Overview of “Henry IV, Part I”

Henry IV, Part 1 is a history play by William Shakespeare. It tells the story of Henry IV and the events leading up to the rebellion of the Percy’s against the crown and its conclusion at the battle of Shrewsbury. The two stories are separated with Prince Hal being the main character of one plot, and Hotspur the main character of the other, which tells the story of the rebels. The rebellion is planned due to Henry IV’s decision not to acknowledge his debt to the noblemen who originally got him to power. Throughout the work, we see the transformation of Prince Hal from an alcohol soaked ne’er-do-well under the tutelage of Falstaff, to the man worthy of leading England and taking the place of his father, King Henry IV. The relationship between father and son is the central theme of this play, where it is explored from multiple perspectives.