Henry IV Part 2 Essay Questions

Why does "Rumour" appear on stage at the beginning of the play?

The play begins with an Induction, or a prologue in which characters comment on the events of the play to follow. In this particular Induction, a character dressed in a robe "painted with tongues" appears on stage and announces that he is the figure of rumor personified. The inclusion of this "character" in the play emphasizes the extent to which gossip, lies, and deception will play a part in the events of 2 Henry IV. Indeed, a number of characters throughout the play are guilty of lies and deceit, including its protagonist, Prince Hal.

Why does King Henry IV doubt Prince Hal's ability to lead?

King Henry, like all the other characters at court, has been witness to Prince Hal's youthful antics and unsavory lifestyle. Hal has spent his princedom making companions of commoners and thieves at taverns in Eastcheap (a street in central London known, at the time, for its debauchery). As such, King Henry has little confidence that his son will be able to successfully take over and maintain the throne upon his death. Little does he know, however, that Hal has announced to the audience that his way of life is merely a political strategy, claiming that when he is crowned King Henry V, he will be more impressive for having so thoroughly transformed his life.

Why does the play include in the low-brow, comedic deception of Mistress Quickly by Falstaff?

Falstaff's deception of Mistress Quickly – in which he swindles her and breaks his promise to marry her – seems out of place in a serious history play. Unlike 1 Henry IV, which features a significant number of comedic moments throughout, 2 Henry IV maintains a somber and bleak tone that is at odds with the antics of a character like Falstaff. In many ways, this episode emphasizes the extent to which Falstaff's lifestyle (which has until this point also been Prince Hal's) will not fit with court when Hal is crowned king. Furthermore, Shakespeare uses this low-scale deception as a parallel to that of Prince John, who executes rebel prisoners after promising to spare them.

How does the play dramatize the burden of leadership?

One of the play's major themes is the toll that kingship takes on the king. This concept is expressed most clearly by Henry IV, who describes how weary he has become from the "weight" of the crown. He even goes so far as to suggest that it is the burden of leadership itself that is causing his health to decline. Furthermore, when Hal is crowned King Henry V, one of the first things he has to do is sacrifice his relationship with his companion and surrogate father, Falstaff. In one of the saddest moments of the play, Henry V publicly ridicules and rebukes Falstaff, showcasing how his leadership role is at odds with his past desires and relationships.

On what note does the play end?

The play ends on a rather uneasy but nonetheless hopeful note, as audiences will likely wonder whether King Henry V will live up to his claim of transformation that he made when he was still Prince Hal in 1 Henry IV. Lancaster suggests in the final scenes that the country will be engaged in foreign wars "as far as France" by the time the year is up. This comment implies that Henry V may listen to his father's advice to pursue foreign conflict as a means of distracting citizens at home, which raises questions for the audience about whether Henry V will be an effective king.