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Title page of the first quarto (1593).
Title page of the first quarto (1593).

The Second Part of King Henry the Sixth, or Henry VI, Part 2, is a history play by William Shakespeare believed written in approximately 1590-91. William Shakespeare ( baptised It is the second part of the trilogy on Henry VI, and often grouped together with Richard III as a tetralogy on The Wars of the Roses—the success of which established Shakespeare's reputation as a playwright. Henry VI (6 December 1421 &ndash 21 May 1471 was King of England 1422–1461 (though with a Regent until 1437 and then 1470–1471 and a claimant to the kingdom Richard III is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1591 Traditionally the plays of William Shakespeare have been grouped into three categories tragedies, comedies, and histories.

Contents

Sources

Shakespeare's primary source for Henry VI, Part 2, as for most of his chronicle histories, was Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles; the publication of the second edition in 1587 provides a terminus ad quem for the play. Edward Hall's The Union of the Two Illustrious Families of Lancaster and York appears also to have been consulted, and scholars have also supposed Shakespeare familiar with Samuel Daniel's poem on the civil wars.

Date and text

Henry VI, Part 2 was probably written ca. 1590–91. The Diary of Philip Henslowe records a performance of a play called Henry VI on March 3, 1592. Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian It is known from other sources that the other two parts of Shakespeare's Henrician trilogy were on stage in 1592. Thomas Nashe's Pierce Penniless (registered August 1592) refers to a popular play about Lord Talbot, which is thought to be Henry VI, Part 1 (there is no alternative candidate). The First Part of King Henry the Sixth is history play by William Shakespeare, believed written in approximately 1588–1590 Robert Greene's pamphlet A Groatsworth of Wit (registered Sept. 1592) parodies a line from Henry VI, Part 3. Henry the Sixth Part 3, is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed written in approximately 1590 and set during the lifetime of King Henry VI of England Since both Parts 1 and 3 were being acted in 1592, it is sensibly assumed that Part 2 was also—though there is no direct evidence of this.

A version of 2 Henry VI was published in 1594. It was entered into the Register of the Stationers Company on March 12, 1594 by the bookseller Thomas Millington, and printed by him later that year. The Stationers' Register was a record book maintained by the Stationers' Company of London The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers (better known as the Stationers' Company) is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving Thomas Millington ( fl 1591 &ndash 1603 was a London publisher of the Elizabethan era, who published first editions of three Shakespearean This text it generally known by a shortened version of its long title, usually The First Part of the Contention Betwixt the Two Famous Houses of York and Lancaster, or some variant of the same. [1]

This version of the play was reprinted twice, in 1600 (Q2) and 1619 (Q3). The 1619 text was part of William Jaggard's False Folio. William Jaggard (c 1568 &ndash November 1623 was an Elizabethan and Jacobean printer and publisher best known for his connection with the texts of William False Folio is the term that Shakespeare scholars and bibliographers have applied to William Jaggard 's printing of ten Shakespearean and pseudo-Shakespearean

In the nineteenth century, The First Part of the Contention was thought to be a play by another writer or writers that Shakespeare had used as a source for his own. Modern critical opinion favors the view that The Contention is a "bad quarto" of a Shakespearean original, likely a reported text or memorial reconstruction, perhaps by the actor who had played Suffolk and Cade. Bad quarto is a term and concept developed by twentieth-century Shakespeare scholars to explain some problems in the early transmission of the texts of Shakespearean [2] (Yet the case is complicated; see: bad quarto. Bad quarto is a term and concept developed by twentieth-century Shakespeare scholars to explain some problems in the early transmission of the texts of Shakespearean )

Performance

After from the original 1592 performances, 2 Henry VI was rarely acted. During the Restoration, John Crowne adapted the last two acts of Part 2 and all of Part 3 (roughly half the total trilogy) into The Misery of Civil War (1680). The English Restoration, or simply The Restoration began in 1660 when the English monarchy, Scottish monarchy and Irish monarchy were restored Another adaptation was produced by Theophilus Cibber in 1723. Theophilus Cibber ( November 26, 1703 - 1758 was an English Actor, Playwright, author and son of the actor-manager Colley Cibber Several revivals of the entire Henrician trilogy have been staged in the twentieth century, beginning in 1906. [3]

Characters

Facsimile of the first page of Henry the Sixth, Part Two from the First Folio, published in 1623
Facsimile of the first page of Henry the Sixth, Part Two from the First Folio, published in 1623

Synopsis

This play begins with the marriage of King Henry VI of England to the young Margaret of Anjou. Henry VI (6 December 1421 &ndash 21 May 1471 was King of England 1422–1461 (though with a Regent until 1437 and then 1470–1471 and a claimant to the kingdom Margaret of Anjou ( Marguerite d'Anjou, 23 March 1430 &ndash 25 August 1482) was the Queen consort of Henry VI of England Margaret is the protégée (and possibly lover) of William de la Pole, 4th Earl of Suffolk, who aims to influence the king through her. William de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk, 1st Marquess of Suffolk, 4th Earl of Suffolk ( 16 October 1396 at Cotton Suffolk The major obstacle to this pair is the regent of the crown, Duke Humphrey (Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester), who is immensely popular with the common people. Humphrey Duke of Gloucester ( 3 October 1390 – February 23, 1447) was the fourth son of King Henry IV of England by his first wife Queen Margaret vies with his wife, Eleanor, for precedence at court. Eleanor is lured by an agent of Suffolk into dabbling in necromancy, and then apprehended, to the embarrassment of Gloucester. Nevertheless, the demon she has summoned delivers some accurate prophecies concerning the fates of several characters in the play. Gloucester, who is busy exposing the imposture of an old beggar and his wife, is then accused of treason and imprisoned, and afterwards assassinated by agents of Suffolk and the Queen. Meanwhile, as this struggle plays itself out, Richard, Duke of York, reveals his claim to the throne to the Earls of Salisbury and Warwick, who pledge to support him. Richard Duke of York may refer to Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York (1411–1460 father of Edward IV of England and Richard III of England Richard Neville jure uxoris 5th Earl of Salisbury KG, PC (1400 &ndash December 31, 1460) was a Yorkist leader during Richard Neville Jure uxoris 16th Earl of Warwick and Suo jure 6th Earl of Salisbury ( 22 November

The Earl of Suffolk is banished for his role in Gloucester's death and killed by Walter the pirate ("by Wa'ter shall he die" proclaimed the demon), leaving Margaret without her mainstay. Margaret is soon portrayed holding Suffolk's gory head in her lap and weeping. Meanwhile, Richard of York has got himself appointed commander of an army to suppress a revolt in Ireland. York enlists a former officer Jack Cade to lead a rebellion that threatens the whole kingdom, in order that he may bring his army from Ireland into England and seize the throne. Jack Cade (possible real name John Aylmer or John Mortimer) was the leader of a popular revolt in the 1450 Kent rebellion which took place in

York returns to England with his army, but not before Cade's rebellion is put down. Robbed of this pretext for his army's presence, York claims his intent is to protect the King from Somerset. Opposed by Margaret and Lord Clifford, York exerts his claim to the throne, supported by his sons, Edward (the future King Edward IV of England) and Richard (the future King Richard III of England). Edward IV ( 28 April 1442 – 9 April 1483) was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 2 October Richard III ( 2 October 1452 &ndash 22 August 1485) was King of England from 1483 until his death (Shakespeare is building up to making Richard III one of his greatest villains, with little concern for historical veracity -- Richard, at this date, would have been a small child, and thus easily beaten in combat).

The English nobility now take sides, and the Battle of St. Albans is fought. The First Battle of St Albans was the first Battle of the Wars of the Roses and was fought on May 22, 1455 in the town of St Albans The Duke of Somerset is killed by the future Richard III. Young Lord Clifford, whose father has been killed by the Duke of York, vows revenge on the Yorkists, and allies himself with King Henry's other supporters. The play ends there, to be continued with Henry VI, part 3. Henry the Sixth Part 3, is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed written in approximately 1590 and set during the lifetime of King Henry VI of England

Notes

  1. ^ Full title: The First Part of the Contention Betwixt the Two Famous Houses of York and Lancaster, With the Death of the Good Duke Humphrey: and the Banishment and Death of the Duke of Suffolk, and the Tragical End of the Proud Cardinal of Winchester, With the Notable Rebellion of Jack Cade: and the Duke of York's First Claim Unto the Crown.
  2. ^ F. E. Halliday, A Shakespeare Companion 1564–1964, Baltimore, Penguin, 1964; p. 217.
  3. ^ Halliday, p. 216–18.

External links

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