Henry IV Part 2 Lesson Plan

Analyze the Lord Chief Justice and Hal's conversation about the Lord Chief Justice's previous arrest of Hal. What does Hal think of that arrest, and what does his thinking tell us about how Hal will rule?

The Lord Chief Justice and Hal both end up agreeing that Hal's arrest was for his own good. Hal ingratiating himself in this way, though somewhat expected given his promises to his father on his father's deathbed, draws the audience's attention to the performative aspects of noble life. In order to be a successful King who is respected and followed by his subjects, Hal must ingratiate himself to those who are not as powerful as he is, but who still have influence...