Henry IV
the basic story*

King Henry IV (Henry Bollingbroke, before he became king) is King of England when this play opens. He has succeeded in usurping the throne from the previous king (Richard II - or, Richard of Bordeaux), and has had Richard imprisoned and murdered. Henry's position is tenuous; he is not the rightful heir to the throne. To make matters worse, he is disappointed in his heir, Prince Hal. Hal is still a young guy who wishes desperately for approval from his father the King. But his father is all consumed with his position and his political image, so Hal spends most of his time in taverns on the seedy side of town, hanging around with highwaymen and vagrants (Poins, Gadshill, Peto, Bardolph). His closest friend among the rascally crew is Sir John Falstaff, a sort of substitute father figure. A worldly, fat old man who steals and lies for a lving, Falstaff is also an extraordinarily witty person who lives with great gusto (in contrast to the King, who lives only for political gain and image).

Trouble is brewing in England. A discontented family of noblemen, the Percys, have begun planning a rebellion against the King. This family, which helped King Henry rise to power, is angry because they feel the King has forgotten his debts to them. They are headed by young Harry Percy, otherwise known as Hotspur. In the play, Hotspur is a youth of Prince Hal's own age, and is as widely respected for his bravery in battle as Hal is scorned and despised for his idle tavern life.

The Percys manage to gather a formidable set of allies around them: leaders of large rebel armies from Scotland (The Douglas) and Wales (Owen Glendower). The King, in danger of his name and power being weakened by them, has no choice but to go to war. Severely rebuked by his father, Prince Hal vows that he will abandon his wild ways and will vanquish Hotspur in battle in order to reclaim his good name (and get Dad to approve of him). Drafting his tavern friends to fight in the King's army, Hal accompanies his father to the battlefront.

The civil war is decided in a great battle at Shrewsbury. Prince Hal boldly saves his father's life in battle, and finally wins back his approval and affection. Hal also challenges and kills Hotspur in single combat. The King's forces win, but the King's own health wanes, and he is taken back home. Rather than continue on to subsequent battles, Hal follows his father, and has a final reconciliation before Henry's death. Hal gets what he wanted…his father's approval, and is at last prepared to take on the role of king. As he does so, he begins to find himself becoming the politician.

* Chickspeare's director has re-edited and compiled segments of Henry IV parts one and two into one play, to tell the complete story of Hal's evolution from party boy to politician.