- Following his father's early death and the loss of possessions in France young Henry VI comes to the throne, under the protection of the duke of Gloucester. He is unaware that there are other claimants to the throne, Plantagent of York and Somerset of Lancaster, whose factions will ultimately cause the Wars of the Roses. Ignorant of the schisms Henry tries to unite them in the Hundred Years War, capturing Joan of Arc, before he marries Margaret of Anjou to unite England and France, but there is no dowry, angering the court. Margaret finds the pious Henry a dull husband and embarks upon an affair with Somerset as well as crossing Gloucester's wife Eleanor. When Gloucester is arrested for alleged treason because of Eleanor, Henry is too feeble to prevent his death or the country slipping into civil war.
- Act I
The action picks up where Henry VI Part 2 leaves off. Having been victorious at the Battle of St. Albans, York and his sons arrive at Westminster to claim the throne. It is noted that unlike much of the first two plays, the colorful and playful sets are now darker and almost all black, reflecting the darker nature of this play and the chaos and civil war that King Henry's weak rule has brought upon England. King Henry and his followers arrive soon afterward and the two groups debate who has the greater title to the throne. King Henry makes the point that his father and grandfather were king and that King Richard II resigned the crown to Henry's grandfather King Henry IV. But York points out that Henry IV took the throne by force and he was not rightful heir at the time, and therefore Richard II "could not so resign the crown but then the next heir should succeed and reign." York's right-hand man the Earl of Warwick is calling in armed troops when King Henry at sword-point makes a bargain to allow York and his heirs to inherit the crown in exchange for ending the civil war and allowing Henry to remain as king. Naturally, Queen Margaret and their son Prince Edward are enraged at his being dis-inherited from the crown. Margaret essentially disowns Henry, takes their son and determines to raise an army to get his throne back. York's sons try convince him that the oath he took is not valid. York hesitates but is soon convinced and starts to raise an army again, when he is told that they are under siege by Queen Margaret and her troops. York's younger sons Edmund and Richard stay behind while the older sons Edmund and George go with him to battle. The Lancasters are victorious in the Battle of Wakefield. Meanwhile York's youngest son Edmund is stabbed to death by a revengeful Clifford. York escapes the battle momentarily, separated from his older sons. Soon York is captured by Margaret, Clifford, and their men. He tries to battle his way out but is outnumbered and held down. Margaret taunts York for a while. She offers to wipe York's tears with a handkerchief stained with his son Edmund's (Rutland's) blood, then attaches a paper crown to his head. York delivers an angry speech how the queen could murder a child and then force his father to wipe his tears with the child's blood. "O tiger's heart wrapt in a woman's hide! How couldst thou drain the life-blood of the child, To bid the father wipe his eyes withal, And yet be seen to bear a woman's face? Women are soft, mild, pitiful and flexible; Thou stern, obdurate, flinty, rough, remorseless." He lays a curse on Margaret that she will soon suffer a similar fate, having her own son killed in such a violent way. (NOTE: Prophecies given in Shakespeare's plays have a strange habit of coming true). Margaret has him beheaded.
Act II
York's other sons (Edward, George, and Richard, in order) have re-grouped after the battle, wondering what the outcome was. The three brothers notice three suns in the sky, which they take as prophesy that they will still win the day. "Three glorious suns, each one a perfect sun; Not separated with the racking clouds, But sever'd in a pale clear-shining sky. See, see! they join, embrace, and seem to kiss, As if they vow'd some league inviolable:" Their joy is short-lived. A messenger enters to inform the York brothers of the battle's events and the death of their father York and their young brother Edmund (Rutland). They noted how York's head has been set upon the gates of the town of York. The brothers are dejected but Richard cannot be sad. He is too angry and vows that they need to avenge the savage act. "I cannot weep; for all my body's moisture scarce serves to quench my furnace-burning heart: Nor can my tongue unload my heart's great burthen... to weep is to make less the depth of grief: Tears then for babes; blows and revenge for me." (It should be noted that Richard is the same person who will eventually become the infamous Richard III).
Warwick enters soon after and receives the bad news. Richard mocks him for fleeing the battle, but Warwick is defiant. He wants to continue going after Henry VI in revenge. "For thou shalt know this strong right hand of mine Can pluck the diadem from faint Henry's head, And wring the awful sceptre from his fist, Were he as famous and as bold in war, As he is famed for mildness, peace, and prayer." Warwick encourages everyone else to continue the attack on London. He names Edward the new Duke of York and promising that the next title will be "King Edward."
Margaret, King Henry, and their entourage arrive in the city of York and see the heads upon the wall. King Henry is horrified at the sight and prays to God for forgiveness, but Margaret and Clifford chide him for being too gentle and forgiving, and for disinheriting his son. Margaret is angry at the King for bringing down the morale of his troops with his piousness. Margaret encourages henry to knight his son Edward. Then they find out that Edward's army is near. They try to encourage Henry to leave them be, since they have more success when he is away. ("I would your highness would depart the field: The queen hath best success when you are absent.") Henry replies that he is resolved to stay. They are quickly confronted by Edward and Warwick, who claim that by his troops attacking his father, Henry has broken the oath he made in Act I, and therefore he should now be king. Richard is understandably angry at Clifford for killing his brother and swears revenge. Warwick again demands the crown for Edward (York). He is rebuked by Prince Edward. Edward of York exclaims to Margaret that King Henry V (Henry VI's father) had conquered France (in the play "Henry V") and had Henry VI been as strong and loved a ruler, none of this would have happened. "His father revell'd in the heart of France, And tamed the king, and made the dauphin stoop; And had he match'd according to his state, He might have kept that glory to this day." He vows that this isn't over yet and marches off with his army. The Battle of Mortimer's Cross ensues.
Things are looking bad and the Yorkists are losing the battle to the Lancasters (Henry VI's branch of the family). George and Warwick are starting to despair. Richard enters and informs Warwick that his father Salisbury has just been killed. Warwick fires up the brothers again and they go on to win the battle. Clifford gets slain by Richard in revenge for Clifford killing his brother Rutland.
In a nearby field, King Henry sits lamenting the battle. He wonders how much simpler life would have been if he had never become king, that it just ain't worth the trouble. We get the sense that he doesn't even care who wins any more, as long as he can just go and live quietly. ("Here on this molehill will I sit me down. To whom God will, there be the victory! For Margaret my queen, and Clifford too, Have chid me from the battle; swearing both They prosper best of all when I am thence. Would I were dead! if God's good will were so; For what is in this world but grief and woe? O God! methinks it were a happy life, To be no better than a homely swain; To sit upon a hill, as I do now, To carve out dials quaintly, point by point,")
Henry looks on as a young man enters with an older man that he has just killed. He is about to take the man's money when he realizes to his horror that the man was his own father! Another soldier enters with another slain warrior only to realize that it is in fact his own son. "May be possessed with some store of crowns (gold); And I, that haply take them from him now, May yet ere night yield both my life and them To some man else, as this dead man doth me... Who's this? O God! it is my father's face, Whom in this conflict I unwares have kill'd... Pardon me, God, I knew not what I did! And pardon, father, for I knew not thee!"
All this causes Henry to further reflect on how much trouble this war has caused, and all over a crown that he doesn't even want anyway. "O that my death would stay these ruthful deeds! Wither one rose, and let the other flourish; If you contend, a thousand lives must wither... Sad-hearted men, much overgone with care, Here sits a king more woful than you are." Suddenly alarms ring off and Prince Edward and Margaret enter exclaiming that the Yorkists are winning and that Henry should flee. Henry goes into exile with Margaret, Edward and Exeter.
Clifford enters having been hit with an arrow and is now dying. He is fearful of the future and laments about the problems that Henry's weak rule has caused. "Here burns my candle out; ay, here it dies, Which, whiles it lasted, gave King Henry light. O Lancaster, I fear thy overthrow More than my body's parting with my soul!... And, Henry, hadst thou sway'd as kings should do, Or as thy father and his father did, Giving no ground unto the house of York... And thou this day hadst kept thy chair in peace. For what doth cherish weeds but gentle air? And what makes robbers bold but too much lenity?"
The victorious York brothers and Warwick enter, but there is too much death around them to be too cheerful. Warwick has York's head taken down and Clifford's put up in its place. Edward then leaves for London to be crowned King Edward IV. Warwick leaves for France to get the Lady Bona (sister to Louis XI of France) for Edward's queen to reunite England and France. Edward creates George Duke of Clarence and Richard Duke of Gloucester.
Act III
In a forest in Scotland, two hunters run across the exiled Henry. He narrates that Margaret and Prince Edward have gone to France seeking aid from King Louis, and Warwick has also gone there to seek Louis's sister for marriage to King Edward. This will surely cause controversy as the same King Louis is being asked to aid Prince Edward in his quest for the throne, and at the same time told that King Edward is rightful king and wishes to marry is sister. Upon questioning, the hunters realize that this is the deposed king, and together they take Henry into custody to deliver him to the new King Edward.
Back in Westminster, a lady, Elizabeth Gray approaches King Edward regarding lands that were seized from her slain husband that she wishes returned to her. Edward tells Elizabeth that he will consider her suit but she wants resolution now. He offers return of her lands if she marries him and becomes his Queen (but wait, isn't Warwick in France right now negotiating marriage to someone else??). When Edward informs his brothers George and Richard, they think it's a joke and don't think this is a serious match. A messenger enters and tells King Edward that Henry has been captured, and they all exit to meet the captor. Richard stays behind. He's upset about Edward's choice of queen. He's upset that any children Edward has with a commoner will be above him in the line of succession. He realizes that he will probably never be king, so he resolves to find and woo women. But Richard knows that can't happen. He talks about his deformity and knows that he can never find love so he may as well try to become king himself. "Then, since this earth affords no joy to me, But to command, to cheque, to o'erbear such As are of better person than myself, I'll make my heaven to dream upon the crown, And, whiles I live, to account this world but hell, Until my mis-shaped trunk that bears this head Be round impaled with a glorious crown." He doesn't know how to do this since there are many people ahead of him. But Richard resolves to be patient, to feign happiness in Edward's reign, and pretend to get along with everyone, until the time is right. "Why, I can smile, and murder whiles I smile, And cry 'Content' to that which grieves my heart, And wet my cheeks with artificial tears, And frame my face to all occasions."
NOTE: It is here that we are beginning to plant the seeds for the events in the next play, "Richard III." Richard knows there is no pleasure in peacetime for him, so he'll do whatever it takes to get the crown for himself. No matter who he has to pretend to like, no matter who's in his way that he has to kill. ("And from that torment I will free myself, Or hew my way out with a bloody axe... Can I do this, and cannot get a crown? Tut, were it farther off, I'll pluck it down.")
We are now in the court of France in front of King Louis. Margaret appears seeking help for herself and Prince Edward to take the English throne back. Warwick then enters seeking the King's sister Lady Bona for Edward's queen, unaware that King Edward has already married Elizabeth Woodville. Louis is convinced from King Edward's success that he is rightful ruler of England and he will give his sister in marriage. Naturally Margaret and Prince Edward are upset and attack Warwick's integrity. Suddenly a messenger enters bearing letters for the King, Warwick, and Margaret. They read the letters, and hilarity ensues... actually the letters state that King Edward has already married Elizabeth. Louis and Warwick are enraged, thinking that Edward has set them up as fools. Margaret seizes upon the moment to discredit Warwick and King Edward. But an embarrassed Warwick saves face by going to King Louis, renouncing King Edward and pledging his service now to Margaret and Henry, plotting to put Henry back on the throne. He will also pledge his own daughter Anne Neville in marriage to Margaret and Henry's son Prince Edward. They all beg Louis for aid again and Louis agrees. He will provide an army to aid Margaret's quest and put Henry back on the throne. He sends an angry message back to King Edward: "Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong, And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long."
Act IV
Edward's brothers are discussing Edward's marriage when the king and the new queen enter. King Edward feels that it's no big deal to displease Warwick and Louis because he is King and expects his brothers' loyalty. Clarence (George) confronts Edward. He feels this will anger France and Warwick and cause them to be Edward's enemies. Even Richard feels Edward married below his station, that his wife would be more suited for Clarence. Edward is defiant. The messenger delivers Louis and Warwick's responses from the previous act. Edward simply scoffs at the messages, especially that Margaret is "ready to put armor on." Edward vows that if they want war, it's war they will get. Clarence resolves to leave Edward over that choice and join up with Warwick. Richard agrees to stay, not out of love for Edward but desire for the crown.
Somerset and Clarence meet up with Warwick and Warwick pledges his younger daughter to Clarence. They capture King Edward at his encampment and remove his crown, to return it to Henry. Edward is brought to Warwick's brother the Archbishop of York.
Queen Elizabeth is in despair at Edward's capture and goes off to sanctuary for protection against Warwick. Richard arrives to set Edward free. Edward is poorly guarded and easily escapes with Richard.
Henry is re-crowned as King Henry VI. He gratefully gives over control of his government to Warwick and Clarence so that Henry can live in privacy for the rest of his life. He requests Margaret and Prince Edward return from England. Somerset presents a young boy to the king. It is young Henry Earl of Richmond. He is the son of King Henry's half-brother, Edmund Tudor and the future King Henry VII. King Henry prophecies that Richmond will be England's hope of the future. Warwick and the others have learned of King Edward's escape, lamenting that Warwick's brother has guarded Edward too loosely. Somerset removes Richmond to safety in Brittany.
Edward re-gathers his troops with help from Burgundy to re-take the crown. His troops approach the gates at York. The mayor refuses to let him in, saying Henry is now king again. Edward replies that he's still Duke of York and claims to be only interested in reclaiming that title (a lie, of course). The mayor opens the gates. Montgomery arrives to provide help, but Edward wants to keep the dukedom only until they can gather more strength, but is easily convinced to reclaim the crown. The mayor re-claims Edward as King Edward IV and his troops resolve to join him.
Warwick receives the news that Edward is on the attack and they make plans for defense while King Henry sits nearby. He talks with Exeter about their hopes in winning the upcoming battle. Henry reflects back on his ineffective rule. Suddenly Edward breaks in, captures Henry, re-takes the crown.
Act V
Edward goes to meet Warwick's troops at York. King Edward demands that Warwick and Clarence return to them. Warwick remains defiant, claiming that Henry is his king, but Henry's already been taken prisoner from where Warwick left him in the Bishop's palace. Oxford, Montague, and Somerset enter and come to join Warwick, chided by Richard for turning against Edward. Finally Clarence enters. He is convinced to re-join Edward and turn away from Warwick. Edward welcomes him back in but this has to stick in his head into the next play. The two sides battle again (Battle of Barnet). Cousins and former allies Edward and Warwick fight in single combat and Warwick is killed. Edward's troops are victorious but Richard warns that the Queen still has a massive army.
Warwick's body is brought before Queen Margaret and Prince Edward, as the wounded soldiers from Barnet are being brought in. Their forces are diminished at this point and hope is fading. Queen Margaret makes a speech trying to raise morale but it isn't making much difference. There's still gloom in the air as the wounded and demoralized troops listen on. But once Prince Edward follows up with a speech that reminds the troops of his grandfather King Henry V. Finally the army has life in it. A messenger announces that King Edward's army is at hand. Margaret rouses the troops one more time, reminding them that "Henry, your sovereign, Is prisoner to the foe; his state usurp'd, His realm a slaughter-house, his subjects slain, His statutes cancell'd and his treasure spent;" The two sides fight the Battle of Tewksbury. (Not sure what the reason is for the snow here, the real battle was fought in May 1471). King Edward's troops emerge victorious and arrive with Oxford and Somerset prisoners. Oxford is imprisoned and Somerset beheaded. Then the captured Prince Edward is brought in and defiantly insists that he is lawful king and King Edward his subject. The prince is stabbed to death by King Edward and Richard. Margaret is horrified and demands that she be killed too, before fainting. Richard excuses himself to run a "serious matter" at the Tower of London. Margaret mourns Prince Edward's death and chews out King Edward's soldiers. She curses King Edward (prophetically) that "if you ever chance to have a child, Look in his youth to have him so cut off as deathmen, you have rid this sweet young prince... So come to you and yours!" (This will come true in "Richard III.") Margaret goes mad asking the others to dispatch her rather than being dragged off to prison, before being taken away.
Edward (we're back down to a single Edward now) looks for Richard, Clarence telling him that Richard has gone "to make a bloody supper in the Tower." King Edward marches triumphantly off to London in hopes that Elizabeth has a son for him.
In his cell at the Tower of London, Henry is approached by Richard. Henry assumes Richard is there to kill him, but Richard nonchalantly asks if Henry really thinks that Richard is an executioner. Henry, in a too-little-too-late show of defiance, chides Richard for his deeds including the murder of Henry's son. He teases Richard about his difficulty birth, boyhood and the fact that he had teeth at birth "to signify thou camest to bite the world." Suddenly Richard can take it no longer, becomes enraged, and brutally stabs Henry to death. Afterward Richard admits that some of what Henry said was true, about having teeth at birth, and being born feet-first. Richard becomes angry and determines then and there that if being ugly and deformed is his fate, then his only goal from this point on is becoming King himself. Here Shakespeare is setting the stage for his treachery and evil plots still to come in the next play, "Richard III."
"Then, since the heavens have shaped my body so, Let hell make crook'd my mind to answer it. I have no brother, I am like no brother; And this word 'love,' which graybeards call divine, Be resident ... not in me: I am myself alone. Clarence, beware; thou keep'st me from the light: But I will sort a pitchy day for thee; For I will buz abroad such prophecies That Edward shall be fearful of his life, And then, to purge his fear, I'll be thy death. King Henry and the prince his son are gone: Clarence, thy turn is next, and then the rest, Counting myself but bad till I be best.
The re-crowned King Edward IV returns to London in triumph to announce that the Yorkists have achieved total victory (or so he thinks) and that now England can live in peace now that their enemies have been defeated and killed. Now there is no longer any doubt that he is England's true king. Elizabeth brings their son forward and Edward kisses his baby son (yes it's ANOTHER Prince Edward). He tells him that this is for him, so that he may gain the crown in peace. He orders Clarence and Gloucester (Richard) to honor his wife and kiss his son. Having done that, King Edward declares that the time for rejoicing has come, "for here I hope begins our lasting joy." They all start to dance and celebrate. All except Richard, who pouts and storms off the stage in disgust, setting up the events for the next play...
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What was the official certification given to The Third Part of Henry the Sixth (1983) in Japan?
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