Gardens
The play recycles some of the imagery of 1 Henry IV, most notably in its use of garden and horticultural metaphors throughout. Whereas 1 Henry IV focused on the notion of England as a garden to be cultivated by its king, 2 Henry IV presents a more bleak outlook, suggesting that this garden has been overrun by weeds and other invasive plants. Of course, this imagery is used to describe the vulnerable state of the country as rebel forces threaten the king's rule and the unity of the kingdom. Furthermore, King henry compares Prince Hal to a weed-laden garden, suggesting that his companions are making Hal himself vulnerable to an "invasion" of his own.
Water
Along with invasive weeds, characters also turn to bodies of water to describe the influx of violence and unrest heading for England in 2 Henry IV. Northumberland proudly proclaims that disorder be unleashed on the entire world after the Battle of Shrewsbury, and his idea of disorder is described as an unruly tide or body of water. This imagery suggests that characters see the state of England as vulnerable to unpredictable but powerful destruction.
Lies and Deceit
While lies and deceit are abstract concepts, the play turns them into imagery in its induction, or prologue, featuring a personified "Rumour" on stage. Rumor announces that it "stuffs" men's ears with lies about the king and the rebels, underscoring the violent consequences that rumor and gossip have on those who engage in it. Furthermore, the character of Rumor appears on stage dressed in a robe "painted full of tongues." This imagery emphasizes rumor's association with speech, rhetoric, and lying.
Decay
It is no secret, in 2 Henry IV, that the king is in poor health. Indeed, he despairs over his impending death throughout the play, and Hal expresses genuine sadness over the prospect of losing his father. As such, imagery of disease, illness, and decay pervade the play as both a description of King Henry and, by extension, the health of England in general. This was a common conflation to make in early modern England – that the king was the state, and the king's health reflected that of his kingdom – and so the play suggests, once again, that England itself is in decline.
