1 Henry IV
Study Guide
By Amy Simpson
Yet herein will I
“
imitate the sun,
Who doth permit the base
contagious clouds
To smother up his beauty
from the world,
That, when he please again
to be himself,
Being wanted, he may be
more wonder’d at…”
Act 1, Scene 2
3
It appears so by the Story…
“
”
– Prince Henry, Act 3, Scene 3
Historical Context
H
enry IV part 1 takes place in England in the
early 1400s. A time before a United Kingdom
when Britain was peopled by three distinct
groups: the Welsh in the West and the Scots in
the North; who were pushed to the outskirts of
the island by various European invaders; and the
descendents of those invaders who became
known as the English. While a monarch did sit
on the throne in London, much of the island and
the untamed, earthy, mysterious people who
inhabited it were under regional rule. This is the
England of Robin Hood hiding in the woods to
steal from the rich and give to the poor; a
Britain full to the brim of potential heroes, all
scrambling to be the one to provide their people
with a sense of national identity. A good
example of the unease pervading England is the
story, as told by Shakespeare in Richard II, of
how Henry himself came to sit on the English
throne.
England
Scotland
Wales
Great Britain
1
In 1399, Henry was simply the Duke of Lancaster.
Richard II sat upon the throne, so it
was to Richard that Henry was taken when, at the beginning of the year, he was accused of
treason. Richard banished Henry for ten years. Shortly after Henry left England, his father died
and the king took Henry’s rightful inheritance and lands. Understandably upset, Henry returned
to England, supported by a band of fellow nobles, to challenge the king and secure his fortunes.
Henry requested only that the King return what was rightfully his, but Richard, fearing
widespread rebellion, became gripped with fear and grew increasingly unstable. When Henry
approached the throne, Richard reacted with hysteria.
With tears streaming down his face, Richard took his crown off and placed it upon Henry’s head,
uttering, “God save King Henry, unking’d Richard says”. Thus the banished duke became
Henry IV, king of England.
Richard was placed in prison, where he slowly went insane and was eventually killed.
When confronted with the dead body of his former king, Henry was overcome with remorse. He
knew of only one way to do penance for his deeds. “I’ll make a voyage to the Holy Land” he
declared, “to wash this blood off from my guilty hand.”
2
For more is to be said and to be done…
“
”
– King Henry IV, Act 1, Scene 1
Summary of the Play
T
he crusade King Henry IV’s planned at the end of Richard II would never get off the
ground, for he faced battle in his own backyard. 1 Henry IV opens with news that the Welsh and
Scots have risen up against the English throne and the king’s army is needed to calm the
disturbances. The brave English warrior, Harry Percy or
“Hotspur” has already shown his valor having won a
decisive battle against the Scots and captured many
prisoners. In return for his service to the king, Hotspur
demands that his brother-in-law, Mortimer, be released
from prison. Mortimer had been appointed heir to the
throne by Richard II (whom Henry deposed), so Henry is
less than enthusiastic about discharging “revolted
Mortimer”.
Because Hotspur’s family, the Percys, supported
Henry against Richard II and has felt increasingly
3
underappreciated, this refusal is especially infuriating. Lead by Hotspur, his uncle Worcester
and father Northumberland, the Percys decide it’s their turn to depose a king and choose his
successor. They are successful in allying themselves with powerful military forces including
Mortimer, his father-in-law Glendower (the mysterious warrior-hero from Wales) and The
Douglas from Scotland.
K H
ing
enry, however, has more to think about than the political rebellion
growing in his kingdom. While his younger son, John, has
proven himself honorable, his elder son and heir to the
throne, Prince Henry (also called “Harry” and “Hal”) is a
rebellious teenager who spends his time in pubs with
lowlifes like Sir John Falstaff. While many would
describe Falstaff as life-loving, witty and
grandfatherly; the King rather sees him
as glutinous, irresponsible and cowardly.
One of the joys of attending the play is
the opportunity one has to watch Falstaff
in action and establish one’s own
opinion of his character. King Henry IV
encourages his son, throughout the play,
to throw off the reckless behavior of youth, put on his princely duties and fight against the rebels.
Prince Henry vows to do so and even induces Falstaff to lead a band of men into battle.
Meanwhile the rebel troops, not deterred by news that both Northumberland and
Glendower have been deterred and will not make the battle, brace themselves for the King’s
forces. Both sides fight valiantly and suffer
significant losses.
It seems the final outcome of the battle – and the play
– rests upon a single contest between the volatile
Hotspur and the as yet unproved Prince Henry.
Is not the Truth the Truth?
“
”
4
– Falstaff; Act 2, Scene 4
“What is honour? A
word. What is in that
word honour?... Air.
A trim reckoning!
Who hath it? He that
died o’ Wednesday.
Doth he feel it? No.
Doth he hear it? No.
‘Tis insensible, then.
Yea, to the dead. But
will it not live with the
living? No. Why?
Detraction will not
suffer it. Therefore I’ll
none of it.” – Falstaff,
Act 5, Scene 1
Themes – Reality v. Facade
A major theme of the play, and one director Adam Hester has chosen to focus on in this
particular production, is that of deception verses reality. Many of the characters are obsessed with
finding and maintaining what they imaging to be the “truth” (the correctness, or goodliness) of a
situation, and either proclaiming or hiding their own truths. Indeed, the word “true” is found sixtysix times in the script, “truth” and “counterfeit” both appear twelve times and “deceive” three. This
preoccupation with perception offers the audience a plethora of questions to ponder about 1 Henry IV
characters:
Is Prince Henry’s genuine nature that of a carousing hooligan or the virtuous, intelligent
leader of a nation? Is Falstaff a true inspiration to live life to the fullest or is his seeming vitality and
joy simply a façade? Is Hotspur in fact chivalrous or does his obsession with gallantry cover his true
fear and anger? Shakespeare’s brilliantly crafted characters walk a thin line between the persona
they hope to project and their underlying personalities. Since each character has two sides to their
personality (including their dreams, fears, hopes, abilities and passions) the play easily explores a
variety of contradictions.
One of our favorites is found within King Henry IV’s character. King Henry is a usurper
who (before the play begins) claimed he was better-suited for the throne and so he took it. However,
in 1 Henry IV, he fights against usurpers who maintain Hotspur is better-suited to be king than Prince
Henry, the rightful heir (a claim even the King gives voice to). After reading or watching the play,
what other contradictions, counterfeits or half-truths do you see illustrated?
“For wisdom cries out in the streets, and no man regards it”. – Prince Henry, Act 1, Scene 2
The rude hands of the Welshmen
“
”
-- Westmoreland, Act 1, Scene 1
There are many fears impacting
the characters of 1 Henry IV,
5
including the stability of the
monarchy and impending civil
war. Another fear was that of
the “unknown” or the
“foreigner”. Hundreds of years
before Henry IV, European
invaders came to the island that
would one day be known as
Britain and pushed the native
Celts to the far regions of the
island. As a result, three
distinct groups of people were
created: the Scottish to the
North and the Welsh to the
West, descendents of the Celts,
the English in the Southeast,
and
descendents of the
continental Europeans. Each
Themes - Nationality & Fear of Others
group saw themselves a quite
different, and often better, than
the others. Stereotypes and fear
of the “others” spread quickly and would have been well known even in Shakespeare’s day. Indeed,
many regional stereotypes in Britain persist to this day.
The stereotype that shows up the most in 1 Henry IV pertains to the mysterious Welsh. The
Welsh were known as wild, often savage and mystical. In the opening scene of 1 Henry IV ,
Westmoreland delivers news that “the noble Mortimer, / Was by the rude hand of those Welshmen
ta’en, / A thousand of his people butchered; / Upon whose dead corpse there was such misuse, / Such
beastly shameless transformation, / By those Welshwomen done as may not be / Without much
shame retold or spoken of” (1.1.38-47). Glendower, the famous Welsh warrior, only encourages this
belief, claiming magical powers. “I say the earth did shake when I was born” he says, “The heavens
were all on fire, the earth did tremble…These signs have mark’d be extraordinary / And all the
courses of my life do show / I am not in the roll of common men…I can call spirits from the vasty
deep…” (3.1.22-55).
Owen Glendower, as his appears in Shakespeare’s play, is the anglicized version of the
historical man, Owain Glyndwr. A brave warrior who led a resistance against the encroaching
English, Glyndwr is revered today as a national hero in Wales. His fame can be compared to that of
William Wallace, the Braveheart of Scotland, and King Arthur of England. How do you see
stereotypes affecting the characters and plot of 1 Henry IV? Do you recognize any similar
stereotypes in our society?
I…can call them all by
“
their Christian
Names…
”
-- Prince Henry Act 2, Scene 4
6
Character names
There are just over twenty named characters in 1 Henry IV but, collectively, they are called by
over fifty different names. This can make watching a play very confusing. Here is a list of the
characters in the play and the various names they go by in our production.
King Henry IV – (King of England) also called: thy grace, majesty, your highness, Bolingbrook (his
family name, see pg.1)
Prince Henry – (King Henry IV’s eldest son) also called: Harry, Hal, the Prince, and the Prince of Wales
Prince John of Lancaster – (King Henry IV’s younger son) also called John, Lancaster, and Prince John
Earl of Westmorland – (Earl loyal to King Henry IV) also called: Westmoreland
Sir Walter Blunt – (Knight loyal to King Henry IV) also called: Blunt
Thomas Percy – (Earl, rebel against King Henry IV, the elder Henry Percy’s brother and “Hotspur’s”
uncle) called: Earl of Worcester, Worcester (pronounced “WOOS-ter”, “OO” as in “book”)
Henry Percy – (Earl, rebel against King Henry IV, Thomas Percy’s Brother and “Hotspur’s” father)
also called: Earl of Northumberland, Northumberland, and Old Northumberland
7
Henry Percy II – (English warrior, rebel against King Henry IV, Henry Percy’s son and Thomas Percy’s
nephew) also called: Percy, Hotspur, Harry Percy, Harry
Edmund Mortimer – (Earl, declared heir to throne by King Richard II, Lady Percy’s brother, Hotspur’s
brother-in-law, married to Lady Mortimer) also called: Mortimer
The Earl of Douglas – (Scottish Earl, rebel against King Henry IV) also called: Douglas, The Douglas
Owen Glendower – (Welsh warrior, Lady Mortimer’s father) also called: Glendower
Mordake – (Earl of Fife, rebel against King Henry IV)
The Archbishop of York- (Rebel against King Henry IV)
Sir John Falstaff – (English knight, Prince Henry’s friend, frequents the taverns) also called: Jack,
Falstaff, Sir John, Sir John Sack and Sugar, Captain, My old lad of the castle*
Edward Poins – (Prince Henry and Falstaff’s tavern friend.) also called: Poins, Ned
Gadshill – (Prince Henry and Falstaff’s tavern friend, leader of the thieves.)
Peto – (Prince Henry and Falstaff’s tavern friend.)
Bardolph – (Prince Henry and Falstaff’s tavern friend.)
Lady Percy – (Hotspur’s Wife, Mortimer’s Sister) also called: Kate, Dame Mortimer
Lady Mortimer – (Glendower’s Daughter, Edmund Mortimer’s wife) also called: The lady, The Welsh
lady, and your lady (when speaking to Mortimer)
Mistress Quickly – (Mistress of the Boar’s Head Tavern) also called: Mistress Quickly, Hostess, My
lady the hostess, “queen”, and Dame Partlet the Hen
Chamberlain – (Owner of an inn in Rochester)
*It is commonly accepted among scholars that Shakespeare’s inspiration for the character of Falstaff was
the historical knight Sir John Oldcastle. (Oldcastle is reputed to have been friends with Prince Henry, but
was executed for his criticism of the Catholic Church.) Many academics believe Shakespeare originally
named his character “Oldcastle”, but one of his descendents complained, so it was changed to “Falstaff”.
Shakespeare gets the last laugh, though, for at every performance Prince Henry, tongue firmly in cheek,
calls Falstaff, “my old lad of the castle”.
You shall find me in Eastcheap
“
”
-- Falstaff Act 1, Scene 2
8
Place Names in 1 Henry IV
Scenes in Henry IV part 1 are set throughout England and characters mention various other places in
England, Scotland and Wales. Here are many of the place names cited in the play.
Boar’s-Head Tavern – Falstaff’s favorite tavern, run by Mistress Quickly.
Bridgenorth – Town between London and Shrewsbury. Where King Henry’s forces meet before battle.
Canterbury – Town southeast of London where wealthy travelers come from.
Coventry – Town between London and Shrewsbury
Eastcheap – Street in London. You can find the Boar’s Head Tavern there.
England – Country where most of the characters reside and where the action takes place.
Hempstead Hill – Hill just outside of London where travelers are accosted and robbed by Falstaff
and his friends.
Holmedon Hill – Location of battle, North of London, that Hotspur wins for King Henry IV at
of the play.
the top
Holy Land – Land in the Middle East considered holy, and therefore fought over, by Christians, Jews
and Muslims. King Henry IV wants to lead a crusade there.
Lancaster – Area of England the Bolingbrook (King Henry IV’s) family is from.
London – The capital of England, where King Henry’s castle sits.
Northumberland – Area of England the Percy (Hotspur’s) family is from.
9
Scotland – Country north of England, where The Douglas and other rebels are from.
Severn and Trent Rivers – Large rivers in the middle of England the rebels use as markers to
the land they hope to gain by ousting King Henry IV.
divide
Shrewsbury – (Pronounced “SHROHZ-buh-ree”, “OH” as in “boat”) Town near the border of
and England. Site of the final battles.
Wales
Wales – Country west of England, where Glendower, Lady Mortimer and other rebels are from.
York – Area of England where the rebel Archbishop of York resides.
Scotland
Northumberland
York
Lancaster
River Trent
Severn River
Bridgenorth
Holmedon Hill
Shrewsbury
Wales
Coventry
London/King’s Palace
Hempstead Hill/Canterbury
Give me Life!
“
”
-- Falstaff, Act 5, Scene 3
From the earliest
performances of 1 Henry IV,
Falstaff has been a favorite
10
with audiences. Rumor has it
Queen Elizabeth liked the
character so much she
requested more plays be
written around him – in
particular a play with Falstaff
in love. Shakespeare’s The
Merry Wives of Windsor is
said to be the result of this
request. But Falstaff is a fat,
bawdy, cowardly old man
who spends his time drinking
with men half his age. How
is it that generation after
generation has fallen in love
with this “villainous
abominable misleader of
youth, Falstaff, that old
white-bearded Satan”? (Act
2, Scene 4). In his first
volume of The Meaning of
The character of Falstaff
Shakespeare, Harold C.
Goddard describes a Falstaff
that is able to transcend any apparent hedonism and find his way to our hearts. Here is an
extended excerpt from Goddard’s commentary:
"Is there any activity of man that involves the same factors that we find present in this
Falstaff: complete freedom, an all-consuming zest for life, and utter subjugation of facts to
imagination, and an entire absence of moral responsibility? Obviously there is. That activity is
play.
“Except for that little item of moral responsibility, “play” expresses as nearly as one
word can the highest conception of life we are capable of forming: life for its own sake, life as it
looks in the morning to a boy with “no more behind/But such a day to-morrow as to-day,/And to
be boy eternal,” life for the fun of it, as against life for what you can get out of it – or whom you
can knock out of it. “Play” says what the word “peace” tries to say and doesn’t. “Play” brings
down to the level of everyone’s understanding what “imagination” conveys to more sophisticated
minds. For the element of imagination is indispensible to true play.
11
“Play is not sport. The
confusion of the two is a major tragedy
of our time. A crowd of fifteen-year-old
school-boys “playing” football on a
back lot are indulging in sport. They are
rarely playing. The one who is playing
is the child of five, all alone, pretending
that a dirty rag doll is the right mother
of a dozen infants – invisible to the
naked eye. Even boys playing war, if
they are harmonious and happy, are
conducting an experiment in peace.
“Play is the erection of an
illusion into a reality. It is not an escape
from life. It is the realization of life in
something like its fullness. What it is an
escape from is the boredom and friction
of existence. Like poetry, to which it is
the prelude, it stands for converting or
winning-over of facts on a basis of
friendship, the dissolving of them in a
spirit of love..."
What do you think?
Is Goddard right or is Falstaff’s play really an irresponsible escape from
the realities we all must face?
“The better part of valour is discretion” – Falstaff, Act 5, Scene 4
12