Act I, Scene I
We are in the royal palace in London where the King is addressing his council optimistically predicting the end of civil war and his ambition to lead the a crusade to Jerusalem. However, it becomes clear that the political situation in England is not as good as the King would like. It is revealed that there is a rebellion taking place in Wales, which is being led by Glendower that has defeated the British army and captured their commander Mortimer. However, on a slightly more encouraging note Henry Hotspur, son of the Earl of Northumberland and his army have managed to defeat the Scots and captured some politically significant prisoners. Henry IV laments the difference between Hotspur and his own son, Hal (also Henry). There is evidence of possible insurrection as we hear that Hotspur, encouraged by Worcester has refused to hand the prisoners over to the King.
Act I, Scene II
In total contrast to the Palace we are now in one of Hal's apartments in London, we move from the verse of the court to colloquial, bawdy prose. The prince is with his companion Falstaff: a fat drunken old joker whose base humour starkly contrasts with the sharp wit of Hal. Another of the Prince's companions, Poins, enters and brings the news that Gadshill has planned a robbery ("set a match"). Hal pretends that he does not want to be involved but once Falstaff has left he informs Poins that he wants to play a practical joke and rob the robbers. When he is left on the stage alone the Prince informs the audience in a verse soliloquy that he does not intend to behave in this manner for his entire life and that he will "throw off" his "loose behaviour" therefore we realise that he may not always shame his father.
The language employed by these characters is complex and based on puns and double-entendres. Poins and Falstaff are obviously 'gentlemen' of diminished means whereas others of Hal's friends such as Bardolph and Peto (who we are introduced to later) are of a lesser social standing. Falstaff is clearly aware of the fact that Hal will eventually be King, indicated by his constant reference to "when thou art King". He seems to believe that when his friend takes the throne he will in many ways be able to benefit from it and receive special treatment.
Act I, Scene III
In this second council meeting the mood is altered. The King enters the stage in the midst of a very angry speech, further incited by comments from Worcester concerning past political problems he has suffered. Worcester is made to leave the room. We are introduced to Hotspur and it is immediately clear how drastically he differs from the Prince. He is impetuous and full of energetic anger towards the King - proving that he is unwilling to give way to his leader. Walter Blunt attempts to intervene in the conflict but to no avail - both sides are equally stubborn. When Mortimer is mentioned the debate is even more fiercely fought - the King gives his demands and then leaves, giving no time for Hotspur to retort.
Hotspur is enraged, Worcester re-enters and the two of them discuss how the King actually came to be in power. It is noted that Richard II was deposed and murdered and it seems that Hotspur is keen that the same (all be it perhaps not murder) happens to Henry IV.
Act II, Scene I
We are now in Rochester in an inn yard where two carriers stand. Their speech contrasts strongly against the lofty, heroic style employed by Hotspur previously. Moreover they highlight the fact that this is not just a play about royal battles and struggles. They are slightly hostile and suspicious of Gadshill and leave. He remains on stage discussing the robbery about to take place - aware that it will probably involve some important people.
Act II, Scene II
We now witness the jocular robbery - initially of the travelers who it is hard to pity as they seem dull and pious, then secondly of the Falstaff, Bardolph and Peto by Hal and Poins. This is not a serious scene but a comic, high-spirited affair.
Act II, Scene III
Hotspur is in a castle in Warkworth and angry over a letter he has received stating that the writer will not join him in a rebellion against the King. It seems that either he does not have the support that he would like to think he has or he has approached the wrong people to ask for help. He eventually manages to convince himself that he is still the greatest and is thus placated.
His wife Lady Percy (Kate) enters, she is does not think that he is attentive enough towards her and is too preoccupied with political events. He does not humour her but instead tries to jolly her out of her low mood.
Act II, Scene IV
The scene is the Boar's Head pub in Eastcheap, after the robbery. The Prince has been entertaining his fellow drinkers by mocking those amongst them such as a poor young boy called Francis. This does in some ways prove to us that he is not yet ready for the political responsibility that lies ahead of him - he is immature and has not realised that those who are less fortunate or sophisticated than him are not there simply for his own entertainment.
Falstaff arrives with the others and is in a very bad mood. He describes what happened to him at Gad's Hill and how he fought with epic valour against a number of robbers and their weapons which is increasing rapidly. Hal and Poins expose the old man's lies and he defends himself by stating that all along he knew it was them and the reason that he did not fight back was because he would not fight the King's son.
A King's messenger arrives with news of the rebellion for Hal, warning the Prince that he will meet with his father's wrath the next the day. Falstaff and the Prince play out the scene in anticipation, initially Falstaff plays the King but then the roles are reversed. At this point Hal seems to go too far. He refers to Falstaff (whilst in the role of the King) as "That villainous abominable misleader of youth… that white- bearded old satan" ending on the fact that he would never let his son see his friend again:
"FALSTAFF: banish him not thy Harry's company, banish plump Jack, and banish all the world.
HAL: I do, I will."
This is Hal's initial rejection of his old friend (completed in Henry IV, Part II) and it a moving and essentially sentimental moment.
The sheriff and his ward arrive at the inn wanting to search for the Gad's Hill robbers. With the unruffled authority befitting a king Hal manages to convince them they are in the wrong place and turn them away. By the end of the scene Falstaff has fallen asleep and the Prince searches his pockets, lightly mocking what he finds. He decides that he will procure him "a charge of foot" in the up and coming battle.
Act III, Scene I
We are in the archdeacon's house in Bangor where the conspirator's discuss their plan. It is the only time in the play that we see Lord Mortimer who was the legitimate claimant to Henry IV's crown. Hotspur and Glendower (a Welsh Nationalist) come up against each other (In Elizabethan times the audience's sympathies would have laid with Hotspur as Glendower would have been seen as a traitor) the English man gaining the support of both Mortimer and Worcester. Glendower eventually allows Hotspur to have his own way in the discussion of the division of England between Mortimer, Glendower and Hotspur by way of reward for Mortimer's claim for the English throne. This scene proves to the audience that despite the validity of his claim, Mortimer would not be an inappropriate ruler of England - the division of England would be the most ridiculous and indeed evil political move a ruler could make. This fact is highlighted by Hotspur's scrapping over certain boundaries. Certainly, the only effect of dividing the country with men like these would be more civil war.
We shift from the political to the emotional when we finally compare the love between Mortimer and his Welsh-speaking wife (they cannot understand each other) to the friendly sparring of Hotspur and Kate.
Act III, Scene II
The King and his son meet in the London palace, Hal acknowledges that he does not behave in the most princely of ways but at the same time reports to his father may well be excessive and untrue therefore painting a worse picture of him than necessary. His father then goes on to describe the difference between his own behaviour when he was younger and that of Richard II which was full of self-display and stupidity. He draws a parallel between that relationship and the one that exists between Hal and Hotspur. An excessive description of Hotspur's military successes follow ending with the request of the King that his son join him in battle against the rebels. The two are reconciled when Hal asserts that he will make his father proud and defeat Hotspur in the coming battle.
Act III, Scene III
Falstaff and Bardolph joke together, employing puns and archaic wordplays. The mistress of the tavern enters and Falstaff asserts that his ring is missing and that the papers have gone from his pockets as well. He exaggerates the value of what was taken from him and she retorts that he has a number of large and long-standing debts to her. The Prince enters and settles the dispute by admitting that he pick-pocketed his friend. They begin to prepare for the battle at Shrewsbury.
Act IV, Scene I
In the rebel camp in Shrewsbury Hotspur and Douglas pay each other compliments. Their jollity is somewhat destroyed when a letter arrives from Northumerland stating that he is unwell and his army cannot join them in Shrewsbury. Worcester is the rebel most worried by this news. Sir Richard Vernon arrives, warning of the Royalist army's approach and elucidating that Hal is now a reformed man: a heroic soldier. Glendower also lets the rebels down as his army will not be ready for another 2 weeks.
Act IV, Scene II
Falstaff and his "charge of foot" make their way to Shrewsbury whilst Bardolph sets off to buy wine. Falstaff's army a very motley crew and he explains how he uses the power given to him by the Prince in order to gain and impress the men that are under him. Hal and Westmoreland arrive and speed is needed as "Percy is already in the field."
Act IV, Scene III
The rebels discuss how best to defeat the King. Typically the rash Hotspur and Douglas believe that speed is of the essence whereas Worcester and Vernon believe that tactically they should move slower so that the armies are well rested and there are more forces available. Sir Walter Blunt comes from the King with an offer of peace and a redress of grievances. Hotspur is unmoved by this and describes how Northumberland helped the King into England after his exile, yet once he took his place on the throne he turned against the very people who helped him. Nonetheless it is decided that Worcester will go to the King's camp in the morning to discuss the matter further.
Act IV, Scene IV
The Archbishop is in York, preparing for the possibility of a royal victory, it further emphasises the fact that the current King is better equipped to rule the country than the disorganised rebels.
Act V, Scene I
Worcester and Vernon go to the King's camp for discussions. The King is very cool towards them and Hal proposes that he and Hotspur fight so that the dispute may be settled. Therefore a large-scale battle could be avoided. The King accepts this proposition and vaguely makes some general offers for a redress of grievances. The scene ends with Falstaff and Hal's discussion war and honour and Falstaff offers his famous soliloquy.
Act V, Scene II
Worcester tells Vernon that the King's offer must not be reported back to Hotspur because they cannot trust their ruler to keep his word, Vernon supports this idea. Westmoreland was kept as a hostage until Worcester and Vernon arrived back and he is set free with a message that they reject the offer. The battle begins.
Act V, Scene III
Many of the King's soldiers are dressed in disguise as the King himself. It is a cunning ploy so that the rebels are never sure whether or not they have managed to kill their enemy - it is a confusion tactic. Walter Blunt who is disguised is killed by Douglas. Hotspur realises that Blunt was an impersonator and he and Douglas depart. Falstaff is shown up as a coward and a wholly ineffective fighter. He has left his men in a dangerous situation and when Hal tries to borrow his pistol he finds a bottle of alcohol instead of a weapon and in exasperated.
Act V, Scene IV
The King withdraws, Hal is wounded though not seriously and refuses to retire. Douglas attacks the King but his son returns to his defence and soon Douglas flees. The father and son are reunited and Henry IV admits that Hal saved his life. The King leaves and Hotspur arrives. Words are blows are exchanged between the two young men as they are cheered on by Falstaff from the sidelines. Douglas attacks Falstaff and he "falls down as if he were dead". Hotspur is badly wounded by the Prince and delivers a poignant dying speech and then receives a most noble epitaph from his killer. When he sees Falstaff who is supposedly dead the Prince gives an affectionate but still slightly derisory eulogy which again shows that the two are slowly drifting apart. Falstaff rises up and inflicts another wound upon the already dead Hotspur just as Hal returns with John of Lancaster. He maintains that it was him who killed the rebel, even though the Prince stands before him.
Act V, Scene V
The end is a victorious one for the King. Worcester and Vernon are sentenced to death and Hal begs that Douglas has a political pardon (a wise political move). The Royalists then decide that the next move should be a further attack against Glendower and Mortimer in Wales and Northumberland and the Archbishop of York. Thus the premise is set for Henry IV, Part II.