Henry VI Part 1, 2 and 3 by Shakespeare UGC NET ENGLISH PAPER II, UNIT 1. MODULE 15

Background of the Play Henry VI:

• The first three plays of the historical tetralogy, the fourth play being Richard III
• Written in between 1590 and 1592
• Sources of the play: chronicles of Edward Hall and Holinshed
• Part I, by Shakespeare in collaboration with the university wits-Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Nashe
• Henry VI trilogy -not written by Shakespeare in chronological order (Henry VI Part 1,  Part 3 and then only Part 2 and the concluding play Richard III)
• Henry VI Part 2 as a play with the largest cast of all - with more than 50 characters 
• Henry VI Part 3 as a play with the longest soliloquy and more number of battle scenes (6 battles)
• The Chief events in Part I: funeral of Henry V, coronation of Henry VI, the ongoing war of England against France to retain its English territories in France,  the beginning of war of Roses between English lords under the Head of Duke of Somerset wearing red rose  and Richard, wearing white rose,   the valour and death of Joan of Arc of France, peace treaty between England and France and the proposed marriage between Henry VI and Margret, daughter of Reignier the Duke of Anjou (France).
• Chief Events in Part 2: marriage of Henry VI with Margaret - the death of Duke of Gloucester and the banishment of his wife for using necromancy - the love affair of Margaret with Suffolk and his death -the death of Somerset and Lord  Clifford - the rise and victory of the Duke of York (Richard) against Henry VI at war. 
• Chief events in Henry VI Part 3: The frequent Civil war between the Yarkists and the Lancastrians (king's side) - death of Richard the Duke of York,  the final victory of yarkists, the death of Henry, Warwick and Prince Edward - the banishment of Margaret.

Summary of Henry VI Part 1:
The play begins with the funeral of Henry V. After his death,  the Duke of Gloucester takes charge of the country,  Duke of Bedford rushes to war in France to retain English territories and Duke of Exeter arranges for the coronation of Henry VI. The petty quarrel between Duke of Somerset and Richard the 3rd Duke of York leads to War of Roses,  the former wearing Red rose with the support of some lords and the latter with the support of other lords wearing white rose. After becoming king,  Henry goes to war taking place in France and while returning to England he leaves Cavalry to the command of Duke of Somerset and Infantry to Richard whose conflict and misunderstanding leads to further defeats of England and the death of  powerful Talbot and his valiant son from English side.

Another reason for the set back by England is the powerful woman Joan of Arc whose visions, irresistible attacks, persuasion of Duke of Burgandy to fight for France brings significant victory to France but she is however captured by Richard and is burnt alive at the stake. Pope Eugenius IV and Roman Emperor Segismund force Henry VI to peace treaty with France.  The Play comes to an end with the Earl of Suffolk's persuasion of Henry VI to marry Margret,  daughter of Reignier the Duke of Anjou (France) against the warnings of Duke of Gloucester.

Summary of Henry VI Part 2:
The Play opens with Henry's marriage with Margaret who is but in secret love affair with the Earl of Suffolk who had persuaded Henry for the marriage.  The Wife of Gloucester longs for the throne and while trying necromancy, she is arrested and banished.  Gloucester is also accused of treason but before trial,  he is killed by murderers. Though Suffolk is banished for this, death of Gloucester is a great loss to the King.  Suffolk is killed by pirates and his head is sent to Margaret that leaves her in great agony.

Meanwhile the Duke of York is appointed by the King as a commander of Army to control the revolt in Ireland. On his return,  he claims to the throne. On the one side,  the 3rd Duke of York (Richard) is supported by his sons Edward and Young Richard and by other lords Salisbury and Warwick Amber . On the other side,  Duke of Somerset and Clifford take the sides of Henry.  In the war at St. Albans, however,  Henry loses the ground - Somerset and Lord Clifford are killed. Persuaded by Margaret,  Henry flees to London.  Young Clifford who vows to avenge his father's death joins with Margaret.   The curtain falls with the search of Duke of York and his supporters for the absconding Henry, Margaret and Young Clifford.

Summary of Henry VI Part 3 (1591):
The play begins where Henry VI part 2 ended. The entire play consists of nothing but frequent civil wars between the House of York and the Lancastrians (king's party). 

The first battle by Margaret:
After their victory against Henry VI, the yorkists seize the throne and their group consists of Richard,  the 3rd Duke of York (fathet), his eldest son Edward the Duke of York,  next sons George,  Young Richard and youngest son Rutland, the powerful Earl of Warwick  along with some of King's supporters. But soon Henry's party intervenes and makes an agreement with Richard,  the 3rd Duke of York that Henry is permitted to be king till death and after that the yorkists and their descendants will rule the country.  This will disinherit the descendants of Henry VI and so the supporters of King join with Margaret and Cliffort who attack the castle of the Duke of York and kills him by disgracing his honour in three ways : keeping him on the mole's hill, giving him the kerchief attained with the blood of his twelve years old son Rutland recently killed by Clifford to avenge his father's death,  and decorating him with paper crown. 

The Second and Third Battle:
The Second Battle of Albans does not take place on the stage but is reported by Warwick that his army too was defeated by Margaret. The third battle is the Battle of Towton in which the sons of dead Richard - Edward,  young Richard and George, and the powerful Earl of Warwick join together, fight against Henry and become victorious.  Clifford is killed and the eldest son of dead Richard (Edward ) becomes the King.  The other two sons George and young Richard become the Earl of Clarence and the Earl of Gloucester respectively.  Warwick at his best tries for the marriage of Lady Bona, sister-in-law of French king Louis XI with Edward but he becomes a laughing stock before Edward who has become a prey to the beauty of Lady Grey and has made her Queen Elizabeth.  Warwick abandons Edward and swears allegiance to Lancastrians (king's party).

The Fourth Battle :
Warwick becomes so loyal to King Henry by giving his daughter Anne in marriage to Edward, the Prince of Wales (Henry's son). George and Earl of Montage also join with Warwick who, collecting French troops fight against Edward the Duke of York and defeat him and take him as a prisoner.  His pregnant wife Queen Elizabeth escapes to a sanctuary.  Henry makes Warwick and George as his Lords Protectors.

The Fifth and Sixth Battle:
The escape of Edward from the prison with the help of Richard,  Hastling and Stanley leads to the fifth battle of the Play - the battle of Barnet in which Warwick is betrayed by George who takes the side of his brother Edward. Eventually Warwick's army is defeated and Warwick and Montage are killed. Once again the Yorkists become victorious.   King Henry is sent to the Tower of London as a prisoner.  However there takes place the Sixth battle - the battle of Tewkesbury in which the lancastrians troops headed by Earl of Oxford and Somerset joining with Margaret 's and French forces fight against the Yorkists. But the Yorkists win the battle. The result is so disastrous -Margret is banished; Her son Prince Edward is stabbed to death; Henry in the Tower of London  is stabbed to death by Richard; Life sentence is for Oxford and Death sentence is for Somerset.

Edward is reunited with his wife Queen Elizabeth and his new born son. The long Civil war comes to an end and the moment brings great celebrations for the Yorkists who but scarcely know the villainous mind of Richard longing for the throne.