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'.