Much Ado About Nothing Act 3 “…then loving goes by haps, some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps..”

Much Ado About Nothing Act 3  “…then loving goes by haps,

some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps..”

Shakespeare likes multiple plots and having events within one plot balanced by another event. Just as in Act 2, when Don Pedro and Claudio make sure that Benedick overhears a conversation about Beatrice loving him, Act 3 starts with Beatrice overhearing Hero tell Ursula that she has been told by Claudio and Don Pedro that Benedick is hopelessly in love with Beatrice. When Ursula says that Hero should tell Beatrice, Hero states that Beatrice would mock Benedick and this would break his heart. They end the conversation by praising Benedick’s looks and intellect.

Hero and Ursula exit and Beatrice staggers out, in disbelief at what she has heard and the fact that others would regard her so full of pride and scorn. Beatrice, like Benedick decides that she must take pity on Benedick:

“What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true?

Stand I condemn'd for pride and scorn so much?

Contempt, farewell! and maiden pride, adieu!

No glory lives behind the back of such.

And, Benedick, love on; I will requite thee,

Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand:

If thou dost love, my kindness shall incite thee

To bind our loves up in a holy band;

For others say thou dost deserve, and I

Believe it better than reportingly.”

We switch back to Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato who are teasing Benedick about his previous vow to never marry. Benedick rises to the bait and declares that he has changed his opinions and they then tease him with the belief that he is in love. Benedick, for the second time in the play, is lost for words and takes Leonato aside to converse on some matter. Enter Don John.

Don John approaches Don Pedro and Claudio and claims that he wants to save Don Pedro’s reputation and protect Claudio from a huge marital mistake by telling them that Hero is not a virtuous woman and she is not virtuous and is seeing other men besides Claudio. Don John offers to show them proof by taking them to below Hero’s window to see how unfaithful she is to Claudio by catching her with another man in her own bedroom. In fact we know that they will in fact be seeing Borachio call Margaret, Hero’s chambermaid, “Hero” in their loveplay at the window of Hero’s bedchamber while Hero is away. Don Pedro is suspicious of Don John’s ‘honest’ account. but agrees to go along. Don John has, however, feed into Claudio’s insecurities and Claudio wants to see if this is true, and claims that if it is confirmed, that he will publicly disgrace Hero at her own wedding.

By this time in his career, Shakespeare has learnt how to use comedy for poignant dramatic and narrative purposes and to have seemingly discordant scenes and characters crucially link into the progression of his plays. So we switch to a street in the town near Leonato’s house where Dogberry and The Watch are overzealously and pedantically going over their duties. We see that even a simple task like having people stand when Don Pedro passes is beyond their capabilities. In short, it seems the only misdemeanor or crime that Dogberry is insistent on them enforcing is preventing the townspeople from stealing their spears. Their final orders include keeping their eyes out for trouble because of the wedding the next day. Dogberry departs with Verges.

The remaining watchmen are alert enough only to the call of sleep when they overhear Borachio and Conrad (Don John’s co-conspirators) taking about the while of Do John and Borachio’s evil exploits. They overhear that Borachio ravished Margaret, Hero’s chambermaid at hero’s window and that this was seen by Claudio who now thinks that Hero lacks virtue. They arrest Borachio and Conrad for “lechery” even though we know they mean “treachery”.

We then advance to the morning of Hero and Claudio’s wedding, Hero is excited but has a strange unease that something will go terribly wrong – a subtle foreshadowing of the events of the morning still to come. They discuss the wedding and even Beatrice now seems to be in high spirits and positive about the coming wedding. Claudio arrives with everyone else for the wedding to commence.

At the busiest moment, when Leonato is about to enter the church, Dogberry and Verges sidle up to Leonato and try to talk to him about two important criminals that they caught that night that they want Leonato to interrogate. If Leonato had interrogated these captives there and then we would not have a five act drama and a meandering plot that also will bring Beatrice and Benedick into one another’s arms. But Leonato is busy with the wedding and Dogberry and Verges convoluted explanations mean that he passes on the interrogation task to them believing this to be a trivial matter that doesn’t affect him. How wrong this decision will prove. 

Much Ado About Nothing Act 2 “Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more, Men were deceivers ever, one foot in sea and one on shore, to one thing constant never…”

Much Ado About Nothing Act 2  “Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,

Men were deceivers ever, one foot in sea and one on shore, to one thing constant never…”

There is a great artistry and ease that seems to have come to Shakespeare around the time he write ‘Much Ado About Nothing’. He uses more free verse in this play than almost any other before, yet the sense of emotional changes in characters and poetic weaving of intricate multiple plots is as strong as ever.

Act 2 of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ echoes with elements and sequences that resonated subtly in ‘Romeo and Juliet’. We start before the start of the masked ball with Hero and Beatrice floating the idea that the perfect man would be a combination between the almost completely silent Don John and the over-verbose Benedick. Beatrice declares that she will never marry even though Leonato and Antonio believe that Don Pedro will, that very evening, ask her to marry him.

The masked ball begins, the music strikes up, masks are put on and the men seek partners for a dance and a conversation. Balthasar (Don Pedro’s musician) finds a welcome partner in Margaret (Hero’s servant), while Don Pedro dances and flirts with Hero pretending to be Claudio. Beatrice is partnered with Benedick but pretends to not know him and insults Benedick pretending that her partner is some other stranger. Benedick is truly upset by Beatrice’s onslaught.

Don John is up to mischief and decides he will make Claudio jealous by claiming that his brother Don Pedro is trying to win Hero’s heart for himself and not for Claudio. Don John sidles up to the wallflower Claudio and pretends to think that he is Benedick. Claudio plays along with this. Don John declaims that Don Pedro is courting hero for himself and states that Don Pedro means to marry her this very night. Don John leaves. Claudio is taken in by this lie and when the real Benedick enters to strike up a conversation, Claudio storms out. Then Don Pedro joins Benedick with Hero and her father, Leonato, and Benedick sees that Don Pedro is true to his words and has wooed Hero for Claudio. Benedick then sinks back into hurt over Beatrice’s earlier statements when low and behold, Beatrice returns having retrieved Claudio. Benedick begs to be sent on some meaningless errand for Don Pedro and when this is refused, he goes anyway.

Claudio is informed of Don Pedro’s success in getting Hero to agree to marry him, Claudio, and Don Pedro announces that Leonato supports the marriage. Claudio is overjoyed. Beatrice declares again that she will never marry and when Don Pedro offers to marry her, Beatrice witterly rejects his offer:

“No, my lord, unless I might have another for

working-days: your grace is too costly to wear

every day.”

When Beatrice leaves, Leonato and Claudio discuss the wedding date which is finally fixed for the next Monday. Don Pedro suggests that in the meantime they should find a way to get Beatrice and Benedick to stop arguing and contrive a way for them to fall in love. They all agree to help Don Pedro with this.

With one opportunity lost, Don John decides to try another tact and his plans turn more sinister. With Borachio’s help he plans to make it look as if Hero is not virtuous and in one fell swoop.

Meanwhile Don John, with Borachio’s help, plots to ruin Claudio and Hero’s wedding by casting aspersions upon Hero’s character. They plan to have Borachio who courts Margaret, the chambermaid of Hero, call Margaret ‘Hero’ when they court next near Hero’s open bedroom window and then Don John will make sure Don Pedro hears and sees this and thus Don Pedro will think Hero unfaithful to Claudio. This way Don John will get the better of Don Pedro, thwart Claudio, undermine Hero reputation and he also insinuates that he will top all this off with killing Leonato for some obscure reason.

Later, in the garden, Benedick talks to himself about how men in love are idiots and how no intelligent man would fall in love. Then he hears Don Pedro and Claudio entering and he hides. After Don John’s manipulations and machinations, Don Pedro’s plans sound infantile by comparison. He. Leonato and Claudio move to a place in the garden where they know Benedick can overhear their conversation and they talk about how they have just heard that Beatrice is in love with Benedick but that she will never reveal this to Benedick for fear he would make fun of her. Don Pedro ends by stating that although he loves Benedick that he thinks he is unworthy of Beatrice’s love. They then leave for dinner and Benedick reveals himself and he is, for the first time in the play, lost for words. He decides that he will pity Beatrice and pander a bit to her desires. Fortunously, Beatrice has been sent to get Benedick for dinner and when scorns and then mocks him, Benedick treats it as a symbol of her true devotion to him. She leaves him perplexed and Benedick declares that he will take pity on her and even have a portrait made:

“Against my will I am sent to bid you come in

to dinner;' there's a double meaning in that… If I do

not take pity of her, I am a villain; if I do not

love her, I am a Jew. I will go get her picture.”

Much Ado About Nothing Act 1 - "But now I am return'd and that war-thoughts have left their places vacant, in their rooms come thronging soft and delicate desires…”

Much Ado About Nothing Act 1 - "But now I am return'd and that war-thoughts
 have left their places vacant, in their rooms
 come thronging soft and delicate desires…” 

Shakespeare must have been thinking much about what makes human nature when he penned ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ in 1598. It may seem like 1598 was a lean year for Shakespeare on paper but the fact of the matter is, he was probably reaping the benefits of revivals of his most successful recent plays ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and the Henry IV plays. He also knew that he must milk the Henry IV plays as much as he could before writing the most anticipated play of this sequence ‘Henry V’. The emergence back in the streets of London of so many soldiers who had been fighting the wars in Ireland meant that he was not lost for stories and background for ‘Henry V’. Rumours abounded about what was really happening in Ireland and also rumours that Elizabeth had started to make political overtures to James VI in Scotland, but Shakespeare knew that he should avoid sailing so close to the wind at these point. On the business front he had also bought a quite large granary in Stratford upon Avon. So he turned to more poetic pursuits and was plugging away at many projects and writing sonnets most days. It is therefore not unlikely, that one day after greeting a bright spring day seeing soldiers in the street and lovers on the doorsteps, that he turned next to a comedy set in the Italian country town of Messina as soldiers return from war. A play with meandering plots dependant on overheard conversations, mischievous plotting and misunderstandings.

In Messina, Leonato and his young daughter, Hero, and her cousin Beatrice, wait for Don Pedro and his soldiers to return from war. Beatrice asks about one of Don Pedro’s men called Benedick who she mocks and berates. It is revealed that she was once romantically involved with Benedick and that in their last war of words and wits Beatrice claims that “… four of his five wits went halting off, and now is the whole man governed with one…”

When Don Pedro and his men arrive, with intentions to stay at least a month, Leonato welcomes them. Don Pedro, Benedick and the new war hero Claudio are welcomed heartily, while Don Pedro’s half brother Don John is ignored while his grievances and distain for his brother and his companions, fester in his heart. Beatrice and Benedick have a bout of banter with balestra and they beat parries mixed with puns and metaphoric moulinets which are punctuated by Benedick final parry that he has never loved a woman and never will and Beatrice's riposte that this is indeed “…a dear happiness to women.”

When Claudio and Benedick are left alone, Claudio admits secretly to Benedick that he has fallen in love with Hero. Benedick bemoans the fact that he seems to have lost another friend to love. Claudio meanders off on melancholic paths. Don Pedro enters again and Benedick tells him Claudio’s secret. Don Pedro thinks that this is wonderful and to help matters along (since he thinks that Claudio’s shyness may prove an impediment), Don Pedro suggests that he should disguise himself as Claudio at the ball that night and profess Claudio’s love for Hero. Don Pedro decides he will also talk to Hero’s father Leonato advocating Claudio as a good match for Hero. Little do they know that servants will hear and mishear this conversation.

Inside Leonato’s large house, a little while later, Leonato is conversing with his eldest brother Antonio who tells him that he has been told by a servant that Don Pedro loves Leonato’s daughter Hero and that he will declare his love for her at the ball tonight and then ask Leonato for her hand in marriage. Obviously, Don Pedro’s statement of his intention to woo Hero, albeit pretending to be Claudio, is the basis for this rumor. This is, of course, where the rumors and half-heard conversations start to wind up the plot, and allow a simple love story to turn into a story of misconception, deception and the meandering course of true love. Leonato is initially skeptical and declares he will not believe the rumor until he sees Don Pedro approach to court Hero.

In another part of the extremely large house, Don John, Don Pedro’s half-brother is telling his servant Conrad that he resents having to put on a happy disposition with Don Pedro so that he can receive economic and social favours. Don John’s other servant, Borachio enters and we hear his more accurate retelling of Claudio’s love for Hero and Don Pedro’s plan to disguise himself as Claudio to help along the course of love. Don John hates Claudio because of his reputation and he decides he will cause trouble for both his half-brother Don Pedro and for Claudio. Indeed, Don John seems to generally hate the world and wants to take revenge on the world for having made him the bastard and his brother Fortune’s golden boy. Shakespeare will return later in 'KIng Lear' to his contemplations that bastards are... well ‘bastards’ by nature, but for the moment, he Don John is his portrait of villainy. Don John’s reasons for causing trouble are given greater gravity by his illegitimacy and Don John's sense of that villainy is in his nature is shown when Don John boastfully declares that:

“… I cannot be said to be a flattering honest man, it must not be denied but I am a plain-dealing villain.”

Henry IV Part 2 Act 5 – “Presume not that I am the thing I was; For God doth know… That I have turn'd away my former self…”

Henry IV Part 2 Act 5 – “Presume not that I am the thing I was; For God doth know… That I have turn'd away my former self…”

'Henry IV Part 2' is a very interesting play from a number of viewpoints. If some of the other Henry plays examine conflict on a macro level with huge battles and machinations of power, this play looks at individual’s inner conflicts and the nature of interpersonal conflicts.

Act 5 starts with Falstaff and his visit to Justice Shallow on his way back from the battlefield. Falstaff sees the whole situation as absurd and thinks that his tale of this will be a good tavern tale for Prince Hal.

Meanwhile, now that Henry IV has died, Prince John, Prince Clarence, Prince Gloucester and the Lord Chief Justice and Warwick worry about what will happen to them now Prince Hal is King Henry V. King Henry V enters and he states that he will treat them all fairly. The Lord Chief Justice points out that when he, as Lord Chief Justice, had punished the young Prince Hal it was only because Prince Hal and his companions had broken the law. King Henry V extends his friendship and thanks to the Lord Chief Justice and thanks him for being fair in his dealings with him as a young prince and he states that he would be honoured if he could stay on in his position to keep things in order. We see that the young Prince Hal has indeed matured into King Henry V.

Meanwhile, Falstaff enjoys gluttony in Gloucestershire, consuming provincial hospitality in the form of meat, fruit and, of course, copious quantities of wine. Falstaff is commending his host on his intoxicated behaviour when Ancient Pistol arrives from London with the news that King Henry IV is dead and Prince Hal is now King Henry V. Falstaff and the others assume that this means that Falstaff is in a unique position of influence in the court. They all head to London, except for Justice Silence who has let wine get the better of him.

Back near the Boar's Head Tavern in London, the prostitute Doll Tearsheet and Mistress Quickly fare being dragged off to jail. Doll Tearsheet claims she is pregnant (a common way to avoid conviction or public punishment in Elizabethan times for women) but these women cannot talk their way out or free themselves.

Meanwhile, Shallow, Pistol, Bardolph, Falstaff and his page have just arrived in London after riding all night and they are waiting in the street to greet the new king. But when Falstaff hails the new king as King Hal, it seems like events and luck will finally turn for Flagstaff. As an audience, we can’t but feel sorry for Flagstaff when King Henry V says to Falstaff, “I know thee not, old man…”  He then points out to Flagstaff that he is no longer Prince Hal, and he has been transformed since his younger days:

“Presume not that I am the thing I was;

For God doth know…

That I have turn'd away my former self…”

As one of his first duties as king, King Henry V decides to banish Falstaff and his friends from within ten miles of his royal self, but decides to give them an income to keep them out of poverty and mischief. Falstaff’s hope turns to further despair when the Lord Chief Justice, Prince John and officers of the law come to arrest Falstaff on other charges. Falstaff is led away. Prince John and the Lord Chief Justice express admiration for the way that King Henry V conducts himself and they talk of the possibility of an English invasion and war with France.

Like a combination of a vaudeville curtain call and a modern day trailer, the Epilogue of the play apologizes for play and asks for applause, invites a prayer for Queen Elizabeth and promises that besides the return and death of Falstaff (if he is not already dead), the audience will get to see the beautiful Katherine of France in the sequel (even if it is just a young man in a dress).

But that will have to wait as Shakespeare returns in the comedy 'Much Ado About Nothing'.

Henry IV Part 2 Act 4 – “Turning your books to graves, your ink to blood, your pens to lances…”

Henry IV Part 2 Act 4 – “Turning your books to graves, your ink to blood, your pens to lances…”

Shakespeare would have had a keen mind for diplomacy and politics if he had had the social position and education to enter this field. In Act 4 of ‘Henry IV Part 2’ we see how grievances and the shadows of recent and not-so-recent history can combine with the quests off strong willed powerful men to drive the wheels of the machinations of war. 

In Yorkshire in the Forest of Gaultree, the Archbishop of York, Mowbray, Hastings and their rebel army gather. The revelations that Northumberland and his army will not join them, along with reports of King Henry IV’s thirty thousand strong army led by his youngest son Prince John is only a mile away, does little to lessen their resolve.

Enter the Earl of Westmoreland, King Henry IV’s friend and ally to see if grievances can be heard and civil peace negotiated but first Westmoreland lays accusations at the feet of the Archbishop of York that he has abused his religious authority by leading the rebellion. The Archbishop defends his position stating that King Henry has dragged the country into ruin and that he has weighed up all factors:

“I have in equal balance justly weigh'd

What wrongs our arms may do, what wrongs we suffer,

And find our griefs heavier than our offences.”

Westmoreland states that he believes is the times and not the king that may have caused injury to the people. He then says that King Henry IV so desires peace that he has given Prince John the power to grant the rebels any reasonable demands. Westmoreland is handed by the Archbishop of York a “schedule” of demands, and he leaves to deliver these to prince John for his consideration.

When Westmoreland leaves, Mowbray speaks up stating that he believes that even if peace is brokered, the king will seek any small opportunity to seek his revenge on them. Hastings thinks that the words and grounds of the demands will make this impossible while the Archbishop says that the king is so weak and he is sure that Mowbray's fears are groundless. 

When Westmoreland returns to take the Archbishop of York, Mowbray and Hastings to see Prince John, they are surprised when he seems willing to grant all their demands, if the rebel army is dispersed. A message is sent to the soldiers. They all drink to peace, but when the news arrives that the rebel army has dispanded, Prince John orders that the Archbishop of York, Mowbray and Hastings be arrested. We do not know as an audience whether these are actually King Henry II's orders or whether this is solely the choice of Prince John. This adds an edge to Prince John, which, although it shows cunning, can be seen in direct contrast to what we believe is a growing regal quality in his brother Prince Hal. The Archbishop of York, Mowbray and Hastings decry the dishonour of this move but Prince John says he only pledged to fulfil the demands not to spare the lives of the rebel leaders.
"I pawn'd thee none:
I promised you redress of these same grievances
Whereof you did complain; which, by my honour,
I will perform with most Christian care.
But for you, rebels, look to taste the due
Meet for rebellion and such acts as yours...
Some guard these traitors to the block of death,
Treason's true bed and yielder of breath."

Finally Falstaff has made it to the battlefield, even though the battle that never started is over. A rebel traitor runs into Falstaff surrendering to Falstaff (believing the bubble reputation and rumour that Falstaff is the brave soldier who killed Hotspur at Shrewsbury). It seems like luck is, once more, on Falstaff's side. Falstaff turns his prisoner over to Prince John and soon after, Westmoreland arrives with news that the rebel army is heading home. Prince John announces that he is heading back to London. On his own again, Falstaff contemplates that what is wrong with young leaders like Prince John is that they don't drink enough or the alcohol they do drink is too weak. He then heads off to see Justice Shallow in nearby Gloucestershire to see if he can fill his empty purse once more.

Back at Westminster, King Henry IV is very ill when he receives the news that the war with the rebels seems to have ended. He announces once again his intention to lead a Crusades to Jerusalem. None of his advisers seem to want to discourage him from his dream. King Henry then learns that Prince Hal is back in London and he despairs that his son Prince hal will slip back into his old life and asks Clarence and others to watch him and direct him onto more virtuous paths. But Warwick has Prince Hal's measure well and advises the king that Prince Hal hangs out with more common company because he "... studies his companions like a strange tongue, wherein, to gain the language." Good news then arrives to King Henry IV in the form of Westmoreland announcing that the rebel leaders the Archbishop of York, Mowbray and Hastings have now been executed as traitors. The king is pleased at this but shows no signs that this was originally his plan. Harcourt then enters announcing that Northumberland and Bardolph have been overthrown by the sheriff of Yorkshire. King Henry IV is then laid contentedly in his bed.

Prince Hal arrives and he and the other princes talk about their father's closeness to death. They all exit except Prince Hal who reflects on the heavy burden the crown has brought to his father. 
"Why doth the crown lie there upon his pillow,
Being so troublesome a bedfellow?"
King Henry IV seems to stop breathing and Prince Hal tries on the crown. He then quickly retreats into another room with the crown. 

King Henry IV wakes up and is angry at finding that Prince Hal has taken his crown. He sends Warwick to find Prince Hal and decries, "How quickly nature falls into revolt when gold becomes her object!"  Hal is found weeping and King Henry IV dismisses everyone to have a quiet word with Prince Hal. 
King Henry IV lets loose. The king chastises Prince Hal for his immoral and irresponsible life and what he thinks is Hal's coveting of the crown. He warns Hal.
"Thou seek'st the greatness that will o'erwhelm thee."

Then Prince Hal kneels and begs forgiveness, declaring that he loves his father and that he held the crown as a nemesis, the murderer of his own father not a treasure to behold. Then, a father forgives his son and wishes him more peace and joy in the crown than the torment and turmoil he, King Henry IV, had found. He gives a final word of advice to Prince Hal:

"… (B)usy giddy minds

With foreign quarrels…"

As King Henry IV’s family gather around him, he asks the name of the chamber in which he is now. He hears that it is called ‘Jerusalem’ and he dies peacefully, knowing that the prophecy that he would die in Jerusalem has come true. 

Henry IV Part 2 Act 3 – “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”

Henry IV Part 2 Act 3 – “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”

What a strangely complex play ‘Henry IV Part 2’ is. It is a Historical drama yet by the end of Act 2, we have had more comedy than drama, the comic relief has had more stage time than any historical figure, no grand poetic and psychological landscapes have been painted with the lyric tongue, no battles have graced the stage as yet, the fundamental relationship of Prince Hal and Falstaff have been punctuated by a few minutes of stage time and King Henry Iv has not appeared on stage yet. All is about to change in Act 3, as Henry IV finally is revealed on stage in full contemplative voice and spirit.

It is night in Westminster Palace and Henry IV who now suffers from insomnia is trying to work on papers and plans for war. He sends letters to the Earl of Warwick and the Earl of Surrey. Alone, he weaves a rich tapestry of imagery, metaphor, wordplay and allegory as he contemplates the irony that even the poor can enjoy the luxury of sleep but that he for all his power and riches cannot sleep.

“How many thousand of my poorest subjects

Are at this hour asleep! O sleep, O gentle sleep,

Nature's soft nurse, how have I frighted thee,

That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down

And steep my senses in forgetfulness?

Why rather, sleep, liest thou in smoky cribs,

Upon uneasy pallets stretching thee

And hush'd with buzzing night-flies to thy slumber,

Than in the perfumed chambers of the great,

Under the canopies of costly state,

And lull'd with sound of sweetest melody?

… Canst thou, O partial sleep, give thy repose

To the wet sea-boy in an hour so rude,

And in the calmest and most stillest night,

With all appliances and means to boot,

Deny it to a king? Then happy low, lie down!

Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”

His contemplations are interrupted by the Earl of Warwick and the Earl of Surrey, and they discuss the possibility that Northumberland will rejoin the rebels. King Henry IV then sees the cruel irony that Northumberland, who had been the friend and confidant of Richard II, eight years ago helped he Henry to overthrow Richard II and now Northumberland might to the same to him. He states that this is exactly as Richard II predicted.

“O God! that one might read the book of fate,

And see the revolution of the times

Make mountains level, and the continent,

Weary of solid firmness, melt itself

Into the sea…”

Warwick claims that Richard II was probably lucky in his guess since he cast so many seeds of doubt.

“There is a history in all men's lives,

Figuring the nature of the times deceased;

The which observed, a man may prophesy,

With a near aim, of the main chance of things

As yet not come to life, which in their seeds

And weak beginnings lie intreasured.”

They then talk about the war with the rebels and the rumours of a rebel force of perhaps fifty thousand men. Warwick dismisses this and then reveals the news he has heard of the death of the Welsh rebel leader Owen Glendower. This seems to change the mood about the war. King Henry IV is then encouraged to go back to bed for his health and he once more expresses his remorse that he never got to go on his crusade to Jerusalem.

We now travel up to Gloucestershire where Justice Shallow and Justice Silence are preparing for Falstaff's traveling recruitment drive. Shallow talks of the antics that he and Falstaff got up to when younger. When Falstaff and Bardolph enter, Justice Shallow and Justice Silence present their motley crew of recruits - Mouldy, Shadow, Wart, Feeble, and Bullcalf. After confusion, protests and bribes, Falstaff decides to take Shadow, Feeble, and Wart (the least likely candidates of the presented). Shallow invites Falstaff to dinner but Falstaff says that he must start on his journey to battles the rebels in war.

Henry IV Part 2 – Act 2 “Well, thus we play the fools with the time, and the spirits of the wise sit in the clouds and mock us… in every thing the purpose must weigh with the folly.”

Henry IV Part 2 – Act 2 “Well, thus we play the fools with the time, and the

spirits of the wise sit in the clouds and mock us… in every

thing the purpose must weigh with the folly.”

If ‘Henry IV Part 1' was essentially a coming of age historical drama where Prince Hal finally becomes a man, then ‘Henry IV Part 2’ shows how hard it is to embrace the responsibilities of being an adult. Part of this journey, for Prince Hal, is for him to let go of his old companions and their ways but not before one last adventure into this seedy world.

At the seedy Boar's Head Tavern in Eastcheap in London, Falstaff has even managed to upset the patient and good-hearted Mistress Quickly (who still hangs on Falstaff’s promise of marriage). She has called two officers to arrest Falstaff for his unpaid bills. Falstaff and his friend Bardolph attack the officers and then the Lord Chief Justice, who just happens to have been innocently wandering about Eastcheap, enters and hearing some details of the situation, orders that Falstaff pays the Hostess the money he owes her and apologizes for not marrying her. All this seems reasonable, but Falstaff has other ideas and calling Mistress Quickly aside, he charms and convinces her to pawn her silver plates and her luxious tapestries so that she can loan him the money so that he can pay her back. Falstaff then makes plans for that very night to have a late sensual supper with his favourite prostitute Doll Tearsheet. Then messages arrive for the Lord Chief Justice that King Henry IV is returning to London from fighting the rebels in Wales. The news that forces are also being sent to the north to combat the rebel forces of Northumberland and the Archbishop of York force the Lord Chief Justice to remind Falstaff that he must get onto the road and draft men along the way to face the rebels.

Across the other side of London, Prince Hal is looking back on his days of drinking with Falstaff and company with great regret especially now that his father the king is so ill. Ironically, Bardolph then enters with a letter from Falstaff to Prince Hal which flamboyantly and poetically greets Prince Hal, but this letter stirs Prince Hal to play another trick on Falstaff. He decides that he and Poins will dress up as servants at the tavern and spy on Falstaff. It seems that Shakespeare has worked out how to allow even the most involved historical dramatic plots to include large diversions into the landscape of comedy.

We then move north, to the castle of the Earl of Northumberland where Northumberland, his wife and his daughter in law are grieving the death of Hotspur in the war against King Henry IV. Lady Percy blames Northumberland for his son’s death because Northumberland didn’t send troops to the battle of Shrewsbury. The futility of war is discussed and Northumberland decides that he will not support the rebels in their continued fight against King Henry IV’s troops.

We switch back to Eastcheap in London where Falstaff is at supper with Bardoloh, Mistress Quickly and his favourite lady of the night Doll Tearsheet. When Pistol, an old army friend of Falstaff arrives, a fight almost breaks out. Pistol is driven out and Falstaff and Doll Tearsheet makes amorous advances. Prince Hal and Poins sneak in disguised as men serving supper. Falstaff starts to big note himself and put down Prince Hal. Prince Hal and Poins reveal themselves and as they argue, Peto arrives with the news that King Henry IV is back at Westminster Castle. He also points out that army officers are now looking for Falstaff. Falstaff says goodbye to all as he prepares to go back to battle the rebels in the north. Comedy must now move aside as the play moves back to the dramatic ground of a Historical drama.

Henry IV Part 2 Act 1 – “… Divorce not wisdom from your honour…”

Henry IV Part 2 Act 1 – “… Divorce not wisdom from your honour…”

Like a character from an ancient Roman comedy or "Fama," the goddess of rumour who appears in Virgil’s epic poem ‘The Aeneid’ or a Butcher’s Guild character in a medieval pageant, Rumor comes out to start this play with a Prologue. Although in Ancient Roman times and Medieval times Rumor’s costume would have been decorated and made in many ways (including sometimes decorated in real ox tongues), in Shakespeare’s times the costume would have been covered in painted tongues to represent the nature of gossip. Rumor tells of how he travels everywhere and is as fast as the wind and that people are always ready to believe him. He arrives at the house in Northern England of Northumberland. Rumour at this point quickly retells some of the background to Northumberland’s son, Hotspur, and the rebellion against King Henry IV, and states that he has come to spread lies including the lies that tell Northumberland’s son has won the battle and is alive and well. Rumor leaves as mysteriously as he appeared.

Lord Bardolph arrives from the battlefront with news of the battle at Shrewsbury. Northumberland is told that King Henry IV is wounded, Prince Hal dead and the rebellion is victorious. Soon after, Travers, Lord Bardolph’s servant arrives with contradictory news that the rebellion has been defeated. Morton then arrives and relays that the rebels have lost, King Henry IV is alive and well, Northumberland’s son, Hotspur, has been killed at the hands of Prince Hal, and that other rebel leaders the Earl of Worchester and Douglas have been captured. Where Rumour brought false hope truth has brought devastation to Northumberland:

"Let heaven kiss earth! Now let not Nature's hand

Keep the wild flood confin'd! Let order die!"

In despair, Northumberland plans revenge even though Morton points out that this was the price that the risk of rebellion could always have brought. Morton rallies some hope when he points out that the Archbishop of York and his forces are still getting ready to rise up against King Henry IV. Northumberland writes letters to rally his remaining allies against the king.

Back in London, the old fat Falstaff is using his new-found fame from the Battle of Shrewsbury to his advantage. He claims that he killed Hotspur, when in fact Prince Hal did, and has a Page to carry his sword now. Bragging, swearing and general abuse of puns abound in this scene. When the Lord Chief Justice, enters and tells Falstaff that there are still allegations that he committed a robbery several weeks ago. Falstaff insults the Chief Justice but the Chief Justice is patient and says that he will forgive Falstaff, this time. We hear at the end of this conversation that the rebels are rallying forces for a final push and Falstaff sees that going to the battlefield will get him away from his troubles in London and give him money to once more fill his almost empty purse. Or as Falstaff finally puts it:

 "A good wit will make use of anything; I will turn diseases to commodity."

We switch to up north to the place of the Archbishop of York, in the north of England, who is meeting with Mowbray, Lord Hastings and Lord Bardolph to plan the next move of the rebellion. They weigh up whether Northumberland and his forces will support them because then the numbers against King Henry’s forces are about even. Hastings says that Northumberland is sure to send troops to avenge his son’s death but Bardolph and the Archbishop maintain that Northumberland failure to send troops earlier may have caused his own son’s death. Hastings claims that King Henry IV’s forces are now divided and now is the time to strike. They decide they will drive the rebellion forward, with or without the help of Northumberland. 

Merry Wives of Windsor Act 5 – “And this deceit loses the name of craft, Of disobedience, or unduteous title…”

Merry Wives of Windsor Act 5 –  “And this deceit loses the name of craft, Of disobedience, or unduteous title…”

“And this deceit loses the name of craft,

Of disobedience, or unduteous title,

Since therein she doth evitate and shun

A thousand irreligious cursed hours,

Which forced marriage would have brought upon her.”

‘Merry Wives of Windsor’ has some of the shortest scenes of any Shakespeare play. This helps to quicken the pace of Act 5 as well as add an almost absurd quality to the lead up to the final plan to fool Flagstaff and help true love reign supreme. What also needs to be remembered when reading the final act is that the play ultimately advocates fidelity and the message that parents should allow their daughters to make their own choices in marriage. This doesn't seem too radical but it has greater gravity when we realise Shakespeare was living away from his own wife and his own daughter was married around this time. 
This act starts off at the infamous Garter Inn where Falstaff tells Mistress Quickly about his third and upcoming attempt to seduce Mistress Ford. Mistress Quickly leaves quickly (how else would she leave) and Ford (in the disguise of Brooke) arrives and asks how things are going with Falstaff and Mistress Ford. We must remember that one of the reasons that Falstaff is meeting with Mistress Ford is so that after seducing her, he can then make her more open to the advances and affections of Brooke (Ford in disguise) so that Ford can be well and truly cuckolded. As Falstaff tells Brooke the story of the previous meeting and the beating he got, his expresses his hope that the third meeting will bring them both Mistress Ford and bring Falstaff revenge against Ford: 

“That same knave Ford, her husband…

beat me grievously… Since I plucked geese,

played truant and whipped top, I knew

not what 'twas to be beaten till lately. Follow

me: I'll tell you strange things of this knave

Ford, on whom to-night I will be revenged, and I

will deliver his wife into your hand…”

At Windsor Park, preparations are being made for the humiliation of Falstaff and the marriage/elopement of Anne Page. Page reminds Slender that he must remember that his daughter will be wearing white in the deceitful drama. Mistress Ford briefs Caius reminding him that he must look for Anne in the green garment so he can elope with her at hiatus of the frenzy in the forest. We know that Anne will be wearing neither and has her own ideas on who her husband should be. The whole ensemble of children, scheming Windsor folk and impatient potential lovers move out to Herne's Oak for their pageantry.

Herne appears at Herne’s Oak (it is in fact Falstaff with large horns on his head). It must be remembered that just a year before, this Shakespearean audience had seen ‘A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream’ so they obviously enjoyed the idea of a man running around with an animals head or horns on. The obvious sexual references would have probably meant that the actor playing Falstaff would have received a barrage of witty (and probably decidedly staid comments from the audience). It would be nice to think the same actor played Falstaff who played Bottom. Falstaff relates the stories of Gods who disguised themselves as animals to seduce human women. Mistresses Ford and Mistress Page arrive and Falstaff is delighted that his philandering hands might be able to work overtime. Just as Falstaff is getting excited, a noise is heard and the women leave as quickly as Mistress Quickly would, if she could. Supernatural creatures appear (well so Falstaff thinks so but we know that it is Evans with the children and Mistress Quickly and Anne Ford in disguise as fairies). They muster mock magic and Falstaff in fear falls to the ground to hide himself.

In the role of the Fairy Queen, Mistress Quickly waxes lyrically about the powers, potions, flowers and jewels of the fairies before she says that she smells a man and asks her fairy and creature followers to burn him. The tapers are a nice touch and the children then encircle Falstaff and, wait for it, pinch him. At the height of the pinching frenzy, Caius sneaks off with a someone wearing white who he thinks is Anne Ford, and Slender slithers away with someone in green who he thinks is Anne Ford. We see Fenton and Anne, colour blind with love, steal away to be married in secret.

The magical creatures, children in disguise, run away and just as Falstaff gets up, Ford and Mistress Ford, Page and Mistress Page appear. Falstaff is caught in the act of trying to cuckold both Ford and Page. Ford also reveals that he knew most of the plan because he was, in fact, disguised as Brooke for some of this deception. Falstaff will also lose his horses because of the money Brooke lent him. Falstaff realizes that he is not a stallion but an ass. Ford is told by Evans to trust his wife more. Falstaff is chastised by Mistress Page for thinking that a woman would think of giving up her honour and fidelity so easily. Falstaff is told he will have debts to pay in Windsor.

From the sublime to the absurd. Slender enters and declares that he was shocked to discover that he had eloped with a boy and not Anne, and then Caius enters and announces that he accidentally got married to a boy. Everyone wonders who got Anne when the newly weds Fenton and Anne enter. The Ford’s are chastised for not letting their daughter marry the man she loves. So, as they prepare for the feast, Man gets the woman he loves, even if it is really a boy in a dress.
Next: Shakespeare returns in 'Henry IV Part 2'

Merry Wives of Windsor Act 4 – “We'll leave a proof, by that which we will do, Wives may be merry, and yet honest too…”

Merry Wives of Windsor Act 4 – “We'll leave a proof, by that which we will do, Wives may be merry, and yet honest too…”

The scheming of the merry wives of Windsor starts to bear fruit as Mistress Page (who enters with Mistress Quickly) checks whether Falstaff has gone to Mistress Ford’s house for the second time. Then a weird but probably insightful scene happens where Evan’s the schoolteacher enters, announcing that school has been cancelled and proceeds to quiz young William Page on his Latin conjugations and declensions. Of course, Mistress Quickly interprets all this as sexual innuendo which is made worse by Evans’ Welsh pronunciation of Latin words. Is this the closest insight we get of Shakespeare’s schooling perhaps at Grammar school in Stratford-upon-Avon?

Take Two. Falstaff seems enthusiastic when he arrives at Mistress Ford’s house for the second time. It seems like Falstaff will finally get his way. But when Mistress Page arrives, Falstaff is hidden in the chamber because of the approach of Ford in a rage to find his wife's lover. Falstaff hides but then reveals himself and flatly refuses to hide again in the laundry basket. Instead it is suggested that Falstaff disguise himself as Mistress Ford’s maid's aunt who is large like Falstaff. Unfortunately for Falstaff, Ford hates the old woman. Ford enters and demands that the laundry basket is searched for Falstaff. No-one is found. Page and Shallow reprimand Ford for his distrust of his wife and then Mistress Page enters with Falstaff in disguise. Ford gets angry at the old woman (Falstaff in disguise) who he had banned from his house because he claims that she is a witch and Ford beats the old woman (Falstaff in a dress) and chases him away. The humor is pure slapstick and is punctuated at the end when Evans points out to Ford that the old woman had a thick beard and Ford and others chase after Falstaff like the Keystone Cops pursuing a thief.

Mistress Ford and Mistress Page then reveal more about their plan. They see that on a third attempt they can publicly humiliate Falstaff one more time.

Back at the Garter Inn, the plot is momentarily diverted when Bardolph tricks The Host into loaning three of his horses to three ‘mysterious’ German guests on their way to the Duke’s court.

We fly across the other side of the stage to Ford's house where Mistress Ford and Mistress Page reveal Falstaff’s letter and their machinations against Falstaff and his advances. Ford asks his wife to forgive him for his jealousy.

“Pardon me, wife. Henceforth do what thou wilt;

I rather will suspect the sun with cold

Than thee with wantonness: now doth thy honour stand

In him that was of late an heretic,

As firm as faith.”

As this thread of the plot is tied, it is decided that they will all join forces to humiliate Falstaff one more final time. Mistress Page comes up with a plan when she recalls:

“There is an old tale goes that Herne the hunter,

Sometime a keeper here in Windsor forest,

Doth all the winter-time, at still midnight,

Walk round about an oak, with great ragg'd horns;

And there he blasts the tree and takes the cattle

And makes milch-kine yield blood and shakes a chain

In a most hideous and dreadful manner:

You have heard of such a spirit, and well you know

The superstitious idle-headed eld

Received and did deliver to our age

This tale of Herne the hunter for a truth.”

Mistress Ford suggests that they get Falstaff to come to an area in the forest dressed as Herne and that they then get the children to disguise themselves as elves and goblins and then they can attack and question Falstaff as spirits and get him to reveal all his lies, deceptions and attempted cuckolding so that all of Windsor can deride Falstaff. Their husbands love the plan and see that they can also get Slender to elope with Anne Page during the confusion.  Ford goes off to diguise himself as Brooke to see if Falstaff will meet Mistress Ford one more time. It then occurs to Mistress Page that in the chaos she can get Caius to elope with Anne.

Back at the Garter Inn, Simple wants to see Falstaff who The Host thinks is seeing a fat old lady but Falstaff (having already changed) says that the witch has gone. Mistress Quickly enters and calls Falstaff aside giving him a message from Mistress Ford that she will meet him in secret. At the same time Fenton reveals to The Host that he loves Anne Page but that he has received a letter about the plans to trick Falstaff. This is not the concern of Fenton but what concerns him is that during the confusion, Anne has been told by her father that she must elope with Slender and has been told by her mother that at the same chaotic moment she must elope with Caius. Fenton then reveals that Anne means to marry him and suggests to The Host:

“… you'll procure the vicar

To stay for me at church 'twixt twelve and one,

And, in the lawful name of marrying,

To give our hearts united ceremony.”

The stage is set for Falstaff to fall once more and for another page to be turned in the Page saga.

Merry Wives of Windsor Act 3 – “Have I lived to be carried in a basket, like a barrow of butcher's offal, and to be thrown in the Thames?”

Merry Wives of Windsor Act 3 – “Have I lived to be carried in a basket, like a barrow of butcher's offal, and to be thrown in the Thames?”

The short answer to this question voiced by Falstaff is … Yes. But I am getting ahead of myself since this act sees the building of both the plot concerning the undermining and general derision of Falstaff and the complications faced by Anne Page’s many suitors. The comedy of this act reminds me of great program by Rowan Atkinson done during the 1990’s called ‘A Lecture on Physical Comedy’. In this program, he says that physical comedy depends on changes in status, sudden appearances and disappearances and the use of objects and people that are the wrong size. The comic report card of Act 3 of ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’ ticks all these boxes.

Simples’ directions to Evans to find Caius are very complicated for a man named Simple. So Evans decides to sit down and feed his melancholy with poetry (a diet assured to increase melancholy before the tasting of a single sonnet). Caius is lead in by The Host (whose sense of direction is better than his sense of tact). It seems that Evans and Caius are finally going to face one another in combat, but, alas, at the last moment, Shallow and Page take away both men’s weapons (probably for a health and safety reasons or to repair the weapons backstage). Evans and Caius find common ground in thinking that The Host and others had pitted them against one another to make fun of them. They eventually plot together about how to get back at The Host.

When Ford sees Mistress Page and Falstaff's servant in the street and Mistress Page reveals she is on the way to see Ford’s wife, Ford jumps to conclusions. When the others have gone, Ford reveals that he thinks his wife is dishonest since he thinks that Falstaff’s servant is on his way to give his wife a special note from Falstaff. Ford plans to catch the cuckold Falstaff and his wife red-handed. He accuses his wife without any evidence but his suspicion and sees that his wife is guilt and dammed damned already.

“Good plots, they are laid;

and our revolted wives share damnation together.”

Just then, The Host, Evans, Page, Cauis, Shallow and Slender, Ford enter and Ford announces that all of them should come to his house. invites them all to come to his house. The group that enters have been discussing the pros of Slender marrying Anne Page and they reveal this. Page agrees it would be a good match. Page tells Slender that he supports him, but reveals that his wife supports Caius as a good match. Ford again states that they should all dine at his house.

Meanwhile Mistresses Ford and Mistress Page have been planning how to trick Falstaff. They have got their hands on a large laundry basket and they intend to get Falstaff to hide in the basket and then to dump him in the Thames. Falstaff's arrival is announced and Mistress Page hides outside a door and listens in. When Falstaff arrives he attempts to seduce Mistress Ford and goes for the direct approach of announcing his love and wishing the death of her husband. Then suddenly, Robin the servant whispers that Mistress Page is at the door. Falstaff hides. Mistress Page enters with the news that Mistress Ford’s husband and officers are coming to arrest Falstaff. He is encouraged to hide in the laundry basket. Falstaff reluctantly agrees to this and he is hidden in the large basket (but obviously not large enough given Falstaff’s size). Dirty clothes are thrown on top of him just as Ford, Page, Caius, and Evans barge their way into the room.

Ford thinks that he has finally caught Falstaff in the act but as the servants depart with the large oversized laundry basket, they find no sign of Falstaff. Mistress Page is shocked by Ford’s jealousy and she and Misstress Ford plan in private about how they could entice and demean Falstaff more.

The focus shifts back to the Anne Page subplot where Fenton meets Anne Page and tells her that Anne’s father doesn’t seem to favour their match. Fenton reveals that he thinks Anne’s father believes that Fenton, being of noble birth but being virtually broke, is only after Anne for her family’s money.

“He doth object I am too great of birth--,

And that, my state being gall'd with my expense,

I seek to heal it only by his wealth…”

Anne insists that he keep trying in his quest to marry her.

Shallow, Slender and Mistress Quickly enters, quickly, and draws Anne aside to tell her Slender wishes to have a private word with her. Quickly quickly takes Fenton away from his true love. Shallow prompts Slender with shallow things to make conversation but Anne asks Slender to speak for himself. Slender is slim on conversation but eventually says he wants to marry and that arrangements are being made, but if she wants out, she only has to say the word.

Then the page is turned as the Pages (Mistress Page and Page himself) enter. Page asks why Fenton is there and on hearing the reason, he tells Fenton that he will never let his daughter marry him. Fenton is urged by Mistress Quickly to quickly re-declare his love but Anne declares that she will not marry Slender. Mistress Quickly considers her position and decides that although she has promised in some way to help all three men woo Anne, that she will especially help Fenton now.

“A kind heart he hath: a woman would run through

fire and water for such a kind heart. But yet I

would my master had Mistress Anne; or I would

Master Slender had her; or, in sooth, I would Master

Fenton had her; I will do what I can for them all

three; for so I have promised, and I'll be as good

as my word; but speciously for Master Fenton.”

Back at the Garter Inn, a wet and stinky Falstaff has dragged himself back from the Thames River where he was dumped with the dirty laundry from Mistress Ford’s household. Mistress Quickly enters bringing news that Mistress Ford wishes to meet with him again between eight and nine in the evening. Falstaff after all that has happens agrees to meet with Mistress Ford again.

Then Ford enters, disguised as Brooke, and Falstaff tells an exaggerated version of his laundry basket ordeal. When Brooke asks whether this is the end of Falstaff’s liaison with Mistress Ford, Falstaff announces that it is already time for the next meeting with Mistress Ford and that Brooke will soon see Ford cuckolded (which ironically means that Ford will cuckold himself). Falstaff leaves and an astonished and angry Ford declares that he will catch his wife and Falstaff this time.

“… he is at my house; he cannot 'scape me; 'tis impossible he

should; he cannot creep into a halfpenny purse,

nor into a pepper-box: but, lest the devil that

guides him should aid him, I will search

impossible places. Though what I am I cannot avoid,

yet to be what I would not shall not make me tame:

if I have horns to make one mad, let the proverb go

with me: I'll be horn-mad.”