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Henry IV, Part 2

 

 
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Henry IV, Part 2 is a history play by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was an English people poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's preeminent dramatist....
, believed written between 1596 and 1599. It is the third part of a tetralogy
Tetralogy

A tetralogy is a compound work that is made up of four distinct works. Compare to a trilogy; made up of three works.The name comes from the Attica theater, where tetralogies were meant to be played in one sitting at the Dionysia....
, preceded by Richard II
Richard II (play)

'King Richard the Second' is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to be written in approximately 1595. It is based on the life of King Richard II of England and is the first part of a tetralogy, referred to by scholars as the Henriad, followed by three plays concerning Richard's successors: Henry IV, part 1, Henry IV, part...
 and Henry IV, Part 1
Henry IV, Part 1

Henry IV, Part 1 is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written no later than 1597. It is the second of Shakespeare's tetralogy that deals with the successive reigns of Richard II of England, Henry IV of England , and Henry V of England....
 and succeeded by Henry V
Henry V (play)

Henry V is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to be written in 1599. It is based on the life of King Henry V of England, and focuses on events immediately before and after the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years' War....
.

espeare's primary source for Henry IV, Part 2, as for most of his chronicle histories, was Raphael Holinshed
Raphael Holinshed

Raphael Holinshed was an England chronicler, whose work, commonly known as Holinshed's Chronicles, was one of the major sources used by William Shakespeare for a number of Shakespeare's plays....
's Chronicles; the publication of the second edition in 1587 provides a terminus ad quem for the play.






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Henry IV, Part 2 is a history play by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was an English people poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's preeminent dramatist....
, believed written between 1596 and 1599. It is the third part of a tetralogy
Tetralogy

A tetralogy is a compound work that is made up of four distinct works. Compare to a trilogy; made up of three works.The name comes from the Attica theater, where tetralogies were meant to be played in one sitting at the Dionysia....
, preceded by Richard II
Richard II (play)

'King Richard the Second' is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to be written in approximately 1595. It is based on the life of King Richard II of England and is the first part of a tetralogy, referred to by scholars as the Henriad, followed by three plays concerning Richard's successors: Henry IV, part 1, Henry IV, part...
 and Henry IV, Part 1
Henry IV, Part 1

Henry IV, Part 1 is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written no later than 1597. It is the second of Shakespeare's tetralogy that deals with the successive reigns of Richard II of England, Henry IV of England , and Henry V of England....
 and succeeded by Henry V
Henry V (play)

Henry V is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to be written in 1599. It is based on the life of King Henry V of England, and focuses on events immediately before and after the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years' War....
.

Sources

Shakespeare's primary source for Henry IV, Part 2, as for most of his chronicle histories, was Raphael Holinshed
Raphael Holinshed

Raphael Holinshed was an England chronicler, whose work, commonly known as Holinshed's Chronicles, was one of the major sources used by William Shakespeare for a number of Shakespeare's plays....
's Chronicles; the publication of the second edition in 1587 provides a terminus ad quem for the play. Edward Hall's The Union of the Two Illustrious Families of Lancaster and York appears also to have been consulted, and scholars have also supposed Shakespeare familiar with Samuel Daniel
Samuel Daniel

Samuel Daniel was an England English poetry and History of England....
's poem on the civil wars.

Date and text

Henry IV, Part 2, believed written sometime between 1596 and 1599, was entered into the Register
Stationers' Register

The Stationers' Register was a record book maintained by the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers of London. The company is a trade guild given a royal charter in 1557 to regulate the various professions associated with the publishing industry, including printers, bookbinders, booksellers, and publishers in England....
 of the Stationers' Company
Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers

The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers is one of the Livery Company of the City of London. The Stationers' Company was founded in 1403; it received a Royal Charter in 1557....
 in 1600 by the booksellers Andrew Wise
Andrew Wise

Andrew Wise , or Wyse or Wythes, was a London publisher of the Elizabethan era who issued first editions of five William Shakespeare plays....
 and William Aspley
William Aspley

William Aspley was a London publisher of the Elizabethan era, Jacobean era, and Caroline era eras. He was a member of the publishing syndicates that issued the First Folio and Second Folio collections of William Shakespeare plays, in 1623 in literature and 1632 in literature....
.

The play was published in quarto
Book size

The size of a specific book is measured from the head to tail of the spine, and from edge to edge across the covers.However, in bookbinding, printing, and publishing, a series of terms are used to indicate the approximate size of a book....
 the same year (printing by Valentine Simmes
Valentine Simmes

Valentine Simmes was an Elizabethan era and Jacobean era printer; he did business in London, "on Adling Hill near Bainard's Castle at the sign of the White Swan." Simmes has a reputation as one of the better printers of his generation, and was responsible for several book size of William Shakespeare plays....
). Less popular than Henry IV, Part 1
Henry IV, Part 1

Henry IV, Part 1 is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written no later than 1597. It is the second of Shakespeare's tetralogy that deals with the successive reigns of Richard II of England, Henry IV of England , and Henry V of England....
, this was the only quarto edition. The play next saw print in the First Folio
First Folio

Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies is the 1623 published collection of William Shakespeare's plays. Modern scholars commonly refer to it as the First Folio....
 in 1623.

The quarto's title-page states that the play had been "sundry times publicly acted" before publication. Extant records suggest that both parts of Henry IV were acted at Court in 1612—the records rather cryptically refer to the plays as Sir John Falstaff and Hotspur. A defective record, apparently to the Second part of Falstaff, may indicate a Court performance in 1619.

Characters

  • Rumour, the Presenter
  • Epilogue
    Epilogue

    An epilogue, or epilog, is a piece of writing at the end of a work of literature or drama, usually used to bring closure to the work. The writer or the person may deliver a speech, speaking directly to the reader, when bringing the piece to a close, or the narration may continue normally to a closing scene.The word epilogue means to hav...
  • King Henry IV of England
    Henry IV of England

    Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . Like other kings of England, he also claimed the title of King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence the other name by which he was known, Henry Bolingbroke....
  • Prince Harry, later King Henry V of England
    Henry V of England

    Henry V was one of the most significant English warrior kings of the 15th century. He was born at Monmouth, Wales, in the tower above the gatehouse of Monmouth Castle, and reigned as King of England from 1413 to 1422....
  • Prince John of Lancaster
  • Prince Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester
    Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester

    Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester , "son, brother and uncle of kings", was the fourth and youngest son of King Henry IV of England by his first wife, Mary de Bohun....
  • Prince Thomas, Duke of Clarence
  • Earl of Northumberland
    Earl of Northumberland

    The title of Earl of Northumberland was created several times in the Peerages of Peerage of England and Peerage of Great Britain. Its most famous holders were the House of Percy , who were the most powerful noble family in Northern England for much of the Middle Ages....
     (Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland
    Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland

    Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland , was the son of Henry de Percy, 3rd Baron Percy and a descendent of Henry III of England. His mother was Mary of Lancaster, daughter of Henry Plantagenet, 3rd Earl of Lancaster, son of Edmund Crouchback, who was the son of Henry III....
    )
  • Lady Northumberland
  • Kate, widow of Harry Hotspur
  • Travers, Northumberland's servant
  • Morton, a messenger
  • Scrope, Archbishop of York
    Archbishop of York

    File:Williamtemple1.jpgArchbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan bishop of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man....
  • Lord Bardolf
  • Thomas, Lord Mowbray, the Earl Marshal
    Earl Marshal

    Earl Marshal is an ancient chivalric title used separately in England, Ireland and the United Kingdom....
  • Lord Hastings
  • Sir John Coleville
  • Lord Chief Justice (Sir William Gascoigne
    William Gascoigne

    Sir William Gascoigne was Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales of England during the reign of Monarch Henry IV of England. His reputation is that of a great lawyer who in times of doubt and danger asserted the principle that the head of state is subject to law, and that the traditional practice of public officers, or the expressed voice...
    )
  • His Servant
  • Gower, a messenger
  • Sir John Falstaff
    Falstaff

    Sir John Falstaff is a fictional character who appears in three plays by William Shakespeare as a companion to Prince Hal, the future King Henry V of England....
  • His Page
  • Bardolph
  • Poins
  • Ensign Pistol
  • Peto
  • Mistress Quickly
    Mistress Quickly

    Mistress Quickly refers to either of two characters in plays by William Shakespeare:* The Merry Wives of Windsor* Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, and Henry V ...
  • Doll Tearsheet, a prostitute
  • Snare
  • Fang
  • Earl of Warwick
    Earl of Warwick

    Earl of Warwick is a title that has been created four times in British history and is one of the most prestigious titles in the peerages of the British Isles....
     (Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick
    Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick

    Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick was an England medieval nobleman and military commander....
    )
  • Earl of Surrey
    Earl of Surrey

    The Earldom of Surrey was first created in 1088 for William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey. Perhaps because he held little property in Surrey, the earldom came to be more commonly called of Warenne....
     (Thomas Fitzalan, 11th Earl of Surrey
    Thomas FitzAlan, 12th Earl of Arundel

    Thomas Fitzalan, 12th Earl of Arundel Knight of the Garter was an English nobleman, one of the principals of the deposition of Richard II of England, and a major figure during the reign of Henry IV of England....
    )
  • Earl of Westmorland
    Earl of Westmorland

    The title of Earl of Westmorland has been created several times in the Peerage of England.The first creation had the subsidiary title Baron Neville de Raby....
     (Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland
    Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland

    File:Neville.svg?Ralph de Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland was born in Raby Castle, County Durham, England, the son of John Neville, 3rd Baron Neville de Raby and Maud Percy....
    )
  • Harcourt
  • Sir John Blunt
  • Robert Shallow, country justice
  • Silence, country justice
  • Davy, Shallow's servant
  • Ralph Mouldy, Simon Shadow, Thomas Wart, Francis Feeble, Peter Bullcalf
  • Porter of Northumberland's household
  • Drawers, Beadles, Grooms, Messenger, Sneak and other Musicians, soldiers, and attendants


Synopsis

The play picks up where Henry IV, Part One left off. Its focus is on Prince Hal
Henry V of England

Henry V was one of the most significant English warrior kings of the 15th century. He was born at Monmouth, Wales, in the tower above the gatehouse of Monmouth Castle, and reigned as King of England from 1413 to 1422....
's journey toward kingship, and his ultimate rejection of Falstaff
Falstaff

Sir John Falstaff is a fictional character who appears in three plays by William Shakespeare as a companion to Prince Hal, the future King Henry V of England....
. However, unlike Part One, Hal and Falstaff's stories are almost entirely separate, as the two characters meet only twice and very briefly. The tone of much of the play is elegiac
Elegiac

Elegiac refers either to those compositions that are like elegy or to a specific poetic meter used in Classical elegies. The Classical elegiac meter has two lines, making it a couplet: a line of dactylic hexameter, followed by a line of dactylic pentameter....
, focusing on Falstaff's age and his closeness to death.

Falstaff is still drinking and engaging in petty criminality in the London underworld. He has a relationship with Doll Tearsheet, a prostitute. When news of a second rebellion arrives, Falstaff joins the army again, and goes to the country to raise forces. There he encounters Moldy, Bullcalf, Feeble, Shadow and Wart, a band of rustic yokels who are to be conscripted into the loyalist army, with two of whom, Mouldy and Bullcalf, bribing their way out. He also meets with an old school-chum, Master Shallow, and they reminisce about their youthful follies.

In the other storyline, Hal remains an acquaintance of London lowlife and seems unsuited to kingship. His father, King Henry IV
Henry IV of England

Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . Like other kings of England, he also claimed the title of King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence the other name by which he was known, Henry Bolingbroke....
, has apparently forgotten his reconciliation with his son in V.iv of Henry IV, Part One, and is again disappointed in the young prince. Another rebellion is launched against Henry IV, but this time it is defeated, not by a battle, but by the duplicitous political machinations of Hal's brother, Prince John. King Henry then sickens and appears to die. Hal, seeing this, believes he is King and exits with the crown. King Henry, awakening, is devastated, thinking Hal cares only about becoming King. Hal convinces him otherwise and the old king subsequently dies contentedly.

The two storylines meet in the final scene, in which Falstaff, having learned that Hal is now King, travels to London in expectation of great rewards. But Hal rejects him, saying that he has now changed, and can no longer associate with such people. The London lowlifes, expecting a 'paradise of thieves' under Hal's governance, are instead purged and imprisoned by the authorities.

At the end of the play, an epilogue
Epilogue

An epilogue, or epilog, is a piece of writing at the end of a work of literature or drama, usually used to bring closure to the work. The writer or the person may deliver a speech, speaking directly to the reader, when bringing the piece to a close, or the narration may continue normally to a closing scene.The word epilogue means to hav...
 thanks the audience and promises that the story will continue in a forthcoming play "with Sir John in it". In fact, the subsequent play, Henry V, does not feature Falstaff except for a brief mention of his death.

Reputation

Part 2 is generally seen as a less successful play than Part 1. Its structure, in which Falstaff and Hal barely meet, can be criticized as undramatic. Some critics believe that Shakespeare never intended to write a sequel, and that he was hampered by a lack of remaining historical material with the result that the comic scenes come across as mere 'filler'. However, the scenes involving Falstaff and Justice Shallow are admired for their touching elegiac comedy, and the scene of Falstaff's rejection can be extremely powerful onstage.

See also

Shakespeare on screen (Henry IV, Part 2)
Shakespeare on screen

More than 420 feature-length film versions of William Shakespeares plays have been produced, making Shakespeare the most filmed author ever in any language....


External links

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