The Crown
The crown is always a visual symbol of a monarch's power but in Henry IV Part 2 it comes to mean even more. Let's take a look at a few significant moments where the crown comes into play. First, we...
Swelling Waters
You've probably noticed that there are frequent references to swelling bodies of water in the play – especially flooding rivers and rising ocean tides. Come to think of it, most of these referenc...
Weeds
In the first two plays in the tetralogy, Richard II and Henry IV Part 1, Shakespeare establishes the idea that England is a ruined garden. In Richard II, the realm is portrayed as a kind of fallen...
Rumour
In the play's "Induction" (prologue) a figure wearing a robe "painted full of tongues" steps onto the stage. This figure is not a human character – it's a personification of rumor or, hearsay...
Disease and Illness
You probably noticed that the play is full of references to disease, decay, and illness. Lucky for you we discuss this in our section on major "Themes." If you're interested, you can read all about...