Part II only

The two parts of Henry IV have all of Shakespeare's usual features for his history plays: intrigue and ringing dialogue, offset by the difficulty in knowing just who is who and on which side they fight. The Bard has done the history play better – see Henry V or Richard III (or Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra) – but Henry IV's selling point is the presence of Falstaff: young Prince Hal's roguish drinking buddy and all-round scoundrel.

The first part of Henry IV is the better part for this very reason (Hal sobers up in Part 2), as Shakespeare lovingly forges the glint in Falstaff's eye. It is an inheritance of "wrenching the true cause the false way" (pg. 153) that would reach heights in the following centuries with the likes of Huck Finn, Jack Sparrow and Harry Flashman. The newly-anointed Hal of Part 2 might disavow the rogue, but the readers never will. ( )

So many insults -- so much confusion -- intertwined scenes primarily of battle sights and brothels -- Falstaff: Zounds, will they not rob us. -- the problems of becoming King by force. ( )