Mirando, Mark B.

Eng 23

2013-00862 Prof. Judy Ick

“What’s At Stake for King Henry IV?”

One of the tools to understand a dramatic text is to look at the play’s previous

circumstances. One might ask, “Why the playwright begins with these lines?” 1 Henry IV begins

with a king who is uneasy and determined to calm the turbulent waters of his troubled kingdom.

Why is he bothered with his kingdom? It helps to know that his country has encountered a recent

turmoil for the throne. The recent conflict begins with the seizing of the dukedom of Lancaster

from Henry Bolingbroke [the man who’s to be King Henry IV] by his first cousin, Richard II,

without constitutional right to do so. The then exiled Henry returns to England to claim his

birthright with strong support from the English Lords of the North Country who also have their

own personal and political reason to rebel against Richard II. The result was a coup d’état through

which Henry became King Henry IV who consents to the murder of Richard II in prison. Having

these political circumstances in mind, one can now understand the turbulence that the king speaks

of in his first line. Due to the fresh usurpation of the throne, the King faces a lot of enemies not

only outside of his castle but inside. Now, going back to the opening speech of King Henry IV, one

can realize that his plea to end the civil war doesn’t only protect his subjects but also protects the

reign of his throne.