attract more is wounded when a foppish courtier makes demands on him.
eyes." As he explains, "He made me mad / To see him shine so brisk
and smell so sweet / And talk so like a waiting-gentlewoman /
Finally, this scene takes an approach that is common in
Of guns, and drums, and wounds." As wrong as his action is,
Shakespeare's plays, in which plots involving similar themes
Hotspur's emotional response is understandable—why should
occur at different levels of society. The themes of order, honor,
a brave warrior have to listen to demands from a spoiled
and father-son relationships are all present in Prince Hal's
political lackey?
decision to "rebel" against Falstaff and rob him.
The scene also provides more explanation for the plot,
specifically the king's behavior regarding Mortimer. The
Act 1, Scene 3 presence of someone with a better claim to the throne would
be a continual threat to the king's legitimacy and therefore to
England's political order. Additionally, the king has reasons to
Summary be suspicious of Mortimer, who not only survived the battle, but
also recently married the daughter of Owen Glendower, one of
King Henry takes the stage with a group of nobles: Sir Walter the Welsh rebel leaders.
Blunt, Northumberland, Worcester, and Hotspur, who has
No matter why the king chooses not to pay Mortimer's ransom,
responded to the king's call to come to court and explain
Hotspur takes it as a serious insult to his own honor. The king's
himself. The king sends Worcester away, saying he looks too
decision instigates the remainder of the political plot, as the
rebellious. Northumberland says that disobedience is not what
powerful Percy family will now join the Scottish and Welsh
caused his son (Hotspur) to keep the prisoners. Hotspur
rebellion.
elaborates, explaining that his decision was reached out of
anger—he reacted badly when an overdressed, effeminate The scene also serves as a counterpoint to the previous, far
courtier demanded the prisoners be surrendered right after the less serious scene. In both scenes, a young nobleman rejects
battle, at which point Hotspur was still in pain from his wounds. the advice of an older father figure and is then incited to rebel
against this father figure. The most notable distinction between
Blunt speaks up for Hotspur, saying that his hot speech can be
the two is Hotspur's complete lack of hesitation. Prince Hal, on
overlooked if "he unsay it now." The king, though, is not
the other hand—even in his drunken and disorderly
satisfied, as Hotspur says he will surrender his prisoners only if
state—considers his options more carefully.
King Henry pays the ransom for Mortimer (Hotspur's brother-
in-law), whom the Welsh rebels have captured. When the king
suggests Mortimer is a traitor and lost the battle intentionally,
Hotspur objects. The king accuses Hotspur of lying about Act 2, Scene 1
Mortimer and forbids him to mention Mortimer's name again.
The king leaves, and Worcester rejoins Hotspur and his father.
Hotspur is furious with King Henry and claims that he refused

Bardolph. Falstaff is still complaining when Gadshill shows up

Summary and tells everyone that the wealthy travelers are nearby. The
thieves get ready, while Poins and Prince Hal sneak away.
Two carriers (workingmen who move horses and goods from
place to place) are working and complaining when Gadshill The four thieves—Falstaff, Gadshill, Peto, and Bardolph—rob
arrives. He asks to borrow a lantern while he puts his horse in the rich pilgrims and tie them up. When the thieves return,
the stable, but the carriers refuse because they don't trust him. Prince Hal and Poins rob them.
The chamberlain arrives. He has been giving Gadshill tips about
possible robbery targets, and he now has specific information.
A group of rich pilgrims will soon be passing through on their Analysis
way to Canterbury. Gadshill offers the chamberlain a cut of
their takings. He jokingly refuses, and Gadshill calls for his This scene includes a plot twist involving a practical joke;
horse and leaves. Prince Hal and Poins rob their friends after their friends rob the
pilgrims. All of the plot twists in the play feature clashes
between appearance and reality, honor and dishonor, or order
Analysis and disorder. In a comic rumination on the honor of criminals,
Falstaff speaks ironically (using humor based on contradiction)
This brief scene develops the subplot in which Falstaff and his when he declares, "A plague / upon it when thieves cannot be
friends rob rich travelers. It is worth noting that robbing true one to another!" In the main clash between appearance
travelers and pilgrims seems to be a regular business. The and reality, Prince Hal and Poins put on disguises to fool their
carriers are on the lookout for thieves, rightfully suspecting friends.
Gadshill just by the way he acts, an ironic commentary on the
theme of appearance and reality. In addition, the chamberlain The scene also contains several signs of the deep fractures in
acts as an accomplice to the thieves. The scene mentions the social order. The victims of the robbery are pilgrims,
"Saint Nicholas' clerks," a reference to highwaymen, or traveling for a religious purpose. A good king would protect
robbers, because Nicholas was thought to be their patron them, especially because their goals are related to the religious
saint. goals King Henry mentions in the opening scene. However,
Prince Hal, the heir to the throne, not only allows them to be
As in many of Shakespeare's plays, common people are robbed, he also robs his own friends and father figure simply
distinguished from noblemen by rough jesting and the use of for the sake of a practical joke. Prince Hal is clearly not ready
prose rather than poetry. The carriers discuss being bitten by for the "reformation" he describes earlier in the play.
fleas and blame it on the lack of a "jordan," or chamber pot,
which forces them to relieve themselves in a chimney; they
believe that "chamber-lye," or urine, breeds the biting insects.
Act 2, Scene 3
Such crude humor appealed to the groundlings, the poorer and
generally uneducated members of Shakespeare's audience.
Summary
Act 2, Scene 2 Alone onstage, Hotspur reads a letter that greatly upsets him;
a nobleman he invited to join the rebellion has turned him
down. Hotspur says that because the writer is such a coward,
Summary he might warn the king of the rebels' plans, and so they will
move against King Henry that very night.
Poins tells Prince Hal that, as a joke, he has taken Falstaff's
horse from where he left it. Falstaff enters, complaining Lady Percy (Hotspur's wife, Kate) enters. She complains that
because he is so fat that walking to get his horse is hard for she's barely seen her husband for the last two weeks and that
him. Prince Hal lies to Falstaff, saying that he will look for the he hasn't been eating or sleeping well. She demands an
horse. The prince leaves, only to return with Poins, Peto, and explanation. When Hotspur answers by calling for his horse,

Kate voices her concern that Hotspur has gotten involved in Poins were the ones who attacked Falstaff and the other
Mortimer's maneuvering for the crown. Hotspur rejects her thieves. Falstaff tries to save face by claiming he knew
pleas for conversation. This is, he says, a time for violence and instinctively it was Prince Hal the whole time and that he
injury, not love or explanations, and he cannot tell her the truth refused to fight back because he would never attack the heir
anyway, because women cannot be trusted to keep secrets. to the throne.
The furthest he is willing to go is to say she can follow him the
next day. The hostess enters and tells Prince Hal that a messenger from
the king has come for him. Falstaff volunteers to find out what
he wants. While he is gone, the other thieves explain how
Analysis Falstaff taught them to make it look like they had been in a
large fight. Falstaff returns with serious news: the Percys and
This scene returns the audience's focus to the main political Mortimer have joined the rebellion, and Prince Hal has to go
plot. The audience learns that the rebels are seeking more see his father. To prepare for this, Falstaff and Prince Hal take
allies and that some threat of discovery by the king exists. turns playing the king so the prince can practice explaining
Instead of using this chance to reflect on his actions, Hotspur himself. Their game is interrupted when the sheriff enters to
decides to advance the rebellion, determining to move that search the house. Prince Hal tells everyone to hide, which is
night before the king can learn of their plans. fortunate because the sheriff is looking for Falstaff as a
suspect for the robbery. Once the sheriff leaves, Prince Hal
Hotspur's interaction with his wife continues the theme of finds Falstaff asleep. He searches Falstaff's pockets but finds
order, showing the rebel warrior clashing with the order of the nothing but bar receipts. Signaling the start of his reformation,
domestic sphere. Hotspur is unable to respond to his wife in a Prince Hal declares that he will pay back the stolen money
suitably affectionate way, telling her, "Away, you trifler. Love, I before he goes off to the war.
love thee not. / I care not for thee, Kate." He has not really
stopped caring for her—he still calls her "Love"—but as he
points out, the time is not suitable for domestic relationships. Analysis
England's broken and disrupted social order influences
everything, even the most intimate relationships. This scene shows Prince Hal at his lowest, even as it shows
what he gains from associating with thieves and commoners.
On the one hand, he really enjoys getting to know different
Act 2, Scene 4 sections of society, people he would not have a chance to
meet if he were being a good prince. On the other hand, Prince
Hal teases Francis mercilessly. His behavior toward this
Summary servant is downright mean and lacks the honor expected of a

prince.
Prince Hal and Poins enter a tavern. They tease Francis, who
A much purer form of humor is provided by Falstaff in the way
works in the tavern, by calling him in opposite directions until
he talks about the robbery. As he tells the story, he transforms
he is completely confused and in trouble with his boss. The
his cowardice into heroism, and Prince Hal and Poins become
vintner then tells Prince Hal that Falstaff and some other men
50 or 100 men in the retelling.
are at the door and asks if he should let them in. Prince Hal
says he should. Before they arrive, Prince Hal does a brief The gap between appearance and reality continues to be
imitation of Hotspur, exaggerating his heroism and habits. stretched as Prince Hal and Falstaff alternately playact the
roles of King Henry and Prince Hal. The scene shows how
Falstaff enters, calling for a drink. As he downs the drink and
Falstaff acts as a father figure for Prince Hal, and it also
starts another, he accuses Prince Hal of cowardice for not
foreshadows the prince's eventual ascendance to the throne.
showing up the night before. Falstaff then tells the story of
how he was robbed, making himself into more and more of a Hotspur's decision in the previous scene to join the rebels
hero by inflating the number of men who attacked him. Prince results in the final crest of the pendulum, which now begins to
Hal lets him go on for a while before admitting that he and

swing back to center. The arrival of the king's messenger and, Still, even among themselves, differences exist. The Welsh
later, of the sheriff in a tavern filled with drunken thieves Glendower represents a pagan order, one where spirits are
indicates that order is being restored, as does Prince Hal's everywhere and natural events connect to important activities
decision to repay Falstaff's debts. in the human realm. Hotspur represents a Christian, English
sensibility in which people have free will and are responsible
for their own destiny.
Act 3, Scene 1 It can be tempting to interpret Hotspur as more pragmatic than
Glendower, but Hotspur is driven by his emotions to say (and,
in other scenes, do) things that are not conducive to the rebel
Summary cause. He argues about a hypothetical division of land, which
can happen only if the rebels win. Ironically, the argument
The rebel leaders (Hotspur, Worcester, Mortimer, and
causes discord, which makes victory less likely. As agents of
Glendower) meet. They talk about how much the king's
discord in an orderly society, people who rebel against the
supporters, especially Lord John (the king's younger son), hate
king—whether they are pagan or Christian, Welsh or
and fear them. This segues into Glendower talking about how
English—cannot be trusted to make good decisions.
the world gave signs of his greatness when he was born; he
claims fire shone in the sky and the earth shook. Hotspur The second half of the scene is an interlude that creates some
dismisses these claims, saying that while such things may have empathy for the men going to war. After the arguments
occurred, they would have happened even if only a kitten were between Hotspur and Glendower, the wives' appearance
being born. Such a dismissal by Hotspur puts Glendower in a provides a welcome break. But even here the rebels are shown
foul mood. As they discuss how to divide Britain after the to be divided; Mortimer cannot speak to his wife directly, as
rebellion, Hotspur complains about the portion he is to be they do not share a language.
awarded and says he will have to straighten a curving river to
increase his share. He and Glendower argue until Glendower
gives in. Once Glendower leaves the room, Mortimer Act 3, Scene 2
reproaches Hotspur for his treatment of the Welsh leader, but
Hotspur says that the man's claims of supernatural portents
and powers irritate him.
Summary
Glendower returns with Lady Percy and Mortimer's wife.
Because Mortimer's wife speaks only Welsh, Glendower has to Prince Hal goes to see his father. King Henry lectures his son,
translate for her. She sings a song in Welsh for the company. complaining that he isn't acting like a prince or like Henry
Hotspur and his wife tease one another, and then the men himself as a young man. Instead, Prince Hal is acting like the
leave. previous king, Richard II, who was overthrown. King Henry
argues that if Prince Hal continues in this way, the common
people will dislike him. He says that everyone sees how Prince
Analysis Hal is acting and that he is ruining the fortunes of their entire
family. In a dramatic fashion, the king goes so far as to wonder
In this scene, the political plot moves forward as the audience if God is using Prince Hal to punish him for some sin. His words
gains insight into the characters of Hotspur, Glendower, and about seeing himself more in Hotspur's bravery than in Prince
Mortimer. Hal's behavior are clearly intended to wound his son.
In the first exchange, the rebel leaders show how important Moved, Prince Hal pledges that he will act differently from now
honor is to them and how aware they are of the way people on. Initially, the king seems not to hear him and continues to
view them. These men measure their worth by their reputation lecture him, until finally Prince Hal swears he is the king's true
as warriors, by how much their enemies fear them, and by how son and will act like it; he will prove his honor and virtue on
much land they possess. Hotspur's head, even if he has to die to do it. Pleased by this,
the king gives him a military command.

Sir Walter Blunt then enters to tell the king that the Scottish
rebel leader, Douglas, has joined forces with the English and
Analysis
Welsh rebels; they will soon be ready to attack. The king
This scene works as another comic interlude to relieve tension
answers by saying that he has already sent Lord John and the
after the father-son clash in the previous scene. Shakespeare
Earl of Westmoreland out with the king's forces. Prince Hal will
often places scenes of wit and wordplay after emotionally
lead forces on Wednesday, and the king will ride out on
tense scenes to lighten the mood and prepare the audience for
Thursday.
another climax.
In this scene, Falstaff is back to his old ways, reshaping reality

Analysis to match his desires and accusing other people of his own sins.
His ring is an effective symbol of this. Although Falstaff claims
In earlier scenes, King Henry and Prince Hal refer to each other that his precious ring was filched, Prince Hal reveals that the
continuously. This is the first scene, however, in which the two ring was both worthless and certainly not stolen (the only thing
occupy the stage together. In previous scenes, the tension the prince took from Falstaff's pockets were receipts).
between them is obvious, and here the father and son focus on
the reason for the tension: Prince Hal's behavior. This scene also provides Prince Hal with his first opportunity to
demonstrate his loyalty to his father. As the prince enters the
After listening to the king's long-winded speeches, Prince Hal tavern, a petty argument is ongoing between the hostess,
answers with surprising directness. He says, "I shall hereafter, Falstaff, and Bardolph. When Prince Hal is called upon to judge
my thrice gracious lord, / Be more myself." Unlike previous between them, he dismisses this nonsense and gives his
scenes, in which Prince Hal changes his mind or interacts with friends more important tasks to accomplish.
multiple characters in different ways, he remains steadfast. No
matter how many times his father rebukes him, he answers
with the same sincere regret and promise of redemption.
Act 4, Scene 1
Interestingly, the king neglects to acknowledge a fact that
shows Prince Hal's similarity to him. Before he took the throne,
King Henry spent time with commoners and away from court Summary
to avoid appearing as if he were vying for the crown. This is
very much like the strategy Prince Hal lays out for himself Hotspur, Worcester, and Douglas are planning the rebellion
earlier in the play. when a messenger shows up with bad news. Hotspur's father,
Northumberland, is "grievous sick," too ill to join them. He had
already been laid up in bed for four days when the messenger
Act 3, Scene 3 left. Because of this, the forces he would have led are not
coming either. Worcester is very upset, saying the news is a
"maim," or injury, to the rebel forces. Hotspur agrees at first,
but either convinces himself it will be all right or puts on a
Summary brave face.
Back in the tavern, Falstaff complains about how thin he's Another messenger arrives, telling them the king has arrived
grown and asks the hostess if she knows who stole from him. with his forces and that Prince Hal is there as well, armored for
He wants to find a ring that he claims is expensive, but the battle. If that's not bad enough, the messenger tells them
hostess insists she is honest and does not know where it is. Glendower has been delayed and will not arrive with his forces
for two weeks.
Prince Hal enters with Peto and tells everyone they are at war.
He also admits to picking Falstaff's pockets and says he has
paid back the money Falstaff stole. Before leaving, he puts
Falstaff in charge of a group of foot soldiers.

Analysis Analysis
The absence of Northumberland and Glendower highlights the While this scene is another example of comic relief, it has
risk and the danger for the rebel forces. At first they fear they serious undertones. The battle's danger is not confined to the
will look weak, and finally they begin to realize how weak they rebel army. The disorder in the kingdom has resulted in
truly are and what the consequences of their actions might be. Falstaff's presence in the battle, and he has gathered a third-
rate army of men who will serve only as bodies to die on a
When Hotspur argues with Glendower at the beginning of Act warrior's sword. Moreover, their presence in the fight
3, Hotspur seems to be the rational one, while Glendower undermines the strength of the king's army, a threat reinforced
appears to be a self-important pagan who believes in magic. by the fact that Prince Hal and Westmoreland still have 30
This scene, by contrast, shows that Hotspur is motivated not miles to go before reaching the battlefield.
by reason but by emotion and self-deception. When he learns
that Prince Hal is leading forces, he says, "Come, let me taste Falstaff's actions here reflect on the larger, more serious plot.
my horse, / Who is to bear me like a thunderbolt / Against the The rebels, like Falstaff, are manipulating matters of honor and
bosom of the Prince of Wales. / Harry to Harry shall, hot horse affairs of state for their own profit, just as they have accused
to horse, / Meet and ne'er part till one drop down a corse the king of doing. It does not matter to any of them that poor,
[corpse]." weak, powerless men will die as a result.
Despite the king's public laments about his son's behavior,

Prince Hal is the Prince of Wales and next in line to the throne.
It is unrealistic for Hotspur to think that any action against the
Act 4, Scene 3
prince will be rewarded. Such an attitude is reckless, especially
given the rebels' changed circumstances.
Summary
Hotspur, though, convinces himself that their victory will be
even more glorious because of Northumberland's and Hotspur, Worcester, Douglas, and Vernon are on the
Glendower's absence. His vain boasting foreshadows a rebel battlefield, arguing about when they should attack. Hotspur
loss, and a bad one at that. and Douglas want to attack immediately, but Vernon thinks
they should wait because some of his family's forces have not
yet arrived and Worcester's forces are tired.
Act 4, Scene 2 Sir Walter Blunt arrives for a parley. The rebels tell Blunt that
they wish he were on their side, even though he is not as great
a warrior as they are. Blunt says he will never side with them so
Summary long as they stand against the king. Then he delivers his
message: King Henry praises their worth and asks them to
Falstaff and Bardolph are marching to war. Falstaff sends name their grievances; if they stand down, he will pardon
Bardolph for something to drink and explains how he recruited everyone on their side. Hotspur lists their complaints. Chief
his company. If a man could afford to buy his way out of among them is that the king got his throne only because the
fighting, Falstaff allowed it and took his money. As a result, he Percy family helped him, and he has forgotten how much he
has lots of cash, but his battalion of soldiers is made up of the owes them. When Blunt asks if he should take the king this
very young, the very old, and those who are poor, dishonest, message, Hotspur says that they will give the king their answer
hapless, or some combination thereof. in the morning.
Prince Hal and Westmoreland enter. Prince Hal looks over

Falstaff's men and finds them poor specimens, but Falstaff
reassures him that they will die in war as well as anyone else.
The battle is about to start.

archbishop is unconvinced. What is worse, the king knows that

Analysis the archbishop sympathizes with the rebels, so if King Henry
wins, the archbishop is in trouble.
Once again, the audience senses the fate of the rebels; they
are divided among themselves, and Hotspur is so hotheaded
that he won't listen to the many valid reasons why they should
delay their attack.
Analysis
Blunt's arrival underscores the importance of honor and the This scene introduces two new characters, who appear only in
rebels' lack of it. The rebels are so committed to their cause this scene. When the play is performed, the scene provides a
that they invite the king's messenger to join them in their break in the action so actors can change clothes. The scene
rebellion, which would be a dishonorable act on his part. The also serves to reinforce the negative foreshadowing of the
rebels feel they have to assert their honor by claiming to be battle and to underscore the threat the rebels face.
greater warriors than Blunt, thus insulting the very person they
Thematically, this dialogue functions to emphasize how
are seeking to recruit. Their false sense of honor causes them
completely the rebellion has disrupted England; even an
to act illogically.
archbishop has been pulled into the struggle and is actively
The rest of the scene continues to demonstrate how an working with the rebels. Now he worries about what will
overblown sense of honor prevents people from making the happen if the king wins. Even though an archbishop would have
best choices. The Percys have long carried a grudge against been answerable to the pope and not the king, he would still
the king, believing he has forgotten his debts to them and thus have been in an extremely dangerous situation if he was
insulted their honor. Their reaction to the king is so extreme known to have conspired against a victorious monarch.
and their claims so lacking in evidence that Blunt asks them, Additionally, Queen Elizabeth I, during whose reign the play
essentially, to think long and hard about their reasoning. He is was performed, was the head of the Church of England, and
trying to make the Percys understand that they are making the her religious leaders answered only to her. The connection
situation worse. between religion and state, although different in the different
time periods, would have been significant to the original
Showing yet another sign of internal dissent and indecision, audience of the play.
they relent, deciding to wait until morning to send their final
answer (which turns out to be the same). The audience is thus
left to wonder whether the rebels actually want to reconsider Act 5, Scene 1
their claims, whether Hotspur plans to mount a surprise attack
in the middle of the night, or whether Hotspur has changed his
mind and sees this as a chance to rest the troops without
Summary
looking weak.
Worcester and Vernon join King Henry, Prince Hal, Lord John,
Sir Walter Blunt, and Falstaff on the battlefield. The king
Act 4, Scene 4 criticizes Worcester for making war and asks again if the
rebels will not stand down. Worcester explains that he thinks
the king himself is responsible for the uprising, as he swore not
Summary to depose Richard II but did so anyway and took the throne for
himself. The king says that Worcester and the Percys have
The Archbishop of York gives letters to Sir Michael to deliver, made these claims before but that they are exaggerating.
and they discuss the battle that will happen the next day. The Prince Hal then challenges Hotspur to single combat to
archbishop says the king is angry, and the archbishop fears for prevent widespread bloodshed.
the fate of 10,000 men, since Northumberland and Glendower
are missing from the rebel side. Michael tries to reassure him Prince Hal and King Henry predict that the king's renewed
by listing the great warriors who have rebelled, but the offer of pardon will be rejected because Hotspur and Douglas
are too hotheaded. Everyone leaves except Prince Hal and

Falstaff. They talk briefly about the battle to come, and Prince Hotspur draws his sword and says he is ready to fight.
Hal leaves. When Falstaff is left alone, he talks about how
honor—the reason all men fight—is worth nothing compared to
staying alive and healthy. Analysis
This scene clinches the rebellion's doom. Not only does
Analysis Worcester refuse to tell his allies about the king's offer—a
dishonorable action—he lies about what the king said in ways
In this scene, Worcester and Vernon meet with the king and his that distort the reality of the situation and wound their allies'
core loyal supporters to give their response to the offer Sir honor.
Walter Blunt delivers in Act 4, Scene 3. As opposed to the
king's behavior in Act 1, Scene 1, when he treats Hotspur Worcester's behavior is another sign of disorder in the
harshly for not turning over his prisoners, here the king kingdom. Rebellion breeds rebellion; messengers within the
demonstrates generosity and diplomacy. Unlike the rebels, he rebel army cannot be trusted to deliver messages truthfully.
is willing to risk his own personal honor to save his army and
Vernon's description of Prince Hal's challenge to Hotspur is
reunite his country, a tremendous sacrifice that stands in direct
delivered with reverence and signals a restoration of order in
contrast to the rebels' constant bickering about petty symbols
the kingdom. He foreshadows the battle's end and Hotspur's
of honor.
fate—and summarizes Prince Hal's transformation—when he
When the rebels turn down the king's offer and repeat their says, "Let me tell the world, / If he outlive the envy of this day, /
complaints, they show their cause to be hollow and themselves England did never owe so sweet a hope, / So much
rigid. Their behavior almost justifies Falstaff's monologue on misconstrued in his wantonness."
honor: "What is honor? A word. ... Who hath it? He that died o'
Unfortunately, it's too late. The rebels' dishonesty and
Wednesday. Doth he feel it? No." However, the king's behavior
dishonor, both in their behavior toward the king and among
forces the reader to question Falstaff's logic.
themselves, have forced them to a point of no return. It's time
for war.
Act 5, Scene 2
Act 5, Scene 3
Summary
Worcester talks Vernon into not telling Hotspur about the
Summary
king's offer of forgiveness, reasoning that the king might
The battle is underway, and it is chaotic. The king crosses the
forgive Hotspur because he's young and headstrong but that
stage and leaves again. A moment later, Sir Walter Blunt
they themselves won't be forgiven. When Hotspur and Douglas
enters, wearing the king's clothes. Douglas fights and kills
join them, Worcester tells them the king has said he will see
Blunt.
them in battle right away. Douglas leaves to send a message of
defiance to the king. Once he is gone, Worcester expands on When Hotspur arrives, Douglas informs him that he has just
his lie, saying the king has called them traitors and rebels. Only killed the king. However, Hotspur recognizes Blunt's face.
after Douglas returns does Worcester share Prince Hal's Douglas wonders why Blunt said he was the king, and Hotspur
challenge to single combat. says the king has many men fighting disguised as him. Douglas
says he will kill them all until he gets to the real one.
Hotspur asks if the prince spoke with contempt. Vernon
assures him that it was a serious, honorable challenge and that They leave. Falstaff comes onstage and recognizes the dead
Prince Hal spoke so highly of Hotspur that Vernon himself was man as Blunt. The prince follows a moment later. He has lost
moved. Hotspur says he will be glad to meet Prince Hal in his sword and asks Falstaff for his. Falstaff refuses and offers
combat. When a messenger tells him the king is coming,

his pistol instead. When Prince Hal draws it, it is a bottle of

sack (wine). Prince Hal curses Falstaff for joking at a time like Act 5, Scene 4
this, throws the bottle at him, and leaves. After another speech
about liking life more than honor, Falstaff leaves the stage.
Summary
Analysis King Henry, Prince Hal, Lord John, and Westmoreland take the
stage with the sounds of the battle all around them. The king
This scene, which contains some of the great plot twists of the wants Prince Hal to leave the field because he is injured, but
play, is one of the drama's high points. First is the onstage the prince refuses. When Lancaster and Westmoreland leave,
battle to the death between Douglas and Blunt. For a play Prince Hal marvels at John's bravery and honor, and the king
about armed rebellion, it is striking to note that this is only the adds that John, young as he is, still held Hotspur at bay for a
third fight the audience sees. The first is when Falstaff and the while. Prince Hal leaves to join another part of the battle.
thieves rob the pilgrims. The second is when the disguised
Prince Hal and Poins rob Falstaff. In this third battle, the fight is Douglas enters. When he sees the king, he thinks it is another
finally between two relative equals, but it, too, contains fake king. King Henry says no, he is the real king, and they
deception. fight. Douglas is winning when Prince Hal returns, attacks

Douglas, and drives him off. The prince tells his father that two
The king has cunningly sent many men into battle dressed as men (Gawsey and Clinton) need help and that he will go help
him. Viewed from the perspective of honor, that is a Clinton. His father asks him to stay a while and tells Prince Hal
questionable action. Rather than meet the rebels himself, the he has redeemed his reputation and shown his father how
king distracts them, making them waste their efforts. This act much he loves him. The king then goes to help Gawsey, leaving
of disguise is thematically related to Prince Hal's choice to play Prince Hal alone onstage.
a part.
Hotspur enters. He recognizes Prince Hal, and the two men
The deception also provides a nice moment of dramatic irony, fight. While they are fighting, Falstaff arrives and cheers on
for the audience knows something that Douglas does not. Prince Hal until Douglas appears and attacks him. Falstaff falls
They saw the true king walk across stage just moments earlier. down and feigns death, so Douglas leaves. Prince Hal kills
At the same time, Douglas's win against Blunt and his Hotspur and pays his respects to him. When he notices
commitment to killing all the "kings" ratchet up the tension. The Falstaff lying there, seemingly dead, Prince Hal praises
scene also demonstrates Blunt's tremendous loyalty to his Falstaff, promises to bury him, and leaves.
leader, which contrasts sharply with the ways in which the
members of the rebel army have continually undermined one Falstaff gets up. He decides to claim he killed Hotspur. To
another. make himself feel more involved, he gives the dead body
another stab in the leg, which he will claim was the fatal blow,
The emotional intensity of the battle may be why Shakespeare and lifts Hotspur on his shoulders. At this point, Prince Hal
follows with another comic Falstaff scene. It cuts the tension, returns with Lord John. Prince Hal says he was sure he saw
giving the audience a moment to relax. Yet even this comic Falstaff dead on the ground. Puzzled, he asks Falstaff if he is
relief sounds the play's important themes. Blunt was noble real, and Falstaff swears he is—and that he killed Hotspur.
enough to die for his king, but as Falstaff points out, many Prince Hal says that if Falstaff gains some honor from lying, he
people like life more than honor. Falstaff here also serves as a is willing to let it pass. A trumpet sounds, indicating that the
foil, or contrast, to Prince Hal, who is no longer interested in rebels are retreating and the king's forces have won.
jokes or cynicism. Prince Hal is now determined to protect the
king at all costs, which could be a very high cost indeed.
Analysis
This first half of this scene is the climax of the play. It brings
together many of the play's themes and resolves most of the

Henry IV, Part 1 Study Guide Quotes 20
plot issues. Prince Hal and Lord John are acting like pure icons soldiers. They bring Worcester and Vernon with them as
of honor, textbook examples of what a brave, heroic knight prisoners. The king berates the two noblemen for the way they
should be. Likewise, all tension between King Henry and Prince deceived the rebel forces. Worcester says he did what he
Hal is resolved. The two are fighting for the same cause. Their thought was best and accepts his fate. The king sentences
only disagreements are tactical as they consider the best them to death. Douglas has been captured also, but the king
action to take next. sets him free as a reward for his valor.
When the rebel Douglas enters to kill yet another apparent

king, he quickly recognizes the real King Henry. This Analysis
demonstrates several things. First, no matter how King Henry
rose to the throne, even those rebelling against him recognize If this were television, this scene would be the season finale
him as a true king now, which undermines the rebels' claims. that sets up the action for the new season to follow. Some of
Second, his body language communicates his nobility, an the rebels are dead, while others are prisoners and sentenced
aristocratic bearing that none of the false kings have had. to die. Others—specifically Douglas—were captured but
Third, when Prince Hal jumps in to save the king, his action released. And as the king points out in this statement from his
signals that the gap between son and father is healed and that closing speech, he still has two sets of rebels to fight, including
Prince Hal is ready to take the throne if necessary. He drives the mighty Owen Glendower: "Let us not leave till all our own
Douglas away, showing he is as great a warrior as his father be won."
ever was.
The battle between Prince Hal and Hotspur confirms the

prince's prowess and honor and the rebels' defeat. They meet g Quotes
voluntarily, fighting one-on-one. There is no deception, and
though Falstaff stands by to cheer on Prince Hal, no one helps
him. It is a battle between champions, which Prince Hal wins. "So shaken as we are, so wan with
Both the method of the fight and the outcome immensely care."
increase Prince Hal's honor and stature.
At the same time, Falstaff's actions provide comic relief and — King Henry IV, Act 1, Scene 1
commentary. He plays dead, much as the king has done by
sending others to die in his place. Falstaff then claims that he, Henry IV, Part 1 opens with a lengthy monologue by King Henry
not Prince Hal, killed Hotspur. Though the audience members IV, and this is its first line. By tradition, kings speak of
(and presumably Prince Hal) know the truth, this sequence themselves as "we," but this speech does more. In it, the king
shows how complex judgments can be, particularly judgments speaks for all of England. The entire country is stressed and
about a person's honor. After all, Prince Hal was wrong about disrupted by the rebellion. Additionally the king is distressed
Falstaff being dead—why couldn't he be wrong about Hotspur that the revolt is keeping him from going on a crusade.
having been dead? Prince Hal thus demonstrates himself to be
a careful and wise prince, or at the very least a flexible and
forgiving one.
"A son who is the theme of
Honor's tongue,/Amongst a grove
Act 5, Scene 5 the very straightest plant,/Who is
sweet Fortune's minion and her
Summary pride;/Whilst I, by looking on the
The trumpets sound, signaling the approach of King Henry, praise of him,/See riot and
Prince Hal, Lord John, and Westmoreland, along with their

Prince Hal here is positioning himself as the sun.

dishonor stain the brow/Of my
young Harry."
"Speak of Mortimer?/Zounds, I will
— King Henry IV, Act 1, Scene 1
speak of him, and let my
This early speech by the king to his nobles establishes one of
soul/Want mercy if I do not join
the play's major themes: King Henry is so deeply disappointed with him./Yea, on his part I'll empty
that he wishes Northumberland's son Harry Percy (Hotspur)
were really his. all these veins/And shed my dear
In Hotspur, he says, he sees what honor should look like, a
blood drop by drop in the
young man who is growing straight and true. Hotspur is dust,/But I will lift the downtrod
someone to be proud of, while Prince Hal is someone to be
ashamed of. Mortimer/As high in the air as this
This powerful statement soon becomes an example of
unthankful king,/As this ingrate
dramatic irony, as Hotspur first refuses to surrender prisoners and cankered Bolingbroke./"
and then rebels against his king.
— Hotspur, Act 1, Scene 3
"Who doth permit the base

Hotspur delivers this speech to his father and uncle, after the
contagious clouds/To smother up king has just left the stage. Hotspur was angry before about
the way he was treated when a courtier demanded he
his beauty from the world,/That,
surrender his prisoners, but this speech is the first time
when he please again to be Hotspur signals his intention to rebel. He insults the king and
plans to raise Mortimer as high as the king, something that
himself,/Being wanted, he may be neither honor nor law would allow.
more wondered at/By breaking
This speech also shows why Hotspur is so easy to admire and
through the foul and ugly mists/Of so politically dangerous. He is completely committed to
whatever he feels, including stating publicly that he will spend
vapors that did seem to strangle every last drop of blood in this cause. His bravery is attractive,
him." but it leaves no room for political maneuvering.
— Prince Hal, Act 1, Scene 2

"The thieves have bound the true
In this early brief soliloquy, which the audience hears but other men. Now could thou and I rob the
characters do not, Prince Hal explains his plans for the future.
thieves and go merrily to London,
At this point, the audience does not know if Prince Hal is both
it would be argument for a week,
self-aware and calculating or if he is trying to justify the fact
that he's spending all of his time with people his father laughter for a month, and a good
disapproves of. This question establishes curiosity and tension.
jest forever."
It also ties in to one of the play's repeated symbols, the sun:


as he is old Jack Falstaff, banish
This brief speech by Prince Hal shows why he enjoys his time
not him thy Harry's company,
with Falstaff so much: it's a big game. He and Poins are about banish not him thy Harry's
to rob Falstaff, and he knows their practical joke will create a
fun memory that will last his whole life.
company."
This speech is also a comic inversion of the proper order of — Falstaff, Act 2, Scene 4
things. The thieves are about to themselves be robbed.
Finally, the speech also inverts the theme of honor. Where the During this exchange, Falstaff and Prince Hal act out the roles
great warriors hope to do something in public that will be of the king and the prince so Hal can prepare for his interview
talked about forever, here Prince Hal plans to do something with his father the next day.
illegal and secret that will be talked about forever. How that is
Though they trade roles during the scene, in this section
possible—when to do so would expose him—is not considered.
Falstaff plays the role of King Henry, who is supposedly talking
about Falstaff. The talk is full of self-interest; instead of helping
Prince Hal prepare, Falstaff pleads his own case.
"O my good lord, why are you thus
As he does, though, he shows he knows the real situation.
alone?/For what offense have I
Prince Hal may be his friend, but he (Falstaff) knows that a real,
this fortnight been/A banished responsible king would banish Falstaff and all thieves—and that
is exactly what Hal says he plans to do.
woman from my Harry's bed?"
— Lady Percy, Act 2, Scene 3

"Why, so can I, or so can any
This is the start of a much longer series of complaints from

man,/But will they come when you
Lady Percy, who asks her husband why it seems like he do call for them?"
doesn't love her anymore. She asks this because he is so
transformed. He used to be loving, and he used to sleep calmly.
— Hotspur, Act 3, Scene 1
Now, though, everything is changed. He doesn't sleep with her,
and he doesn't talk to her. Instead, he wakes up in the night
and cries out suddenly. This reply to Glendower's claim that he can call up
supernatural spirits shows the gap between the worldviews of
This shows how the personal and the political are intertwined two of the rebels. Hotspur mocks what he sees as superstition
in this play and how disordered the world has become. By on Glendower's part.
rebelling, Hotspur experiences internal unrest.
However completely the audience might agree with Hotspur,
the fact this exchange happens at all is a bad sign for the
rebels. These two men must lead troops together against the
"Banish Peto, banish Bardolph,
king. Instead, they are sparring about philosophy. The audience
banish Poins, but for sweet Jack could easily wince at the idea that two men who see the world
this differently will attempt to lead a rebellion together.
Falstaff, kind Jack Falstaff, true
Jack Falstaff, valiant Jack Falstaff,
and therefore more valiant being "But thou dost in thy passages of

life/Make me believe that thou art "Tut, tut, good enough to toss;
only marked/For the hot food for powder, food for powder.
vengeance and the rod of They'll fill a pit as well as better.
heaven/To punish my Tush, man, mortal men, mortal
mistreadings." men."
— King Henry IV, Act 3, Scene 2 — Falstaff, Act 4, Scene 2
These are the opening lines of King Henry's lecture to his son, In this brief speech, Falstaff waves away Prince Hal's
Prince Hal, and they may be the opening to the harshest concerned comments about how pathetic his recruits look.
lecture from a father to a son that was ever spoken. In these Falstaff's casual tone here can be interpreted as anything from
lines, Henry suggests that he must have sinned terribly against callous to shocking. He pulls the mask of honor off war and
God because God has made Prince Hal into a tool to punish shows its real face. To serve as "food for powder"—that is,
him! cannon fodder—a man does not have to be a grand hero. A
weak and poor man will die was well as a strong noble one.
It is hard to imagine a more fractured father-son relationship. The audience has to decide how seriously to take him given his
own self-interest in selecting these soldiers, rather than the
ones who could afford to buy their way out of service, and
"I will redeem all this on Percy's given his lies throughout the rest of the play.
head,/And, in the closing of some

glorious day,/Be bold to tell you "Welcome, Sir Walter Blunt, and
that I am your son,/When I will would to God/You were of our
wear a garment all of blood/And determination./Some of us love
stain my favors in a bloody you well, and even those
mask,/Which, washed away, shall some/Envy your great deservings
scour my shame with it." and good name/Because you are
not of our quality/But stand
against us like an enemy."
This speech marks the moment when Prince Hal takes off his
mask. He is ready to stop carousing in taverns with thieves and — Hotspur, Act 4, Scene 3
liars and ready to prove he is a true son and prince by acting
as a brave warrior. By covering himself in blood during the Hotspur's speech here shows how deluded the rebel army is in
coming battle and then washing it away, he will scour away his its assessment of its own strength. Hotspur and the rest of the
shame, a distorted image of Christian baptism. rebels invite Blunt to join them even as they insult him and
despite the fact that he is there as a messenger of the king.
Prince Hal also risks his reputation here by swearing in public
that he will kill Hotspur.
"Can honor set to a leg? No. Or an

Henry IV, Part 1 Study Guide Symbols 24
arm? No. Or take away the grief of rebuke."

a wound? No. Honor hath no skill
in surgery, then? No. What is
honor? A word. What is in that The king has the first line in the play and addresses the upset
in the land. While this is not technically the final line in the play,
word "honor"? What is that it is the last word on the recent rebellion. Whereas the king's
"honor"? Air. A trim reckoning. opening speech informed the audience how troubled his
kingdom was, this line from the last scene of the play shows
Who hath it? He that died o' that order has returned to the kingdom, at least partially.
Wednesday." (Some rebels are still at large.) The "ever" in this last line
indicates that there is an eternal natural order to things: rebels
always lose, and order is always restored.
— Falstaff, Act 5, Scene 1
In this speech Falstaff responds to Prince Hal's comment that

he (Falstaff) owes God a death. Here again Falstaff discards l Symbols
the ideal of honor that motivates the play's heroes. Instead he
argues realistically: honor will not set a broken leg or make an
injury hurt less. Because the greatest honor goes to those who
die heroically, pursuing honor is embracing death. While The Lion
Falstaff will embrace loose women, cheap food, and all the
wine he can get, he will not embrace death.
Traditionally, the lion represents nobility in general and a king
in particular. There are no real lions in this play, but the figure
"Stay and breathe awhile./Thou of the lion is used as a reference throughout. When discussing
the proposed rebellion, Hotspur shows his eagerness for it by
hast redeemed thy lost saying, "O, the blood more stirs / To rouse a lion than to start a
opinion/And showed thou mak'st hare!" By fighting the king, Hotspur suggests, they would be
rousing a lion. Elsewhere, Falstaff refers to himself as a lion,
some tender of my life/In this fair claiming that he refused to attack Prince Hal just as a lion will
rescue thou hast brought to me." not attack a prince, implying that the lion, as king of the jungle,
will instinctively recognize a fellow king. Falstaff also says he
fears Prince Hal as he fears a lion's whelp (cub).
The king says this to his son after Prince Hal has driven
Douglas off and saved his life. It is a straightforward speech of The Sun
almost mathematical precision: by saving the king's life, Prince
Hal has regained the king's praise. The king's approval is the
penultimate (next to last) barrier in Prince Hal's reformation. The sun is associated with light, and because it is in the
The only task left for him to perform is to defeat Hotspur. heavens, it is also traditionally associated with God and
kingship. To foreshadow his ultimate ascension to the throne,
Prince Hal is compared to the sun numerous times throughout
"Thus ever did rebellion find the play. Early in the play, he shares with the audience his
plans to be like the sun—to hide his light (or character) now so

Henry IV, Part 1 Study Guide Themes 25
that it is better appreciated when it is finally seen. Falstaff uses

the sun metaphor when role-playing the king as a way of Edged Weapons
discussing how badly Prince Hal has been acting: "Shall the
blessed sun of heaven prove a micher [truant] and eat
blackberries?" Falstaff also refers to himself and his thieving References to edged weapons such as knives and swords
friends as followers of the moon, implying through contrast recur throughout this play. In his opening speech explaining the
that Prince Hal is the sun. The rebels bring the symbol full state of the country, King Henry refers to the "edge of war"
circle. When Hotspur sneers at the idea of Prince Hal in battle, (civil war, specifically) as being "like an ill-sheathéd knife" (Act
his fellow rebel Vernon corrects him, saying that Hal shines as 1, Scene 1). After the disguised Prince Hal and Poins rob
brightly as the midsummer sun. This shows Prince Hal has Falstaff, Falstaff hacks his own sword to make it appear that
returned to his rightful place. he was in a big fight, when in fact he ran away from his
apparent attackers. After using his sword to kill Sir Walter
Blunt (who was dressed as the king), Douglas swears by his
weapon.
The Moon
Unlike the sun, the moon is associated with night and darkness. Wine
It is linked with highwaymen, or thieves, who generally commit
their crimes in the dark, both because it is easier to sneak up
on their victims and because darkness helps hide their In the Christian tradition, wine represents the blood of Christ.
identities. Inconstancy is another important attribute of the In this play, wine plays almost as essential a role, though it is a
moon; its appearance shifts from waxing to full to waning. much more profane one. Falstaff continually calls for "sack," a
Thus, it is a symbol of those whose changeable nature makes kind of strong, fortified wine. He is so associated with it that
them untrustworthy. Poins calls him "Sir John Sack-and-Sugar" in Act 1, Scene 2.
When Prince Hal asks Falstaff for his pistol late in the play, it
turns out Falstaff is carrying a bottle of sack in his pistol
holster. When Hal picks Falstaff's pockets, just about all he
Plants finds are tavern receipts, and except for the robbery and the
march to war, the two characters always meet in a tavern. Just
as the noble classes subsist on honor, the lower classes live on
While no literal plants play any major part in the work, plants wine.
are referred to symbolically throughout. Plant growth aligns
with the theme of order, specifically natural order. One of the
most vivid references to plants is at the start of Act 2, Scene 3,
when Hotspur, reading a letter from a noble who rejects his m Themes
invitation to join the rebellion, speaks of plucking the flower of
safety from the nettle of danger. In addition, when Falstaff and
his companions pretend to have been robbed by a large
company, it is speargrass, not swords, that makes them bleed.
Order
When Falstaff is role-playing the king, he tells Prince Hal he
can tell what the tree is like by the fruit, meaning that Hal
shows his father's true nature. In the Elizabethan worldview, the king is intimately connected
to his people and country. Any disorder in the royal court
produces disorder throughout both society and the natural
world. The play begins with armed forces rebelling against the
king. Prince Hal should be at his father's side, but he is off

Henry IV, Part 1 Study Guide Themes 26
drinking and carousing. Even the rebels are motivated in part Their relationship contrasts with two other father-son
by a desire to restore order; they see King Henry IV as having relationships—the first between Hotspur and his father, Henry
overstepped his proper authority and his promises by usurping Percy, Earl of Northumberland; and the second between Prince
the throne, and they see their rebellion as restoring order to Hal and his father figure, the drunken Falstaff.
the kingdom.
In contrast to King Henry IV, Northumberland is very lenient
This theme extends throughout the play. When Hal (wearing a with his son. Even so, when Hotspur needs him most,
disguise) rousts Falstaff, Falstaff claims he instinctively Northumberland symbolically betrays his son by falling sick and
recognized Hal as a prince and knew it would be wrong to not fighting with the other rebels.
attack someone above him in the hierarchy. Also, in the final
scene, the king declares the defeat of the rebels to be Falstaff is always there for Prince Hal, even at the play's end,
effectively a preordained restoration of order by declaring, when Hal certainly does not need him. He also gives Prince Hal
"Thus ever did rebellion find rebuke." advice, but most of it is either illegal or immoral, and the rest is
philosophically suspect. If there is such a thing as a good
rebellion, it can certainly be found in Prince Hal's ultimate
rejection of Falstaff's company.
Honor
Appearance versus Reality

This is a period and a realm in which a man's honor means
everything. Men can be motivated to great heroism by a
chance to prove their honor, and political alliances can shatter
over insults to a man's honor. In the first act, the nobles and the Throughout Henry IV, Part 1, appearance and reality clash. As
king evaluate Hotspur's prowess in battle and find it honorable, early as the opening scene, King Henry wishes some good fairy
even worthy of a prince, while Prince Hal's apparent lack of had swapped Prince Hal and Hotspur at birth, so that the fierce
honor is part of what disturbs his father so intensely. warrior Hotspur could be his son. The theme continues with
Prince Hal and Falstaff when, during their interactions, Hal
Falstaff continuously flouts the precepts of honor, and the behaves like a commoner. Falstaff continually tells stories that
audience is tempted to sympathize with him, particularly when are not true, runs scams, and reworks reality to suit himself.
he declares that only the dead have honor. However, Falstaff is Prince Hal adopts a disguise to rob Falstaff, who then tells a
one of many characters whose dishonorable behavior is whopper of a lie about what happened to him.
intended to contrast with the honorable ideals of the king, his
faithful nobles Westmoreland and Blunt, and, ultimately, Prince This tension between appearance and reality drives the play's
Hal. main plot and comic subplot, and at times it plays out on a
cosmic level. In Act 3, Scene 1, the wild Welsh rebel Owen
Glendower claims that on the day he was born, "heaven was
full of fiery shapes," proving he was meant for great things. The
Father-Son Relationships pragmatic Hotspur punctures this idea by agreeing that those
shapes appeared but claiming they meant nothing. For
Hotspur, there is no relationship between seeming portents
and reality. As it turns out, Hotspur is correct, as Glendower
There are three father-son pairings—two literal and one
amounts to nothing.
figurative—in the play. King Henry IV and Prince Hal are the
most significant father and son in the work, and their This tension between appearance and reality has deadly
relationship is tense when the play starts. By the end of the repercussions in Act 5, when King Henry sends a number of
play, the two are reconciled after Prince Hal expresses regret men into battle disguised as himself and several of them die.
over his former behavior, rescues his father from Douglas on Falstaff pretends to die but survives, and he then pretends to
the battlefield, and kills Hotspur. have killed Hotspur.

Henry IV, Part 1 Study Guide Suggested Reading 27
e Suggested Reading
Bloom, Harold. Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human. New
York: Riverhead Books, 1998. Print.
Dorius, R.J., ed. Shakespeare's "Henry IV, Part 1": A Collection of

Critical Essays (20th Century Interpretations). New York:
Prentice Hall, 1971. Print.
Garber, Marjorie. Shakespeare After All. New York: Pantheon

Books, 2004. Print.
Shakespeare, William. Henry IV, Part 1 (The Annotated

Shakespeare). Ed. Burton Raffel. New Haven, CT: Yale
University Press, 2006. Print.
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jurisdictions and may not be reproduced or distributed without the express written consent. Contact Course Hero
with respect to reproduction or distribution. This document was downloaded from Coursehero.com on 07-19-2021
by 100000817764887.

Henry IV, Part 1: What's Inside in Context

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Henry IV, Part 1

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What's Inside d In Context

GENRE at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Afterward, the feuding houses

a Author Biography King Henry IV

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Falstaff King Henry IV

Other Major Character

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Full Character List Hotspur's wife, Lady Percy (Kate)

Formerly Henry Bolingbroke, now

Mistress Quickly is hostess of the

The Earl of March, Edmund

One of the king's noblemen, Blunt

Archbishop of Richard Scroop, Archbishop of

Daughter of Owen Glendower and Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester,

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In the political plot, Hotspur, Mortimer, Glendower, and

Back at the tavern, Falstaff is drinking and complaining to the

When Hotspur arrives at King Henry's court, he explains that

In the comic subplot, Falstaff enters a tavern and tells Prince

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attacks the king. In an effort to prove himself, Prince Hal

In the final scene, King Henry sentences the captured

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Rising Action Falling Action

2. Falstaff plans to rob pilgrims. 10. Falstaff claims he killed Hotspur.

4. Falstaff robs pilgrims; Prince Hal and Poins rob Falstaff.

5. Several nobles meet to plan rebellion.

8. Douglas kills Blunt, thinking he is the king.

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Early 15th century

Scottish and Welsh forces rebel against King Henry IV of

A few days later

King Henry publicly declares disappointment in his son

A few days later

King Henry refuses to ransom Mortimer, offending

The next day

Falstaff robs a group of pilgrims, and a disguised Prince

Two days later

King Henry denounces Prince Hal; Hal promises to

Some time later

King Henry offers to forgive the rebels if they disband.

The next day

Worcester turns down the king's offer and lies to

A few hours later

Battle begins, Douglas kills Sir Walter Blunt, who was

A few minutes later

Prince Hal defeats Hotspur in single combat.

A few hours later

King Henry defeats the rebels and sentences Worcester

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Once Poins leaves, Prince Hal delivers a soliloquy (a speech

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In many ways, this scene points out the clash between

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Bardolph. Falstaff is still complaining when Gadshill shows up

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Summary servant is downright mean and lacks the honor expected of a

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In this scene, Falstaff is back to his old ways, reshaping reality