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Henry IV Part 1 is the story of Prince Hal (the future King Henry V of England), a fifteenth century crazy child who carouses with offenders and commoners, helps his loser chums rob his father's treasury, and spends all his time at seedy bars. This, needless to say, all takes place before Prince Hal's glorious "reformation," when he transforms himself out of a total disgrace into a noble leader, that will help set down a rebel uprising that threatens his father's reign, also kills the man whose been bad-mouthing him around England.

Wow. Being a young prince is busy work, and this is only Part 1 of the story.

The play is preceded by Richard II and can be followed by Henry IV Part two and Henry V. Henry IV Part 1 covers significant historical events (history based to Shakespeare anyhow) and political characters from the beginning of Henry's reign. But a number of the most notable characters and amusing moments in the play are completely Shakespeare's invention. For audiences, the many memorable moments in the play frequently surround Falstaff, Shakespeare's authentic personality, as well as the crazy tavern scenes, that are among the most beloved and written about topics in literary history.

Shakespeare wrote the play during the latter part of Queen Elizabeth I's reign and several of its themes and concerns resonate with late sixteenth century political events, particularly the Irish rebellion headed by the Earl of Tyrone (1595), England's ongoing warfare with Spain, along with the Northern Rebellion (1569). Shakespeare's portrayal of the issue of kingly succession also echoes a significant concern in Elizabethan England. In the time the play was composed, Queen Elizabeth I was in her 60s and had no heir to inherit the throne.

Shakespeare's resources for Henry IV Part 1 comprise an ancient play of unknown authorship known as The Famous Victories of Henry V, Raphael Holinshed's history Chronicles, along with Samuel Daniel's poem "The Civil Wars."

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