 |
| Neb English Support Class 12 |
Henry VI Part 2 Summary | Play by William Shakespeare | Neb English Support Class 12
Henry VI Part 2 by William Shakespeare
SHORT STORYLINE
Henry VI Part 2 by William Shakespeare
A plot is hatched against Gloucester, and he is executed; York sends Cade to incite a rebellion to see if it works, and it fails; York arrives to incite a rebellion anyway.
SHORT SUMMARY
Henry VI Part 2 by William Shakespeare
Going against the wishes of the nobles, King Henry marries the penniless Margaret, who plots against him along with her lover. As tensions between York and Lancaster establish, the Duke of York gathers supporters for his claim to the throne. York secretly leads a rebellion; all his supporters proclaim him king, and Henry VI is forced to flee.
DETAILED SUMMARY
Henry VI Part 2 by William Shakespeare
Act I
Following the events of Henry VI Part 1, Somerset returns from France along with Margaret, the newly intended wife of King Henry. The contract of marriage surrenders two French provinces to Margaret's father. Gloucester, Lord Protector of the Young King, is unhappy with the marriage contract. The Earl of Warwick also dislikes the settlement. Each English lord argues for their own right to be lord protector, which would give them the power to make important decisions. The lords begin plotting to remove Gloucester from his position. York considers his possible claims to the kingship in opposition to Henry. As Gloucester attends the King's hunting party, his wife Eleanor consults a witch, worried much about their future.
Margaret, with Suffolk, hears disputes over rights to the throne. Margaret tells Suffolk of her concerns about Henry's religion and the way Lady Eleanor treats her. Also at court, Gloucester leads the support for York to become a regent in France. Parliament questions the idea, and the King makes the decision that Somerset should go to France instead. Eleanor's involvement in witchcraft results in raising a sense of prophetic spirit before York and Buckingham interrupt to arrest her.
Act II
The King and Queen hunted along with Gloucester, Suffolk, and Somerset. During the walk, a lame man named Simcox approaches the king, claiming to have been cured of blindness at a nearby temple. Gloucester doubts the man's story, questions him, and proves that he was never blind and is no longer lame (even chasing him to prove his abilities). Gloucester regrets his role in his wife's witchcraft and seeks justice for her. The king promises him that the law will prevail. York explains his own claim to the throne to Salisbury and Warwick, to whom Warwick swears allegiance (these claims date back to Richard II, with Henry IV gaining power; he would be the successor).
Act III
Eleanor is sentenced to do penance for her witchcraft and is eventually banished. The King asks Gloucester to resign as Lord Protector. Gloucester accepts (abandoning his symbolic staff) and makes peace with his wife before she goes into exile on the Isle of Man. Later on, when Gloucester is late to an important meeting of leaders, Queen Margaret warns Henry that Gloucester is dangerous (as part of a plot against him). Both Suffolk and York join her and try to change the King's opinion of him. Gloucester is arrested, despite all his claims of innocence. The despondent King leaves it to the nobles and Margaret to decide the fate of Gloucester.
There is news of a rebellion in Ireland. When York is selected to lead a force against the rebels, he suspects a plot to remove him from power in England and, in turn, plots to incite a rebellion. He decides to examine Jack Cade's level of success in leading this rebellion. In response to his lords' claims, Henry asks for Gloucester's trial but learns that he is already dead (killed by two men to whom Suffolk paid). Henry comments on how Suffolk is behaving strangely, mourning the one he hated.
Margaret supports Suffolk and rages against her own husband's naivety. Warwick brings Gloucester's slain body to court and challenges Suffolk to fight for his share of the deed. King Henry banished Suffolk. Both Margaret and Suffolk mourn their impending separation. News arrives of Beaufort's impending death, and the King and Warwick attend to the dying man, who is tormented by memories of his past wrongdoings. Beaufort dies of regret.
Act IV
Crossing the Channel into exile, Suffolk is captured and executed by pirates. The King leaves Margaret to mourn the death of her beloved Suffolk, and Jack keeps on dealing with affairs of state and the developing rebellion in Kent, led by Cade. Cade is leading a band of working men who are in support of Cade's claim to the English throne. Stafford and the soldiers challenge the rebels, but Cade's army wins the battle and continues moving towards London. They capture the bridge and the city. Both Buckingham and Clifford, both nobles, remind all the rebels that the King's father, King Henry V, was their former hero. This calms their anger and causes them to dissolve. Cade learns that his followers are fickle and escape when they are pardoned. While on the run, Cade hides himself in an orchard, where the owner, Alexander Eden, challenges him and kills him at last. Eden takes his head to the King and is awarded a knighthood and a thousand marks.
Act V
When York returns from Ireland with an army to protest Somerset's independence, Buckingham persuades him to stay, as Somerset is already in prison. York comes to the King, where Margaret and a freed Somerset confront him. Furious York claims the throne with his sons Edward and Richard of Gloucester. Other noblemen align themselves on either side. Buckingham, Clifford, and his son take the side of King Henry, while Warwick and Salisbury take the side of Richard of York. In the ensuing battle at St Albans, both Clifford and Somerset are killed. Henry flees back to London with Margaret. Warwick and Salisbury both proclaim York as king of the throne.
CLICK HERE 👇 TO READ
HENRY VI PART 3 BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE SUMMARY
Thanks for Visiting my Website: Suraj Bhatt
Post a Comment