After King Henry IV’s victory at the Battle of Shrewsbury, it would seem that his civil troubles are over. However, the rebels Northumberland, Mowbray, Hastings, and the Archbishop of York are not ready to let go of their grievances. At the same time, Henry IV is conflicted regarding his son, Prince Hal. The heir to the throne of England seems to be going back to his rowdy and errant ways with Sir John Falstaff and his pals of Eastcheap. But Prince Hal is truly reflective of his place in the monarchy, and the responsibilities coming upon him as his father’s health rapidly declines. Henry IV, Part Two is not only a meditation on the end of one king, but the celebration of the rise of the next Henry to wear the crown.
Henry IV Part 2 guide sections