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Henry IV, Part 1
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Act VChapter Summaries & Analyses
Act V, Scene 1 Summary
King Henry, Prince Hal, Lancaster, Westmoreland, Blunt, and Falstaff meet at the king’s camp near Shrewsbury. Worcester and Vernon enter. The king repeats his offer of peace, but Worcester turns him down. Worcester reminds the king how he, Northumberland, and Hotspur helped him reclaim the title of Duke of Lancaster after his exile and how he swore to them that it was the extent of his political ambitions. The king acknowledges that he has heard these accusations spreading throughout the populace.
Hal tells Worcester that he challenges Hotspur to single combat with the fate of the crown on the line in order to stop the battle. Henry repeats his offer of peace and tells Worcester and Vernon to discuss it with the other rebels. Worcester and Vernon leave. Hal does not expect them to accept the offer. Everyone except Hal and Falstaff exits. Falstaff appeals to Hal to protect him if he falls in battle. Hal tells him to say his prayers and bids him farewell. Alone, Falstaff muses on the worthlessness of honor.
Act V, Scene 2 Summary
Back in the rebel camp, Worcester and Vernon discuss the king’s offer. Worcester does not want Hotspur to know of it. He wants to fight because he believes the king will renege on his leniency; at the very least, they will be under suspicion for the rest of their lives. Worcester believes Hotspur would escape punishment due to his youth. The king would blame the older rebels.
Hotspur and Douglas enter. Worcester lies that the king called them traitors and bid them to prepare for battle. Douglas relays their response to Westmoreland. Worcester tells Hotspur that Hal challenged him to single combat. Worcester praises Hal for his conduct in challenging Hotspur. Hotspur accuses him of being enamored with the prince but vows to meet him on the battlefield.
The king’s forces approach. Hotspur and the others steel themselves for battle. They embrace before leaving, not knowing if they will see each other again.
Act V, Scene 3 Summary
The Battle of Shrewsbury begins. Douglas comes upon Blunt, disguised as King Henry. They fight, and Douglas kills him. Hotspur arrives and tells Douglas the king disguised several men as himself to act as decoys. Douglas calls Blunt a fool and vows to kill all the imposters until he kills Henry. They part.
Falstaff comes upon Blunt’s dead body. Nearly all of Falstaff’s men have been killed, and he fears for his life. Hal finds him, and Falstaff lies that he killed Hotspur, but Hal sees through him. Falstaff offers the prince his gun but hands him a bottle of wine in jest. In disbelief that Falstaff would joke under the circumstances, Hal throws it at him and leaves. Falstaff will not seek Hotspur, preferring life over honor.
Act V, Scene 4 Summary
On another part of the battlefield, Hal is wounded. The king and his men try to get him to retreat, but Hal refuses. Westmoreland and Lancaster leave together. Hal is amazed at his brother’s prowess: Though he is a teenager, he fought ferociously, even clashing with Hotspur. Douglas attacks the king. Hal saves his life, and Douglas flees. The king declares that Hal’s honor is restored. The king leaves.
Hotspur finds Hal, and they fight. Falstaff enters and cheers on Hal. Douglas enters and fights with Falstaff, who falls down as if dead. Hal mortally wounds Hotspur. As he lies dying, Hotspur laments the honor Hal has taken from his name more than his death. He dies. Hal stands over him, praising him for his courage. He spies Falstaff on the ground and rushes to him. He laments his friend’s death, though still pokes fun at his weight. Hal leaves.
Falstaff sits up. He feigned death to save his life. Fearing Hotspur did the same, he stabs his corpse so he can say he killed Hotspur. When Hotspur does not rise, Falstaff carries off the corpse. Hal and his brother are amazed to see Falstaff alive. Falstaff claims Hotspur rose after Hal left, and he killed him in a fight that lasted almost an hour. The brothers are amazed at this strange story, but Hal knows it is a lie. Trumpets mark the end of the battle; the king’s forces have triumphed. Hal and Lancaster leave. Falstaff follows, hoping for a reward. He pledges that, if he is rewarded, he will clean up his life and live as a proper nobleman.
Act V, Scene 5 Summary
King Henry, Prince Hal, Lancaster, and Westmoreland meet on another part of the battlefield. They have taken Worcester and Vernon as prisoners. The king rebukes Worcester for the many deaths caused by his refusal of the king’s deal. Worcester contends he acted out of concern for his safety; he will accept his fate. The king orders the traitors to be executed. Guards take Worcester and Vernon away. Hal has also taken Douglas prisoner. The king gives Hal leave to decide his fate. Hal gives Lancaster the honor of freeing Douglas for his valiant behavior on the battlefield. Hal believes such courage should be rewarded even in a foe.
The king sends Lancaster and Westmoreland to confront Northumberland and the Archbishop of York, who are still gathering armies in rebellion. King Henry will deal with Glendower and Mortimer in Wales. They will use their momentum from the Battle of Shrewsbury to crush the rebellion.
Act V Analysis
Act V brings the rebellion to its bloody conclusion in which the characters’ conceptions of honor are tested, and Hal redeems his stained reputation by defeating Hotspur in combat. Worcester’s decision to not tell Hotspur about the king’s offer sets off the Battle of Shrewsbury, leading to the deaths of Hotspur, Blunt, and countless soldiers. The play leaves it unclear whether Hotspur would have accepted the offer. Worcester explains his reasoning to Vernon, stating, “All his offenses live upon my head / And on his father’s. We did / train him on, / And his corruption being ta’en from us, / We as the spring of all shall pay for all” (5.2.22-25). In other words, Worcester knows that the king holds Hotspur in high regard, and in respect of this and his youth, he will likely spare Hotspur from any punishment Worcester and Northumberland will suffer. Worcester sells out his nephew to save himself. To his credit, Worcester accepts responsibility for his actions when he is later defeated: “What I have done my safety urged me to. / And I embrace this fortune patiently, / Since not to be avoided it falls on me” (5.5.11-13).
Earlier in the play, acting was used for comedy during Hal and Falstaff’s mock interview with the king. During the Battle of Shrewsbury, it is used for defense. The king dresses soldiers in outfits like his to act as decoys, drawing the attacks from Douglas, who specifically targets the king. Douglas also attacks who plays dead as his only means of defense. Juxtaposed with Hal’s bravery in saving his father from Douglas and fighting Hotspur even though injured, Falstaff’s actions seem especially dishonorable, although they are rational in light of Falstaff’s Virtues: The Futility of Honor. For Falstaff, seeing Blunt’s corpse is a reminder of honor’s reward. He may be a coward, but cowardice saves him in the end.
Prince Hal and Hotspur’s duel is appropriately epic, as it marks the turning of the tide of battle in the king’s favor. Hal acknowledges the gravity of their rivalry, saying, “think not, Percy, / To share with me in glory any more. / Two stars keep not their motion in one sphere, / Nor can one England brook a double reign / Of Harry Percy and the Prince of Wales” (5.4.64-68). The two Harrys cannot coexist peacefully within the same kingdom. This is tragic given how many virtues they share. Hotspur remains steadfast, bitterly lamenting the loss of his honor more than the loss of his life.
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By William Shakespeare
