Henry IV, Part II · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Henry IV, Part II by William Shakespeare.
Sir John Falstaff
major
Also known as Falstaff, Jack Falstaff, Sir John, John Falstaff, sweet Jack
A fat, witty, and dissolute knight who leads Prince Hal astray with his debauchery.
Prince Harry
major
Also known as Prince Henry, Hal, Prince, Harry
The heir to the throne, torn between his royal duties and his friendship with Falstaff.
King Henry IV
major
Also known as King Harry, Harry the Fifth, King Henry the Fifth, King
The weary king, troubled by rebellion and his son's behavior.
Lord Chief Justice
supporting
Also known as Chief Justice, the Lord Chief Justice
A stern but fair judge who reprimands Falstaff and later advises the new king.
Prince John of Lancaster
supporting
Also known as young Prince John, young Lancaster, Lancaster, Lord John of Lancaster
King Henry's second son, a cold and calculating military commander.
Earl of Northumberland
supporting
Also known as Northumberland, old Northumberland, My Lord Northumberland, Lady Northumberland
A powerful rebel lord, father of Hotspur, who hesitates to join the rebellion.
Archbishop of York
supporting
Also known as Archbishop, the Archbishop of York
A rebel leader who conspires against the king and is betrayed.
Lord Mowbray
supporting
Also known as Mowbray, Thomas Mowbray, my good Lord Mowbray
A rebel lord allied with the Archbishop of York.
Lord Hastings
supporting
Also known as Hastings, good Lord Hastings, the Lords Hastings
A rebel lord who negotiates with Prince John.
Bardolph
supporting
Also known as Lord Bardolph, Corporal Bardolph, honest Bardolph, Bardolph
Falstaff's red-faced, cowardly companion and corporal.
Ancient Pistol
supporting
Also known as Pistol, Pistol Sir John, Ancient Pistol
A swaggering, cowardly soldier and companion of Falstaff.
Doll Tearsheet
supporting
Also known as Doll, Mistress Doll Tearsheet, Mistress Tearsheet
A prostitute who is fond of Falstaff and brawls with Pistol.
Mistress Quickly
supporting
Also known as Hostess, Hostess Faith, Hostess O the Lord
The hostess of the Boar's Head Tavern, often cheated by Falstaff.
Justice Shallow
supporting
Also known as Shallow, Master Shallow, good Master Robert Shallow, Robert Shallow
A foolish, garrulous country justice and old acquaintance of Falstaff.
Justice Silence
supporting
Also known as Silence, Master Silence, Good Master Silence
A quiet country justice and cousin of Shallow, who becomes drunk and sings.
Davy
minor
Also known as Davy, Exit Davy
Shallow's servant, who manages his household affairs.
Poins
supporting
Also known as Ned, honest Ned, Edward
Prince Hal's witty companion and partner in pranks against Falstaff.
Earl of Warwick
supporting
Also known as Warwick, Prince My Lord of Warwick, King Warwick
A loyal nobleman and advisor to King Henry IV.
Earl of Westmoreland
supporting
Also known as Westmoreland
A loyal nobleman and military commander for the king.
Duke of Gloucester
minor
Also known as Gloucester, Humphrey of, King Humphrey
King Henry's young son, later Duke of Gloucester.
Thomas of Clarence
minor
Also known as Clarence, Thomas, the Princes Thomas of Clarence
King Henry's third son, who reports on the rebellion.
Gower
minor
Also known as Gower, Master Gower, good Master Gower
A messenger and officer in the king's service.
Sir John Colevile
minor
Also known as Colevile, Sir John Colevile of the dale
A rebel knight captured by Falstaff.
Ralph Mouldy
minor
Also known as Mouldy, Ralph Mouldy
A reluctant recruit pressed into service by Falstaff.
Simon Shadow
minor
Also known as Shadow, Simon Shadow, Si fortune
A thin recruit chosen by Falstaff for his appearance.
Thomas Wart
minor
Also known as Wart, Shallow Thomas Wart
A ragged recruit pressed into service by Falstaff.
Peter Bullcalf
minor
Also known as Bullcalf, Shallow Peter Bullcalf, Bullcalf O Lord
A recruit who bribes his way out of military service.
Francis Feeble
minor
Also known as Feeble
A woman's tailor who is conscripted but shows courage.
Fang
minor
Also known as Fang, Hostess Master Fang
A sheriff's officer who attempts to arrest Falstaff.
Snare
minor
Also known as Snare, Master Snare, good Master Snare
A sheriff's officer who assists Fang in arresting Falstaff.
Falstaff's Page
minor
Also known as Page, Page A, Page Marry, Page Ephesians
A small page boy given to Falstaff, who mocks his size.
Rumour
minor
Also known as Rumour
The allegorical figure who speaks the Induction, spreading false news.
Travers
minor
Also known as Travers
A servant of Lord Bardolph who brings news from the rebellion.
Morton
minor
Also known as Morton, Enter Morton
A messenger who brings news of Hotspur's death to Northumberland.
Lady Percy
minor
Also known as Lady Percy, Percy, This Percy
Hotspur's widow, who mourns her husband and confronts Northumberland.
Lady Northumberland
minor
Also known as Lady Northumberland
Northumberland's wife, who tries to dissuade him from rebellion.
Harry Hotspur
minor
Also known as young Hotspur, noble Hotspur, Hotspur, young Harry Percy, Harry Percy
The deceased rebel leader, frequently mentioned but does not appear on stage.
Earl of Douglas
minor
Also known as the Douglas, Douglas
A Scottish rebel lord who fought at Shrewsbury and is mentioned in passing.
John of Gaunt
minor
Also known as John a Gaunt, John
The late Duke of Lancaster, father of King Henry IV, mentioned in passing.
King Richard II
minor
Also known as fair King Richard, Richard, King
The deposed king, whose murder haunts Henry IV's conscience.
Beadle
minor
Also known as Beadle
A parish officer who punishes Doll Tearsheet and the Hostess.
Porter
minor
Also known as The Porter, Porter, Exit Porter
A servant who opens the door at the palace.
Sneak
minor
Also known as Sneak
A musician who performs for Shallow and Silence.
Jane Nightwork
minor
Also known as Jane Nightwork
An old woman once courted by Shallow, mentioned in conversation.
Master Dombledon
minor
Also known as Master Dombledon
A man mentioned by Shallow as a debtor.
William Visor
minor
Also known as William Visor, Visor, William Visor of Woncot
A man mentioned by Shallow as a troublemaker.
Clement Perkes
minor
Also known as Clement, Clement Perkes
A man mentioned by Shallow as a debtor.
Francis Pickbone
minor
Also known as Francis, Francis Pickbone
A man mentioned by Shallow as a debtor.
Mistress Ursula
minor
Also known as Ursula, old Mistress Ursula
An old woman Falstaff once swore to marry, mentioned in passing.
Nell
minor
Also known as Nell, Ellen
A name used by Pistol for Mistress Quickly.
Mistress Dorothy
minor
Also known as Mistress Dorothy
An alternate name for Doll Tearsheet.
Peto
minor
Also known as Peto, Prince Peto
A companion of Prince Hal and Falstaff, appears briefly.
Sir John Blunt
minor
Also known as Blunt, Exeunt Blunt
A loyal knight and messenger for the king.
Harry Monmouth
minor
Also known as Harry Monmouth, Monmouth
An epithet for Prince Hal, referring to his birthplace.
Bolingbroke
minor
Also known as Bolingbroke, Harry Bolingbroke
King Henry IV's name before his coronation, used in historical references.
Althaea
minor
Also known as Althaea
A figure from Greek myth referenced by the king in a speech.
Priam
minor
Also known as Priam
The Trojan king, referenced in a classical allusion.
Arthur
minor
Also known as Arthur
A name mentioned in a song by Silence.
William Shakespeare
minor
Also known as William Shakespeare
The author, mentioned in the text as a name on the title page.
