Introduction to the play
Henry VI, Part 2 presents a kind of story that was popular before Shakespeare began writing, tracing the fall of powerful individuals to their untimely deaths. The first to go is the Duke of Gloucester, Lord Protector of England and the most powerful man in the kingdom, who is murdered after his wife goes into exile.
Next to meet a bad end is the Duke of Suffolk, the queen’s lover, who rules England through her. After Suffolk conspires with the cardinal of Winchester to kill Gloucester, he is banished and assassinated. The cardinal dies raving of his own guilt.
Ultimately, the king’s weakness lies behind these events. Preferring spiritual contemplation, he has left others to contend for power. Now his liberty is at risk as Jack Cade, and then the Duke of York, rise against him. The play leaves us in suspense about Henry’s fate by ending with the start of the Wars of the Roses—a conflict setting the white rose of the Duke of York against the red rose of King Henry, of the House of Lancaster.
The Folger Shakespeare
Our bestselling editions of Shakespeare's plays and poems
When such strings jar, what hope of harmony?
—King Henry
Act 2, scene 1, line 64
Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep
—Suffolk
Act 3, scene 1, line 53
Henry VI, Part 2 in our collection
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Essays and resources from The Folger Shakespeare
Henry VI, Part 2
Learn more about the play, its language, and its history from the experts behind our edition.
About Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Part 2
An introduction to the plot, themes, and characters in the play
Reading Shakespeare’s Language
A guide for understanding Shakespeare’s words, sentences, and wordplay
An Introduction to This Text
A description of the publishing history of the play and our editors’ approach to this edition
Textual Notes
A record of the variants in the early printings of this text
Appendix: Authorship of Henry VI, Part 2
Appendix: Shakespeare’s Two Tetralogies
A Modern Perspective
An essay by Nina Levine
Further Reading
Suggestions from our experts on where to learn more
Shakespeare and his world
Learn more about Shakespeare, his theater, and his plays from the experts behind our editions.
Shakespeare’s Life
An essay about Shakespeare and the time in which he lived
Shakespeare’s Theater
An essay about what theaters were like during Shakespeare’s career
The Publication of Shakespeare’s Plays
An essay about how Shakespeare’s plays were published
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Teaching Henry VI, Part 2
Use the Folger Method to teach any of Shakespeare’s works. Become a Teacher Member to get exclusive access to lesson plans and professional development.
The Key to Getting ALL Students Understanding and Interpreting Complex Texts
The Key to Getting ALL Students Understanding and Interpreting Complex Texts
Free resource
The First Week of School: Literature Line Toss
The First Week of School: Literature Line Toss
2-Line Scenes - General Shakespeare
Free resource
The Monologue Project
The Monologue Project
Free resource
Essential Everyday Bravery
Early printed texts
The textual history of what we call Henry VI, Part 2 is complicated. The play was first published as a quarto in 1594 (Q1) with the title The First part of the Contention betwixt the two famous Houses of Yorke and Lancaster and reprinted in 1600 (Q2). In 1619, the play was printed alongside 3 Henry VI (Q3) with some changes that correspond with the First Folio version (F1). In F1 (published in 1623), the play was titled The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, and its text is substantially different than the earlier editions, including in being longer. There has been much speculation about the relationship between the quarto texts and the folio, including which one came first. But the F1 version of the play serves as the basis for most modern editions of the play, including the Folger edition.
