Henry IV Part One - Book Summary

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Henry IV, Part One is a history play written by William Shakespeare around 1598. Following Richard II (https://www.gradesaver.com/richard-ii) as part of a tetralogy, it does not conform to the conventions of a chronicle play, instead moving rapidly from court life to street life. Although Sir Philip Sidney went on to rebuke this juxtaposition as a violation of social codes, the play proved immensely popular with audiences. Alternating between two storylines that eventually intersect, the play details the Percy family's plot against King Henry, who must rely on his vagabond son in the battle for his kingdom.

The play opens on an aging King Henry, who is struggling to maintain control of the English throne after usurping it from Richard II. The king is furious to receive news that one of his commanders, Mortimer, has lost a battle to Glyndwr of Wales. At the same time, he learns that another commander, Henry Percy, or “Hotspur,” has succeeded in defeated Douglas of Scotland. However, Hotspur has refused to comply with King Henry’s request that he send his prisoners back to London so that the king can sell them for ransom, as is custom.

Enraged, King Henry summons Hotspur to court, ordering the young commander to yield his prisoners and threatening punishment if he disobeys. Joined by his father, the Earl of Northumberland, and his uncle, the Earl of Worcester, Hotspur explains that he only denied the release of his prisoners because he was still wounded and exhausted from battle when the king’s messenger asked him to do so. The Percys also assert that they are eager to retrieve Hotspur’s brother-in-law, Lord Mortimer, from the Welsh, who are holding him ransom.

King Henry, however, believes that Mortimer lost the battle on purpose, since he recently married the daughter of his opponent, Glyndwr. Thus, the king rejects the Percys pleas for Mortimer’s ransom and demands that the impulsive Hotspur release his prisoners or face punishment. Privately, Worcester and Northumberland gripe about having helped Henry to defeat Richard II with no reward, and they advise Hotspur to consider raising an army with Douglas and Glyndwr to overthrow Henry.

Meanwhile, the king’s son, Prince Harry, or “Hal,” spends his time drinking in seedy taverns with vagrants and lowlifes. Chief among Hal’s drinking buddies is Falstaff, a cantankerous nobleman who’s planning a robbery, in which Hal agrees to participate. In an aside, Hal indicates to the audience that he is only dallying with the tavern crowd in order to garner support for his eventual rise to power.

Led by Falstaff, the thieves rob a group of well-to-do travelers. In disguise, Hal and Poins, another robber, play a trick on Falstaff by mugging him of his ill-gotten gains. The next night, when Falstaff recounts the story to a crowd at the tavern, he exaggerates, saying he fought off many men. When Hal reveals that it was him and Poins, Falstaff claims that he knew it was them all along but wanted to spare the prince of blame.

Together, Hotspur of England, Douglas of Scotland, Glyndwr of Wales, and the Archbishop of York gather an army at Shrewsbury to challenge King Henry. But Hotspur, Douglas, and Glyndwr also begin to argue about how they will split up the territories if they successfully defeat Henry. Hotspur is especially at odds with Glyndwr, whom he views as overly mystical.

Hal’s chance to prove himself arrives when his father, the king, calls him home and begs Hal to become more responsible. Hal agrees, and Henry appoints him as a high-ranking military commander tasked with leading the army against the rebel Hotspur. Hal starts by recruiting his drinking buddies, including the corpulent Falstaff, for the infantry, determined to clear his name.

Meanwhile, Hotspur encounters some challenges while preparing to go to battle. While Henry offers a full pardon to the rebels if they back down, Worcester fails to deliver this message to Hotspur, as he is convinced that Henry will not honor the pardon. Glyndwr and his army are delayed, while Northumberland reportedly falls ill, diminishing the rebellion’s manpower. Reluctantly, Hal proceeds with preparing for war.

Henry prepares for combat as well, stocking the battlefield with nobles disguised as him. The battle begins, and Douglas kills several of these decoys before reaching the real King Henry. Just in time, Hal saves his father by chasing Douglas away, and Henry admits that he is sorry to have doubted his son’s abilities.

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