Hotspur, for his part, would have the king ransom Edmund Mortimer (his wife's brother) from Owen Glendower, the Welshman who holds him. Streetwise and pound-foolish, these rogues manage to paint over this grim history in the colours of comedy.Īs the play opens, the king is angry with Hotspur for refusing him most of the prisoners taken in a recent action against the Scots at Holmedon.
Finally, at the centre of the play are the young Prince Hal and his companions Falstaff, Poins, Bardolph, and Peto. The Scottish Earl of Douglas, Edmund Mortimer and the Welshman Owen Glendower also join. Next there is the group of rebels, energetically embodied in Harry Percy ("Hotspur") and including his father, the Earl of Northumberland and led by his uncle Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester.
He is the engine of the play, but usually in the background. First there is King Henry himself and his immediate council. The play features three groups of characters that interact slightly at first, and then come together in the Battle of Shrewsbury, where the success of the rebellion will be decided. Fat, old, drunk, and corrupt as he is, he has a charisma and a zest for life that captivates the Prince. Hal's chief friend and foil in living the low life is Sir John Falstaff. This makes him an object of scorn to the nobles and calls into question his royal worthiness. Hal (the future Henry V) has forsaken the Royal Court to waste his time in taverns with low companions. "Henry IV", Part I, Act I, Scene 3, Hotspur and the Fop, Samuel John Egbert Jones (1828)Īdding to King Henry's troubles is the behaviour of his son and heir, the Prince of Wales. Robin Ostler, deceased character who preceded the current Ostler, concerned with the price of oats.Lords, Officers, Drawers, Messengers, and Attendants.Lady Mortimer (Catrin) - Glendower's daughter and Mortimer's wife.Lady Percy ("Kate", though her real name was Elizabeth) - Hotspur's wife and Mortimer's sister.Sir Michael – a friend to the Archbishop of York.Richard le Scrope ("Scroop"), Archbishop of York.Sir Richard Vernon, 8th Baron of Shipbrook.Archibald, Earl of Douglas – leader of the Scottish rebels.Owen Glendower – leader of the Welsh rebels.Edmund Mortimer – Hotspur's brother-in-law and Glendower's son-in-law.Harry Percy (nicknamed "Hotspur") – Northumberland's son.Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester – Northumberland's brother.Mistress Quickly – hostess of the Boar's Head Tavern.Sir John Falstaff – a knight who befriends Prince Hal.John of Lancaster – represented in the play as the King's second son, although he was actually the third.Henry, Prince of Wales (nicknamed " Prince Hal" or "Harry") – eldest son of Henry IV.King Henry the Fourth – King of England.
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