 Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
Table of Contents Act IV, Scene 8 The scene is the Bishop's palace in London where King Henry, Warwick, Montague, George, Oxford and Exete gather. Warwick announces that Edward has gathered troops from all over who are marching towards London. He plans to gather troops from his own region as well as those of the other supporters of King Henry. King Henry bids him farewell addressing him as his Hector and Troy's true hope and then discusses with Exeter the causes of his seeming unpopularity. Henry says that his gentleness has made him famous and that he cannot understand why people do not love him. Meanwhile, King Edward enters the palace with Richard and soldiers, they seize Henry and Edward orders him to the Tower. He also orders them to capture Warwick who is in Coventry when the time is favorable. Notes: The scene takes place in the Bishop's palace in London and precedes a meeting of the rival forces at Coventry where no fighting will occur. The capture of Henry is the main action leading to the climax of the play. Warwick informs of the approach of the rival forces and prepares for war from all quarters. He says, 'Like to his island girt in with the ocean Or modest Dian circled with her nymphs Shall rest in London till we come to him.' This allusion refers to Ovid's description of the modest Dian who was circled and protected by her nymphs and reveals that London too will be protected by Warwick and his companions. At the time of departure, Henry bids him good-bye and addresses Warwick thus 'Farewell, my Hector and my Troy's true hope.' At the time of departure, Henry bids him good bye and addresses Warwick thus 'Farewell, my Hector and my Troy's true hope.' Hector was the great warrior of Troy who was killed by Achilles and dragged around the walls of Troy to the dismay of his family. Henry's trust and admiration for Warwick makes him laud him thus. He compares Warwick to Hector and England to Troy. Just as Hector keeps up the name of Troy, he hopes Warwick will keep up the honor of England, whose honor has been lost due to repeated civil wars and internal dissension. A discussion with Exeter has Henry wondering why people love Edward more than him when he has never wronged them in any way. He had been always gentle mild, considerate, compassionate, and not desiring power and money, yet in most of Shakespeare's plays this is not what the masses want. Instead, they want leadership, someone who will take control and provide them with a central authority. Henry has not been able to do this; therefore, his popularity as a king is diminished. Table of Contents | |
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